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NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY International Student Management Office Fellows Handbook (Revised November 2020) Suspected CUI//SP‐PII Suspected CUI//SP‐PII Dear Fellows: We will soon welcome you to Washington DC, capital of the United States of America. This beautiful city is the core of American government, and it serves as a world-renowned educational center as well as a diverse cultural hub. The staff at the International Student Management Office (ISMO) encourages you to enjoy your stay here as you experience politics, history, science, sports, art, and more. Fort Lesley J. McNair, home of the National Defense University (NDU), is ideally situated in the heart of Washington, DC, for you to experience all of these things. This handbook is designed to ease your transition into the NDU educational program for which you were personally selected. We have provided important information about housing, transportation, identification documents, and basic living needs. Please read it thoroughly. Unfortunately, no handbook can contain all of the information that you will need, but you can talk to the staff, consult local directories, or use the internet to find any other information that you may need. Almost any question you may have about NDU that is not covered by the handbook can be found at www.ndu.edu. Information specifically about ISMO can be accessed at ismo.ndu.edu. The most rewarding source of information about the DC metro area, and about America in general, is the population that surrounds you. Get to know your fellow students and neighbors, make acquaintances, and share experiences. They can give you suggestions about how to make the most of your experience in the USA. We encourage you to explore DC for yourself. It is our hope that you will leave America with an appreciation for its tremendous strengths and an understanding of its shortcomings. We are confident that your experience will be a great one. We are excited to assist you and your families to make that happen. Sincerely, The ISMO Staff 3 Suspected CUI//SP‐PII TABLE OF CONTENTS Authorizing Dependents on the ITO ........................... 30 Pre-Existing Conditions .............................................. 30 ISMO Staff Directory ............................. 6 Dependents with RHCA, PFP, SOFA, NATO Coverage .................................................................................... 31 Maps ......................................................7 Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs): .............. 31 NATO Status of Forces (SOFAs) and Partnerships for Washington, District of Columbia, USA .. 13 Peace (PfP) Agreements ............................................... 31 Logic of the city ........................................................... 13 Pregnancy Regulations .............................................. 31 Traveler’s Medical Insurance Policy Options ............. 32 COVID-19 in the national capital region (NCR) ...................................................15 Other Important Considerations Regarding Healthcare in the U.S. ................................................................... 32 Military ID Cards ...................................15 Helpful Hints ............................................................... 33 Invitational Travel Order (ITO) .................................... 15 Understand the terms of your policy. ........................... 33 United States Military ID ............................................. 16 Before you have a procedure. ...................................... 33 Dependent ID Cards ................................................... 16 Lowering Prescription Cost. .......................................... 34 Medication. ................................................................... 34 Appointment Locations for Dependents ..................... 17 Emergency treatment. .................................................. 34 Social Security Number (SSN) ................................... 19 Verifying your Bill Amount. ........................................... 34 Temporary Living Allowance (TLA) .....20 Urgent Care. .................................................................. 34 Advances .................................................................... 21 Appeals. ........................................................................ 34 Frequently Asked Questions: ..................................... 34 Medical and Dental Care .....................22 Military Health Care ..................................................... 22 Medical Treatment Facilities ................. 37 Fort McNair Military Health Care ................................. 22 Military Medical Treatment Facilities .......................... 37 Civilian Health Care .................................................... 23 Civilian Hospitals and Emergency Rooms ................. 38 Dependents Health care ............................................. 23 Civilian Urgent Care Facilities .................................... 38 On‐the‐spot Registration: Need for immediate care .... 23 Medical Transportation Policy .................................... 24 Transportation .................................... 40 Should Dependents Go to Military or Civilian The Metro ................................................................... 40 Hospitals? ................................................................... 24 Fares and Schedules ...................................................... 40 Local Pharmacies ....................................................... 25 Peak Fare and Off‐Peak Fare ......................................... 41 Emergency Rooms (ER) ............................................. 25 Passes ............................................................................ 41 Civilian Urgent Care ................................................... 26 Metro Lines ................................................................... 42 Make a Medical Appointment ..................................... 27 Getting to Fort McNair via Metro ................................ 42 For Fellows .................................................................... 27 Metrobus & DC Circulator .......................................... 43 For Dependents ............................................................. 27 Biking .......................................................................... 43 Paying Medical Bills .................................................... 29 Capital Bikeshare .......................................................... 43 For Fellows .................................................................... 29 Taxi Services .............................................................. 43 For Dependents ............................................................. 29 Ride-sharing Apps (Uber, Via, and Lyft) .................... 44 Dependent Medical Insurance ...............30 Driving in Greater DC .......................... 45 4 Suspected CUI//SP‐PII Obtaining a Driver’s License ....................................... 45 Banking ............................................... 67 Washington DC .............................................................. 45 Bank Accounts ............................................................ 68 Virginia .......................................................................... 46 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) ............................... 68 Maryland ....................................................................... 46 Frequently Asked Banking Questions ........................ 68 Buying a Car ............................................................... 47 Debit Cards vs Credit Cards ........................................... 68 Vehicle Registration and Car Insurance ...................... 48 ExchangING Money, Wire Transfers, & Carrying Cash .. 69 Washington DC .............................................................. 48 Establishing Credit & Credit ScoreS .............................. 70 Virginia .......................................................................... 50 Maryland ....................................................................... 50 Support for Spouses ............................ 72 COVID-19 and the DMV ............................................. 51 Day Care Options for Younger Children .................... 73 Car Insurance ............................................................. 51 General Consumer Information ............. 74 Renting a Car .............................................................. 52 Tipping ........................................................................ 74 E-ZPass - Electronic Toll Collection ........................... 53 Online Shopping and Telemarketing ............................ 75 HOV- High Occupancy Vehicle Lane ......................... 54 Identity Theft & Scams ............................................... 77 Importing a Car ........................................................... 54 How to Protect Your Identity & Your Accounts ............. 77 Finding Housing in Washington, DC ....... 55 Scams ............................................................................ 77 How To Write a Check ............................................... 79 Types of Housing ........................................................ 55 Shopping .................................................................... 79 TLA-Recipients ........................................................... 55 Food .............................................................................

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