Studying abroad is nice without a doubt. However, no matter how much you are caught in the excitement, you need to take some time to think of the tedious aspect of a new adventure like an international student’s health insurance.
Health insurance for international students is not different from regular health insurance. What makes it different is that some companies offer policies that are only for students.
This means they are more affordable and can be purchased to encompass the entire period of your study abroad and comply with your student visa requirements.
READ MORE: How to Get Insurance For Students Studying Abroad
Why Did You Need International Health Insurance?
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It is essential to have a good health insurance policy as you are studying abroad because healthcare costs are so high for students to afford when are studying in the U.S.
Furthermore, the amount for international students or ex-pats is more expensive than for citizens because international is not protected under the government scheme.
For this, many countries that receive large numbers of international students made student health insurance compulsory.
Having a good student health insurance policy gives you peace of mind, to know that if you do need medical assistance during your studies abroad, at least you won’t pay thousands of dollars for medical bills.
What Is The Best International Student Insurance Plan?
The “best” international health insurance plan depends on the person that is purchasing it. To consider the plan should have adequate coverage for at least medical treatment, emergency evacuation and medication.
When you shop around for a good international student insurance policy, have the following in mind:
- What’s the policy maximum? It is the amount that the insurance company will have to pay for incidents or illness as well for the whole duration of your policy. So choose a plan that has a maximum you are comfortable with it.
- How much is deductible? Sometimes it is referred to as the excess, the amount of money can pay yourself before the insurance company takes over and pays for the rest. This can be from $0 to thousand dollars. The low the deductible the more the policy will cost and vice versa.
- Does it have international coverage? Do you desire to have insurance only in the country where you are studying or worldwide? For instance, maybe you want to travel for holidays or visit back home, you should get international health insurance.
- Does it cover the items you need? also, check if it has coverage for pre-existing conditions. Maternity? Emergency Evacuation? Medication and Medical treatment? and Dental?
- Do you meet your school requirements? Many universities have guidelines regarding the type of health insurance their international students must have. Properly check if the policy you wish to purchase can meet the requirements.
- Does it have a PPO Network? These networks can work under different names, in essence, it means the insurance company has certain facilities for you to receive treatment. These facilities have the option to bill the company directly for the expenses rather than you paying and then claim for reimbursement.
READ MORE: Best Travel Insurance For Students Studying Abroad
How To Get Health Insurance For International Students?
Three major options are available for you to get international students’ health insurance that includes:
- Through The School
Some universities or colleges offer international students a health insurance policy that can be subscribed to.
In some cases, it will be compulsory, other times you can opt-out and choose your policy elsewhere.
Maybe your school offers you an opt-out policy, then read it carefully before you decide.
- Private Health Insurance
Everywhere you go, you will find private health insurance companies. If your school does not offer the plan, you can do your research and buy a student visa-compliant insurance plan from the company when you get to your destination.
It is a good option when you don’t intend to travel to other countries or return home during your studies.
- International Student Health Insurance
You can get an international health insurance plan online. These plans are intended for ex-pats, travellers and international students because they offer coverage in more than one country as the name suggests.
So, if you want to travel around and also return home once in a while you can rest assured that you are covered.
You can get international health insurance through comparison websites, they allow you to compare the plans side by side in a detailed manner, before settling on one.
Regardless of what kind of student health insurance you choose, remember to always read the policy carefully!
When Should You Get Student Insurance?
You can get international health insurance coverage as a student after arriving at your destination country or even before you travel.
Maybe you choose to get insurance after travelling, you should do so as soon as you can. You need to have the following options:
- You can get insurance from home, before setting off a road to study. You can get student health insurance from an international insurance company at every point.
- Make sure you get student insurance after arrival, by subscribing to the local insurance company or the insurance plan offered by your school.
READ MORE: Student Travel Insurance: All You Should Know
Conclusion
Do you know you can easily apply for international student health insurance to study abroad? You know you will enjoy a lot of benefits from applying for it.
