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24-hour hotline for emergencies
Another important benefit that travel insurance can offer students traveling abroad is a 24-hour emergency hotline. If your student has an accident and needs immediate help, or is the victim of crime, emergency assistance agents can direct your student to the help they require.
Special Considerations for a Semester Abroad
While every student traveler is different, many have a significant amount of global travel experience. A young adult’s selected activities, transportation choices and housing during their journeys all impact their risk, says Adamski.
“Students on shoestring budgets are more likely to make compromises on accommodations and transportation, such as staying in less expensive hotels, hostels, home-share rentals or campus dorms, perhaps with people they’ve only recently met,” he says. Students abroad also often walk, bike, rideshare or use trains and university-provided vans and shuttles to their destinations.
“These forms of accommodation and transportation may present different challenges than other options,” says Adamski.
Having a solid travel insurance policy is a safety net for these sometimes dicey situations.
It’s just as important to note that, compared to other types of travelers, Adamski says students who are abroad are also likely to be more adventurous and immersed in local culture, conduct more regional travel and engage in nightlife activities.
International health insurance for students
Don Van Scyoc, a spokesperson with GeoBlue, a licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association that specializes in global health plans and travel medical insurance, agrees.
“Students abroad may be away from parental supervision for the first time, or the longest time than before. They may have easier access to alcohol in other countries, than at home. Because of this, they are more likely to suffer trauma from falls, motor vehicle accidents, etc.”
If you want an international health plan designed for students, consider the Navigator plan by GeoBlue. Coverage options range from three months up to a year. Here are some key benefits:
Meets the F1 and J1 Visa requirements
Offers an unlimited annual and lifetime medical maximum
Collegiate sports activities are covered
Alcohol impairment-related incidents are covered
Coverages with the Navigator plan include:
Contraceptive services and supplies
Medically necessary Covid-19 testing and treatment
Prescriptions
Preventive care (physicals, vaccinations and related lab work)
Inpatient and outpatient medical care and services
Physical therapy
Diabetic supplies
“Our student Navigator plan offers inpatient and outpatient benefits for both mental health and substance abuse. For both mental health and substance abuse outpatient care, the plan deductible is waived and there is no limit on the number of visits,” says Van Scyoc.
An additional benefit that is particularly helpful to someone in a new country is unlimited telemedicine services. “Through this plan, students and faculty have access to medical professionals anytime, day or night, via our Global TeleMDTM app,” says Van Scyoc.
Common Problems for Students Abroad
AIG Travel has seen these common problems during student travel abroad:
Language barriers
Illness from street food, particularly if it contains ingredients unfamiliar to the traveler’s normal diet
Lower drinking age, which can lead to overindulgence and make young students a more attractive target for criminals
Unfamiliar traffic laws, which could lead to property damage or injury if a student borrows a bike or rents a scooter
Unfamiliar cultural norms and expectations, which may lead to students inadvertently offending local citizens
Financial requirements, which may surprise students if they need to be treated at a local hospital
When Should You Buy a Travel Insurance Plan?
Travel insurance is ideally purchased within 15 days of the initial deposit date for the trip, says Adamski. That way:
You have the maximum amount of time for your trip cancellation benefits
You have access to early purchase benefits such as “cancel for any reason” travel insurance and “interruption for any reason” travel insurance. These upgrades cost extra but partially reimburse forfeited, non-refundable trip costs, as long as you cancel or leave early during specified timeframes.
You can qualify for a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver. This allows you to include coverage for medical conditions you’ve had prior to buying your travel insurance policy.
Related: Advantages to buying travel insurance when you book your trip
If you didn’t buy travel insurance when you booked the trip, don’t fret. A policy can be purchased up to 24 hours prior to the trip departure date.
It’s important to note that the cost of tuition for a study abroad program is not something that can be insured on a travel insurance policy, as it is not considered a trip cost.
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Priorities When Buying Student Travel Insurance
When buying travel insurance for a student studying abroad, these important considerations should be top of mind.
Put emphasis on medical expense coverage
Ensuring the right level of medical expense coverage for your student should be a top priority. While standard travel insurance plans usually offer some level of medical coverage, there are often enhancements available.
“For instance, we offer a product enhancement called our ‘Medical Bundle,’ which allows the traveler to double the coverage limits for medical expense and evacuation,” says Adamski of AIG Travel.
Look for travel assistance services that come with the travel insurance plan
For example, travel assistance is included in all AIG Travel Guard base plans, says Adamski, and services are available to policyholders on a 24/7 basis.
He recommends that travelers familiarize themselves with the breadth of the plan’s assistance offerings, as it can provide critical aid such as hospital or doctor recommendations and translation services across a wide range of languages. They can even provide restaurant or sightseeing recommendations.
Pandemic Coverage for a Student Studying Abroad
Covid and its variants create a greater need for travel insurance and the right coverage for medical emergencies. In addition, some international destinations have new and evolving medical insurance requirements for incoming travelers.
Changes to these requirements update frequently, so you should consult with your study abroad program and the U.S. State Department for current information.
Be sure the travel insurance policy you choose covers Covid-related cancellations and medical expenses. See Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best pandemic travel insurance plans.
AIG Travel offers a new Quarantine Bundle (in approved states), an optional upgrade for travelers who may be required to quarantine unexpectedly while traveling abroad.
“This coverage provides a flat, per-day benefit to quarantined customers who have selected the Quarantine Bundle. It also expands the qualification for travel interruption coverage to include a circumstance that might see the traveler denied boarding because of the results from a mandatory health-related screening at the boarding site,” Adamski says.
Source link : https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/student-semester-abroad/
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Publish date : 2024-03-22 07:00:00
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