For students traveling abroad for studies, the costs of medical treatment can be brutal. Students traveling to the United States, in particular, might be shocked at the cost of uninsured medical care. For these students studying outside their home country, international student insurance offers several plans, which offer basic medical benefits.
You must have insurance before you start classes at a university or college. Designed especially for students on F1 visas and their dependents on F2 visas, international student insurance plans are low-cost and offer a range of deductibles. You can also use the insurance as study abroad insurance in another country.
The student can choose a plan most suited to his/her needs. There is a range of deductibles from zero to $2500, and plans can be purchased for periods ranging from 5 days to 3 years. Unless a change in situation renders the student ineligible, the plans are generally renewable until the student remains in college.
You can also purchase coverage for your dependents along with your insurance. You and your dependent will be covered for physician consultation, inpatient and outpatient treatment, including prescription drugs. Emergency medical evacuation is also covered in most international student medical insurance plans, as are pre-existing illnesses and pregnancy.
A Compare feature offered by agencies, the administrator of these international student health insurance plans, makes the choice easier. With this feature, applicants can view the benefits of different plans and make an informed choice.
Also, if a student sends the company a list of university requirements, insurance companies suggests cost-effective plans that offer the required coverage. These plans can also be less expensive than university health plans. In some of the plans, students can also purchase additional coverage for hazardous sports, on payment of an additional premium.
The applicant can purchase international student health insurance using an online portal, fax, or snail mail. Acceptable payment methods include checks, wire transfers, credit cards, and money orders. Most medical care can directly be applied to the plan, and does not require payment by the student at the time of treatment, a huge advantage for students.
Your international student insurance plans are underwritten by companies such as Nationwide, Lloyd’s and AIG, which are rated high by the most trusted name in insurance ratings, A.M. Best Company.
Ray Sondeo often writes about international student insurance.
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