Student medical insurance for studying abroad can come from many different sources.
Students traveling overseas may be covered for any accidents or medical emergencies through their family’s group coverage. Call your carrier’s customer service line to find out if you’ll be covered for medical costs while traveling or studying abroad.
Carefully study the policy to find out if your policy requires health providers to be participating in their plan, which could make it difficult to find medical help in an emergency. Some US insurance companies do have overseas offices, and they can be amazingly helpful when a traveling student needs medical care. Other companies are much more local, and they may have limited coverage for overseas claims.
If you will be joining a student travel tour or if you’ll be studying at a foreign university, a letter from your group carrier may be required for acceptance in the tour or program. If so, be sure to call your carrier long in advance and ask them to send a letter that outlines your eligibility for medical coverage.
If your group plan does not include adequate coverage while traveling, you will want to find a traveler’s medical plan that gives you the peace of mind you need.
One often overlooked benefit of a good insurance policy is the help they can give you when you need to find health care in a foreign country. If you buy student medical insurance, it pays to find out if they have offices in the country you’ll be visiting, and if they’re familiar with the local health care system. Also find out how easy it is to file a claim, and if prescription drugs will be covered on your new student medical insurance policy.
