Healthcare & insurance

U.S. healthcare runs on insurance, and care can be very expensive without it, so arrange coverage as early as you can — but know there are free and low-cost options if you're not covered yet.

• Free and low-cost care. Salam Clinic provides free medical care to uninsured and under-insured people in the St. Louis area, staffed by volunteer physicians through an interfaith partnership, with locations in North County, Ferguson, and Benton Park (and mental-health services in Ferguson). It's open to everyone regardless of background — see salamclinicstl.com for current locations, hours, and what to bring. Federally funded community health centers also offer care on a sliding scale based on income.
• Coverage through work or school. Many employers include health insurance as a job benefit. Universities almost always require students to carry coverage and enroll them in a student health insurance plan (you can sometimes waive it if you already have comparable insurance). Most campuses also have a student health center offering routine care — and often counseling or mental-health services — on site at little or no extra cost, and your international student office can walk you through enrollment, waivers, and how the plan works.
• If you don't have coverage through work or school, you may be able to buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov — eligibility and any income-based help depend on your immigration status and income, so check the current rules there.
• Learn the key terms before choosing a plan: premium (the monthly cost), deductible (what you pay before insurance starts covering costs), copay, coinsurance, the out-of-pocket maximum, and whether a doctor is "in network" — in-network care is far cheaper.
• Find a primary care doctor for routine needs, checkups, and prescriptions; it's worth establishing one for ongoing care.
• Urgent care vs. the emergency room — this affects both your health and your bill. Urgent care clinics are walk-in centers for problems that need same-day attention but aren't life-threatening: fevers, minor infections, sprains, or a cut needing stitches. They're far cheaper than the ER, have shorter waits, and many are open evenings and weekends. The emergency room (ER) is for serious or life-threatening situations — chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke, or major injuries. ERs are open 24/7 and must treat emergencies regardless of insurance, but they're by far the most expensive option. Rule of thumb: a true emergency means the ER or calling 911; for anything less, urgent care is faster and far cheaper.
• Farsi-speaking care. Check the directory for Iranian or Farsi-speaking doctors and dentists, which can make those first appointments much easier.