Welcome to the International Student Insurance Blog, providing you with news and information about international student insurance, international travel help and advice and much more!
Canada has opened its doors to embrace the idea of individuals traveling, working and living abroad. The Canadian Working Holiday Program has been gaining popularity as countries are sending individuals between 18 and 35 on an exchange program to a foreign country. Currently, there are several countries involved in this exchange agreement including:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Ireland
Italy
Japan
South Korea
Latvia
New Zealand
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
As part of the requirements, the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada requires that individuals must have insurance coverage for their entire stay in Canada. Participants will be required to present proof of insurance when they initially enter Canada to the Port of Entry Officer. The requirements for the Canadian Working Holiday program specify that the insurance must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation as well as indicate Canada as the host country.
One popular option is the Canadian Working Holiday insurance plan that will meet the Canadian visa requirements. Not only will it meet and exceed these requirements, but you will have access to manage your plan online and have additional travel coverage while living and working abroad.
Summer is right around the corner, close but not close enough. Sleeping has become difficult since all you can think about is your international adventure. You’ve just invested in a monstrous backpack that you’re debating to fill with either your clothing or the family dog. Eventually, you conclude after much thought and scrutiny, the family dog would not be as excited sitting in the baggage space compartment for the long hours. Instead, you settle on your clothes.
As summer approaches, you have accumulated your “must-haves” and sorted them into different piles nearside your bag. Your backpack is beginning to shrink as the size of your various piles are now overshadowing the size of your pack. As you open your bag and begin to fill it, you realize that the bag just doesn’t look as big as before – in fact, it doesn’t even close with half the stuff! Okay, you think, I’ll just economize and take only the most important items. After all, you have just embraced the life of a vagabond.
Then, when you thought the day couldn’t approach sooner – you finally are able to zipper the bag without having to sit on it. You have your boarding pass in hand; your friend is on his way to drop you off hours in advance to satisfy the special international traveling requirement; and you feel like you are missing something. You know that you have gone through the content of your pack at least a dozen times imagining different scenarios to ensure that you have everything.
All of a sudden, you realize you do not have insurance for your backpacking trip. You were planning to climb mountains, perhaps go whitewater rafting, and have always wanted to try the zip line! This is where international travel insurance is important as you backpack around. Not only will it cover you for your extreme adventures, but what about if your hostel roommate gets you sick? All of this is important when considering insurance for your backpacking trip. This way, you know that all the what-if’s are taken care of and it doesn’t even take up space in your pack!
Good news for those traveling to Europe! Twenty-five countries have just agreed to make the visa process for short-term trips even more convenient. Under this newly instituted agreement, the Visa Code allows visitors traveling up to 90 days (for every 180 days) to travel country-to-country without passport checks. According to the European Commission, this area includes EU and non-EU countries including the following:
EU Member States, except for UK and Ireland
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
And soon to be Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus once they become part of the Schengen area
Not only has it made the travel process easier, but it has also shortened your wait to find out about your visa status. With the implementation of the Visa Code, officials now have to interview you within 2 weeks and then provide a decision on your visa status within 15 days. Currently, visa requests can be denied without explanation, however on April 5, 2011 this will all change. Not only will you be provided with a reason should your visa be denied, but you will have the ability to appeal.
One of the requirements of the Schengen Visa is to show proof of insurance. The Atlas Travel plan meets and exceeds the Schengen visa requirements and is well suited for short-term trip through multiple countries. This plan also issues a customized visa letter that meets the Schengen visa requirements. Click here to find out more about our Travel Medical Insurance plan.
With the world cup just under 3 months away, excitement around the world is starting to grow as teams and countries prepare for one of the largest tournaments in the world. 32 teams (and of course all their respective fans) will descend on South Africa in June when the tournament begins and this will mean hundreds of thousands of people will be making their way to South African to watch the games and enjoy all the atmosphere that comes with a world cup.
If you are one of the lucky ones that could travel to South Africa, you will want to make sure you are covered by an insurance plan that provides you with security in case you get sick or injured. World Cup Insurance provides you with a short term travel health insurance plan that allows you to purchase the number of days you need, whether its 7 days or the full 30 days of the tournament and includes coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, repatriation, lost checked luggage, 24 live travel assistance and much more!
The plan starts at just $7 for 7 days and you can tailor the policy maximum and deductible options to suit your needs. For more information and to purchase your coverage online, please check out: http://www.worldcup-insurance.com/
So you’ve been an international student for some time now, living on your own in a foreign country. You’ve been skyping back and forth with your parents, dealing with the intermittent phone calls that are sometimes hard to coordinate with the time change. But this time they’ve announced that they are ready to come for a visit.
Whether your parents will be coming to visit for a week, month, or perhaps are planning to move into your dorm room, you will want to make sure that your parents are covered on their trip abroad. In many cases, international travel insurance may not come to your parent’s mind, as they are busy packing their bags with your favorite items – although unfortunately customs put a limit on some foods that will remain in the back of your mind – but on the top of your to-do list when you come home.
The Travel Medical plan is designed for individuals traveling outside their home country – including travel insurance for your parent’s journey to visit you overseas. The plan provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. By having your parents properly insured, this will provide them with the peace of mind that they can travel around with ease and comfort. This can be especially important in countries where the medical system may be just as foreign as the language. And the added plus – one less thing to worry about!
After January’s earthquake, many volunteer groups have been traveling to Haiti to assist in disaster relief efforts. The earthquake measured a 7 on the Richter scale and caused extensive damage to the area surrounding the capital, Port Au Prince. If you plan on assisting with the relief in Haiti, it is important that you are properly insured.
First, you’ll want to check to see if your current insurance plan provides international coverage. If they do not, you may want to consider a travelers insurance.
Many travel plans will cover you outside your home country; however your plan may have additional restrictions if a travel warning is issued. In fact, some travelers insurance may reduce their benefits or restrict coverage all together if the US State Department issues a travel warning before you leave. On January 14, 2010, the US State Department issued a warning for Haiti urging citizens to avoid travel because of the damage.
What does this mean for you?
You will want to double-check to make sure that your travelers insurance will cover you on your trip to Haiti.
A well-suited option is the International Travel Medical Insurance – this travelers insurance will cover you outside your home country whether you plan to be in Haiti for 5 days or for 3 years. This plan provides the essential coverage you’ll need, including doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.
It’s almost that time of year again – it’s that one week off from school to kick back and relax. That is, kick back and relax in a foreign country!
Whether you plan to enjoy the sun in Cancun, Mexico or if you’ll be navigating your way through the web of trains in Europe, you’ll need to be prepared with a spring break trip insurance. Before boarding the plane, you’ll want to make sure that you have your paperwork in order, whether that is your insurance cards or your proof of insurance if required by your destination country.
The bonus? It is guaranteed to make your parents a bit more comfortable as you venture over the border.
Most spring break trip insurance plans can be purchased for a short period and will provide coverage outside your home country allowing you the flexibility of traveling to multiple destinations. By covering yourself, you will have the security of knowing that you’ll be covered in case of sickness or injury.
For the extreme adventurer, you’re going to want your plan to cover you no matter if you’ll be skiing or ski diving. Many spring break travel plans will allow you to add additional sports coverage as well.
Many students have found our Spring Break trip insurance plan, the Travel Medical plan, a comprehensive plan well suited for short trips. Not only can you purchase just 5 days of coverage- but you’ll be covered internationally outside your home country. This plan covers you for doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation. Many students have found this plan a perfect fit as it also has the optional sports rider in case you are planning an adventurous spring break!
Learning English has become an important skill in today’s globalized world. More and more students are realizing the advantage of learning English including its growing importance in business. What better way to learn a language then to actually go abroad and be immersed in the culture and language?
ESL programs are designed as an intensive English study where you will take classes by day and be immersed in a reinforcing environment by night. This access is a unique opportunity that provides you with the tools and practice needed to pick up the language.
If you will be traveling to a foreign country to study English, you will want to make sure that you are properly equipped with health insurance for ESL students. It is common for programs to offer varying program durations from one week of classes up to several months. The Travel Medical planprovides health insurance for ESL students and will cover you outside your home country.
You will also want a plan that provides you with the option to extend coverage should you decide to continue with your stay abroad. Another consideration is that your health insurance plan should also cover you even if you decide to travel. The Travel Medical plan will allow you to purchase a minimum of 5 days of coverage up to one year. This health insurance will cover you outside your home country for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc.. Not only that, but this health insurance for ESL students also meet all government and visa requirements.
As many of you are now aware there was a very serious earthquake in Haiti. You may be wondering what you should do and who you can turn to for help in an emergency such as this.
You can refer to FEMA’s web page about “What to do After an Earthquake” The most important things are to listen to the radio and to only place phone calls in the event of an emergency, since call volumes are very high during these times.
International students and travelers should consider having a health insurance plan that will provide benefits to them for emergency medical evacuations and natural disasters.
A popular plan that offers coverage for both of these benefits is the Atlas Travel Series is an excellent choice for health insurance for students needing emergency medical evacuation and natural disaster coverage. The Atlas Travel Series provides coverage to students and travelers outside their home country. It provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, natural disasters, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc.. This plan allows students to choose maximum coverage limits (from $50,000 to $1,000,000) and your deductible (from $0 to $2,500).
After this plan is purchased, they will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail will contain the insurance card, letter of coverage, receipt, and visa letter and policy details. Students can simply print these documents out to show proof of coverage.
The UK is one of the most popular destinations for international studies. In fact, studying in the UK is the number two choice for international students in the world, second only to the USA. The UK offers international students an excellent higher education system and with hundreds of universities to choose from – it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular destination. For more demographic and statistical information about international students in the UK, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Before you leave your home country/country of citizenship you should consider having a health insurance plan for international students that will work for you in the UK.
The Atlas Travel Series is a great choice for health insurance for international students in the UK. The plan provides comprehensive coverage for doctor office visits, prescription drugs, hospitalizations, diagnostic testing, x-rays, laboratory work, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, etc. To be eligible for this plan, you do not have to be a student but you must be outside of your home country.
International students needing health insurance in the UK will find applying for the plan simple and easy – you can purchase the plan right online and get immediate coverage. After you purchase the plan, you can receive all of your insurance documents immediately via e-mail. This e-mail will include your visa letter, receipt, insurance card and policy details.
