Study Abroad Insurance & Benefits
The popularity of study abroad programs continues to rise as students recognize that in addition to receiving a strong academic education, these opportunities give them a chance to gain valuable knowledge of new cultures. This increase has given international student health insurance gain it’s importance. Your typical college education is well-regarded as a young person’s first foray into adult life and the challenges, excitement, and responsibilities that come with it, but studying internationally helps students develop these skills at an even faster pace.
Whether a student enters an international study program for a single semester or for the duration of their education, they’ll find themselves challenged, piqued, and motivated by the unique cultural experience in which they’re partaking. Learning a new group of people’s customs, habits, and nuances and experiencing it all firsthand is an invaluable experience.
One reason study abroad continues to increase in popularity is that competition for jobs is becoming more intense, and many students use their college years to participate in multiple internships and special programs that fill their resume with experience. International study program experience gives students a unique item to add to their resume as they vie for the attention of potential human resources directors.
With participation in international studies rising globally, more students need to protect themselves with international student health insurance. You never know what day you may encounter during your studies, as you come in close contact with large numbers of students everyday. International health insurance will allow you access to the same quality coverage you’d expect at home, and at an affordable rate.
Since a student’s time studying abroad varies in every situation, study abroad insurance can be purchased in monthly increments. It’s a good idea for students to enroll in a program for the entire term of their studies.
Students health benefits needs are different than say, a senior citizen’s, and international student insurance programs are tailored to that fact. Most plans offer coverage on prescriptions and pre-existing conditions. Sporting activity coverage can be purchased as a supplemental item as well, recognizing the active lives students lead and the resulting potential for injuries.
Most international student medical insurance plans will have a deductible, but you can often get a lower deductible by being serviced at your school’s student health center. Total coverage is available in a variety of denominations based on the specific plan you select, and copay options are also typically available.
The expense of an uncovered injury or illness, or the general inability to get care without insurance, can lead to an abbreviated end for your study abroad experience. International student health insurance is the answer to protecting yourself against unnecessary costs of uninsured hospital visits.
Dan Miller often writes about international student insurance.