Expensive Peace of Mind That Didn’t Bring Me Peace
I am writing to share my feedback regarding the insurance plan I purchased through your company. I am an international visiting student from China, currently participating in a one-year academic program in the U.S. Although I am affiliated with a university during my visit, my home university is in China, so I am not eligible for student insurance typically offered through U.S. institutions. Because of this, I enrolled in your commercial insurance plan, which cost me $1,800—a significant amount for me as a Chinese student. Unfortunately, my experience with the plan has been disappointing for several reasons: 1. Limited Benefits Despite High Cost Although I paid a large premium, I found that the benefits provided by the plan were quite limited. I have not been able to access much meaningful coverage or reimbursement, making the high cost feel unjustified. 2. Pharmacy Program Restrictions When I enrolled, I was told I would be included in a pharmacy program within a three-month time frame. However, I later learned that I could only access this benefit if I received a doctor’s prescription. This effectively meant that unless I became ill and sought formal treatment within those three months, I would receive no benefit at all. Moreover, I discovered that many pharmacies do not accept this program, which further limited its usefulness. 3. Unreasonably Long Waiting Period The insurance plan has a six-month waiting period for certain services. Given that my entire stay in the U.S. is only one year, this means I can only use some of the coverage during the final months of my visit—just as I am preparing to return to China. This timeline does not accommodate the needs of short-term visiting students like me. 4. Higher Costs for Mental Health Services Recently, I have needed to seek psychological support, and I found that my costs were significantly higher than those paid by U.S. students with campus-sponsored insurance. This has been especially frustrating, as mental health is a critical part of well-being for international students adjusting to a new environment. In conclusion, while I understand that commercial insurance differs from student insurance, I was hoping for a more supportive and transparent plan—especially given the financial burden involved. I am sharing this feedback in the hope that your company will consider the unique needs of international visiting students in future plan designs. Thank you for your attention.
By Aidan
Response from Compass Student Insurance· Jul 7, 2025
Dear Aidan, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We truly value your perspective as an international visiting student and are sorry to hear that your experience with our insurance plan did not meet your expectations. Regarding your concerns about the Pharmacy Program, we would like to clarify that this benefit was provided to you as a complimentary prize from our Agent BeWell giveaway. As such, it was offered for a limited three-month period rather than as a paid benefit within your insurance plan. We understand that requiring a doctor’s prescription can feel restrictive, and we appreciate your feedback about pharmacy acceptance. We will review how we communicate these program details to ensure they are as clear and transparent as possible. Concerning the six-month waiting period, please note that this only applies to pre-existing conditions. New conditions that occur after the policy start date are covered according to the plan benefits without this waiting period. Our plans are designed to meet a broad range of needs, but we recognize that the waiting period for pre-existing conditions can be challenging for shorter-term students like yourself. Unfortunately, it is often cost-prohibitive to add pre-existing coverage to plans without a waiting period. Finally, regarding mental health coverage, we are deeply aware of how important mental well-being is for international students adjusting to life in the U.S. For this reason, we offer an optional mental health rider that can be added to the plan for just a few cents per day, providing additional coverage for counseling and therapy sessions. We will continue working to ensure students are aware of this option at the time of enrollment. Thank you again for your honest insights. If you would like to discuss your specific situation further or need assistance understanding any aspect of your plan, please reach out to us directly at [email protected]. We are here to help. Wishing you all the best in your studies and future endeavors. Kind regards, Your team at Compass Student Insurance