After much of what looked like haggling over the lives and health of Americans, and even more nuanced amendments to appease a bipartisan voting pool, Congress passed a universal health care bill that received mixed reviews. “A universal health care? What universal health care?” is the reaction one might expect from international students studying in the U.S.

Perhaps the greatest number of skeptics, after Republicans and illegal immigrants, are those studying abroad in the States. Under the previous health care system, schools provided many international students with medical insurance that covered aspects such as “mental health” and “sports benefits.” Yet foreign students remained uninsured in terms of other more prevalent health problems, including eye care, dental care and emergency problems. Will the brand new universal health care bill promise a better treatment of international students?

So far, the coverage cost for an international student’s eye care, dental care and urgent problems can quickly reach hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. “I had to take out a loan to cover my dental care bills,” said Hope Mbabazi ’11, originally from Uganda. “A loan for my teeth. It’s kind of ridiculous,” she added. Several others admitted having attempted to privately deal with health issues rather than face the expensive medical attention provided by professionals.

Because health insurance in college is mandatory, students have to rely on the coverage provided by the school, or get a waiver, with amounts to $50,000 per injury and/or pregnancy. International students are also not allowed to accept public benefits such as Medicaid. Host families, friends and resident relatives cannot transfer emergency Medicaid funds to meet the student’s medical costs. Students who run afoul of these laws may even have their F-1 visas revoked or experience trouble with visa renewals.

So what benefits can international students expect from the much trumpeted universal health care bill? Not many, apparently. On the question of non-citizens, President Obama appealed to the discretion and humaneness of medical teams and staff in hospitals or emergency rooms to attend to patients. After all, he cajoled, they do get out there and interact with Americans—not much incentive for medics transfixed on their capitalist economy and the market driven, profit maximizing business that health care has become.
It is easy to see how a revised health care system could improve the lives of Americans in the future, but without clauses directly addressing the situation of legal aliens, such as international students, this group can’t expect to benefit from an official passage of a universal health care bill.

President Obama’s proposed health care bill was passed just last week in Congress, and is now well on its way to being made law in the United States. Yet with much of the restrictive legislation still in place, international students cannot expect to enjoy much respite from the relentless sponge that medical care costs have become.

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4. Who do International & American students support?
5. Obamacare!