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Archive for the ‘International Student in the USA’ Category
Monday, October 31st, 2011
Many students dream about going overseas to study. There is little doubt that the world is interconnected and having an international perspective (and perhaps grasp of another language) will make you more competitive in the job market. The number of international students has been on a steady increase year after year. According to the Open Doors Report, popular majors for international students have been the following:
- 21.1% Business/Management
- 18.4% Engineering
- 8.9% Physical/Life Sciences
- 8.8% Math and Computer Science
- 8.7% Social Sciences
As you can see, the majority of international students – 1 in 5 to be exact – study business and management. The popular majors for international students within this field include finance, accounting, marketing, economics, human resources, and management. Following business, the second most commonly studied field is engineering. Many international students recognize that studying in the United States can be expensive, so studying a field where the benefit will outweigh the cost upon graduation is a huge consideration for incoming students.
According to these statistics, the popular majors for international students are greatly influenced by the largest sending countries: India and China. Many of these students who return home after studying such technical skills find that they have a competitive edge. Students are able to find and secure meaningful jobs after having exposure to some of the most novel and up-to-date information, technology and training.
While a US degree can be invaluable to students, language fluency is automatically acquired through studies in the United States. In many cases, English fluency – in both engineering and business – is an important requirement to advance to higher positions within these fields. Scientific journals as well as international business is primarily done in English. Having not only a US degree combined with English fluency creates a recipe for long-term career success.
Tags: Popular Majors for International Students
Posted in International Student in the USA | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Before applying to a higher education institution overseas, many students must first learn the native language in that country. Many international students may want to study in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. The common thread among these countries is that the native language, and thus the language of instruction, is English. That being said, whether you want to apply to Cambridge in the United Kingdom or Harvard in the United States, you must first learn English and prove that you can succeed in an environment that requires you to write, speak, listen, read and understand English.
Because of this, many students decide to enroll themselves in an English language school that specializes in English as a second language (also known as ESL). Many of these programs provide students with the foundation needed to be successful all the while introducing them to both the culture and traditions that they will be exposed to later as an international student. In either case, before you leave for your English language program, it is important to become familiar with your destination country’s health care system. Many countries, like the United States, have private health care which leaves it up to the individual to cover the cost of medical treatment. Because of this, it is important to have an ESL insurance plan that will be comprehensive enough to cover illnesses and injuries that may occur during your program.
Students planning to learn English overseas must also think about their ESL program. There are a variety of English language programs that students can choose from that expose students to college campus life, local activities, conversation and much more! You can find a program that will teach you general English – or you can build a program focusing on your area of concentration (such as business English). You may find some programs that may also allow you to play sports. After you have decided on the program that you want to study, you will need to ask them whether they provide each participant with their own ESL insurance. Find out what it covers and see if it will cover you if you arrive early, or leave late. If you plan on playing intercollegiate or club sports – does your ESL insurance plan cover this? Keep in mind that if your English language program has limited health insurance, you may be responsible for any excess expenses.
Alternatively, some language programs do not provide insurance to students and they are required to purchase their own individualized plan. You can purchase your own ESL insurance plan for the full duration of your program – and some plans do not require you to be a student so you can use the plan as international gap insurance as well. These insurance plans cover doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medication, labs, x-rays, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation and much more! Contact our insurance agents to find out the plan that is best for you.
Tags: ESL Insurance
Posted in International Student in the USA, Student Health Insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
International Student Insurance brings you interesting, useful and relevant information with our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. We are always looking for new ways to provide more useful information to our community – and we’ve just done it again!
The number of international students studying abroad has been increasing year after year. A large number of these international students are from China. In the most recent Open Doors Report 2010, statistics show that the total number of international students increased by 3%. Of this total number, the report found that “this year’s growth was primarily driven by a 30% increase in Chinese student enrollment in the United States to a total of nearly 128,000 students.”
Because of this explosive growth, we have been targeting information relevant to international students from China. We are excited to announce that our International Student Insurance plan information, for example, is now available in Mandarin Chinese! You can now read more about both of our Student Health and Travel Medical Insurance plans in your native tongue.
That’s not all! We’ve just launched our International Student Insurance Chinese blog where international students can comment and read about the latest changes affecting Chinese students studying overseas. We’ve even translated our relevant blog posts to help students in their native language understand pertinent information!
Tags: Chinese Blog, Chinese Student, Chinese Student Insurance, International insurance for Chinese Students, Student from China
Posted in Country Requirements, Insurance Explained, International Student in the USA, Product Information, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance, Study Abroad | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Being an international student is more than just attending school in a foreign country. Part of this experience is traveling within your host country (or even continent!) and experiencing its culture. We understand that as an international student you maybe on a budget and this is no reason why you’d need to miss out on traveling! To help you along, we have put together some basic tips to help you explore the world without spending a fortune!
The first thing is, of course, your transportation cost. Whether you are taking a plane, train or car, it can be one of the largest expenses. If you plan on flying, try comparing your flights on multiple websites to find the lowest price. Some discount airlines serve a specific region so it is important to know your airlines and compare this to aggregate airline searches. Some discount airlines include Ryan Air and Easy Jet in Europe as well as Air Asia and Tiger Airways in Asia. You can also try searching for cheap student airfares on the InternationalStudent.com travel center where there are specific discounts for international students. Also, depending on where you are located, consider taking a train (instead of plane) as they can be much less expensive. Once you are in a city, it may also be cost effective to consider what kind of public transportation is available to you. Taking taxis, for example, can be expensive, but taking the bus or subway can potentially save you money.
The next consideration is where to spend the night! You have many options from hotels, to hostels to couchsurfing, check out our blog about alternative places to stay while traveling for additional helpful hints. What’s more, consider traveling during the off-season since many accommodations have two prices: high season and low season. When there are not as many tourists, you’ll find that many rates are lower. Also, consider staying on the outskirts of your main attraction area, the extra bit of time you need to commute may save you money and even give you the opportunity to stay in nicer accommodations!
Additionally, don’t forget about saving money when withdrawing or exchanging your money! When you’re traveling abroad and need to exchange money, there are exchange booths at the airport where you can get the local currency. Often times you will get one of the worst exchange rates by doing that. Instead, exchange your money before you leave or withdraw directly from an ATM if you are already in your host country (keep in mind that you may incur an additional ATM fee).
Not to be left out, the phrase “pack light and pack right” can also save you money. Know the climate where you are traveling to and pack accordingly. Packing light can save you money on all the luggage fee the airlines may charge you. Packing right also means that you will not need to buy things later on (i.e., rain jackets or sweater)
Lastly, consider getting an international student ID card. You can get discount on many museums and attractions in major tourist cities around the world along with some discounts on the occasional services.
Tags: international student tips, money saving tips, travel tips, traveling while studying abroad
Posted in International Student in the USA, Study Abroad | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
When most people hear about studying abroad or international students they think of students in their 20s studying in college or university. But there are many international students that are still in high school. Many insurance policies for international students are designed for college students, and high school students may have some trouble finding an insurance policy that will work for them.
If you or your child plan to study in a US high school, there are several options available for international students.
- If you will be coming to the US as a high school student on a F-1 student visa, you are eligible to apply for our Student Secure, international high school student health insurance. The plan comes in three different levels: Smart, Budget and Select. If you will be playing in an interscholastic sports team, the Budget and the Select level will provide coverage for most sport-related injuries as well.
- If you are coming to study in the US on a high school exchange program which would last no more than one year, you are eligible for our Atlas Travel Plan. The Atlas Travel Plan gives you the flexibility to choose the exact number of days you need coverage for your stay in the US.
Both plans offer a wide range of benefits for emergency and non-emergency services including doctor visits, prescription medication, etc. If you need help deciding which international student insurance plan will work for high school, please feel free to contact our qualified agents who will be happy to help you.
Tags: High School students in the US, international high school student, international high school student insurance, international insurance for foreign students, international student insurance, non-college international student insurance
Posted in Health & Safety, International Student in the USA, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance, Study Abroad | No Comments »
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
Many international students are required to purchase insurance while studying in the United States. Every school administers their insurance plan differently, some leave students to purchase their own plan, other schools provide an optional plan, and still others have a mandatory insurance plan with the option to waive if they can show proof of coverage.
As students prepare to go back to school, many international students are looking to have high quality health care and save money! Most schools have a mandatory insurance plan that students are automatically enrolled in unless they can show that they have an alternative health insurance plan that meets the minimum requirements specified by the school. International Student Insurance works with students across the United States to help provide alternative, affordable, and comprehensive health coverage. If you are looking to waive your school’s insurance plan, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
Step 1. Find out what your school’s insurance requirements are.
Many schools that allow students to waive their school’s insurance plan want to make sure that their students are properly covered. Because of this, schools require students to show that they have met their minimum requirements (which are determined by your school). Some schools list their requirements on their website, while others provide this information upon request when you contact your adviser or health center. For those schools that have this information published online, we have designed our School Requirements page to help you find this information more quickly!
Step 2. Now that you know your requirements, find a plan that meets.
Every school has individualized insurance requirements that not all international student insurance plans meet. Go through each requirement and compare them with the plan you are interested in. Our Student Secure plan meets most insurance requirements and you are welcome to contact our licensed insurance representatives for assistance.
Step 3. You’ve found a plan that meets, now you need to let your school know.
Once you find a plan that meets your schools requirements, now it’s time to purchase the insurance. Be sure to confirm any particular dates of coverage you are required to have – you don’t want to be automatically enrolled in your school’s insurance plan because you didn’t have the right dates of coverage. Once you purchase the plan, you will need to notify your school that you have an alternative insurance plan that meets their requirements. To do this, most schools have a waiver form – also known as a compliance form – that the student and the insurance company are required to fill out. If you have purchased our Student Secure plan, you can simply fill out your student-only portion and either email or fax this form to us to be completed. We typically have forms completed and faxed to your school within one business day after the form has been received.
Tags: compliance form, waiver form, Waiving Your School’s Insurance Plan
Posted in International Student in the USA, Student Health Insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Not all international student health insurance plans are the same, so it is important to know the benefits and exclusions of each insurance policy before you make your final decision on which plan is best suited for you. After all, no one wants an unpleasant surprise where you find out a visit or treatment is not covered.
An example of a very common benefit that many international students often overlook is maternity coverage. Being pregnant is a happy moment in your life, but if you are unprepared it can become a financial burden. If you are uninsured and become pregnant, you will find it extremely difficult to find an insurance policy that would cover your pregnancy leaving you to bear the financial cost. According to the American Pregnancy Association the estimated cost of a low risk delivery alone is $6,000 – $8,000 not to mention prenatal check-ups that you need before the actual delivery.
Having an insurance plan that covers maternity will help protect you against having to pay this yourself. However, be aware that some international student health insurance plans may not provide coverage for pregnancy. Our international student health insurance plan called the Student Secure plan offers maternity coverage under the Budget and Select level as long as you are not pregnant when the plan goes into effect. While the primary insured must be the student, spouses can be added to the plan as a dependent to receive coverage.
Another insurance plan that is available is our major medical insurance plan called the Citizen Secure. This policy does not require you to be a student to apply, so a spouse of a student can apply independently if the student already has coverage and does not need coverage for himself. However, the Citizen Secure plan has a 12 month waiting period before you are eligible for maternity benefits. This means that the maternity benefit will only cover you if inception occurs after being on the plan for a full policy year.
Lastly, we have the Atlas Travel Plan. If you are already pregnant and outside your home country, you may apply for this plan. While the Atlas Travel Plan is not designed to provide maternity coverage, it provides limited coverage in case you have complications from your pregnancy during the first 26 weeks of the pregnancy. Complications of Pregnancy is defined as: Illnesses whose diagnoses are distinct from Pregnancy, but are adversely affected by Pregnancy or caused by Pregnancy, and not associated with a normal Pregnancy. This includes: ectopic Pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, hyperemesis gravidarum, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, missed abortion and conditions of comparable severity.
If you have questions on a plan best suited for you, feel free to contact our licensed insurance representatives.
Tags: dependent insurance, insurance for spouse, maternity, maternity insurance, pregnancy, pregnancy insurance, pregnant
Posted in Health & Safety, Insurance Explained, International Student in the USA, Product Information, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
Many colleges and universities in the US allow international students to waive their school’s insurance plan if students can show a good alternate health insurance policy. Our International Student Health Insurance plan called the Student Secure offers comprehensive coverage and therefore meets and exceeds most school insurance requirements.
There are a handful of universities, mostly in Florida, that have stricter insurance requirements including a waiting period that cannot exceed 6 months for a pre-existing condition. In these cases, we have designed an even more comprehensive plan called our Student Secure 6 Month Pre-Existing Condition plan which will work in these situations.
To understand the different between the two plans you must know what a pre-existing condition is. A pre-existing condition is any sickness, injury or medical condition that you had prior to the insurance effective date. If you have a pre-existing condition, many insurance policies will not cover that particular condition for a specific period of time. Certain universities require that this period cannot exceed 6 months from when the policy begins. For these students, our Student Secure 6 Month Pre-Ex Plan is especially designed to meet this requirement.
To see which plan will work for your school, check out the school requirements for international students.
Tags: 6 month pre-existing condition, health insurance, pre-existing conditions, Student Insurance
Posted in Health & Safety, Insurance Explained, International Student in the USA, Product Information, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance | No Comments »
Monday, July 18th, 2011
Do you plan on studying in the United States? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you can study in top-notch universities and colleges and enjoy the American life! Travel around the US, eat the various foods, explore the culture, and all the while get a good-quality education.
If you plan to come to the US to study, one important factor to consider before coming to the US is your health care. As a Chinese international student, you will find that the health care system in the US is much different than that of China. Depending on the type of visa you have, you may or may not need to present proof of insurance. If insurance is not required by your visa, however, you may find that your school or program may require the health insurance instead. This sometimes strict insurance requirement is primarily because most insurance in the US is private so if you do not have an insurance plan in place, you will be assuming all of the costs – and like many countries, these costs can add up to thousands and thousands of dollars that you would be responsible for paying!
Don’t get caught in this situation, know what you need to do before arriving in the US as a Chinese international student so that you have a safety net in place. Typically, Chinese students come to the US to study either on a J-1 exchange visa or an F-1 international student visa. If you will be coming to the US on a J-1 visa, you will need to meet the following requirements according to the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:
(a) Minimum Insurance Coverage – Insurance shall cover: (1) medical benefits of at least $50,000 per person per accident or illness; (2) repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500; and (3) expenses associated with medical evaluation in the amount of $10,000.
Some programs may supply you with insurance coverage or you may be required to purchase insurance on your own. If you will be coming to the US in advance of your program, you may not be eligible for your school’s insurance plan. In this case, as a Chinese international student, you will be responsible for having a health insurance plan during the entire length of your stay.
If you will instead be coming to the US under a F-1 international student visa, you will notice that there are no insurance requirements set forth by the government. Even though there may not be a governmental requirement, most programs recommend that you have an insurance plan in place and many schools may not allow you to study if you do not have any insurance! It is important to check with your university or college about any insurance requirements they may have. Some schools require Chinese international students to purchase the plan set forth by the school, while others will allow you to waive the insurance plan altogether if you can provide proof of insurance. Each school is different so it is important to verify what your requirements are so that you will be properly covered for the length of your stay in the US.
Read it in Chinese (中文）中国留美学生医疗保险须知
Tags: Chinese Student Health Insurance in the USA, Chinese student insurance in the US, insurance for chinese students, medical insurance for chinese international students
Posted in International Student in the USA, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance | No Comments »
Friday, July 8th, 2011
Many colleges and universities offer international student health insurance coverage. However, these plans can be expensive especially for international students. While some universities require their students to buy the school’s insurance plan, many other universities realize that their plan may not be suitable for every international student. At these universities, you have the option to waive out (decline) of the school’s insurance policy if you can show proof of an alternate insurance policy.
To help you determine if our international student health insurance plan will meet your school requirements, check out our School Requirement Database for schools in the USA. We have multiple plans that will work for international students as well, so if you have any questions feel free to contact us and we can help find a plan that would fit your needs.
Tags: insurance compliance form, insurance waiver, international student health insurance, international student insurance, school insurance
Posted in Insurance Explained, International Student in the USA, Student Health Insurance, Student Insurance | No Comments »
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