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.
After China, India sends the greatest number of students abroad. The majority of Indian students study in the United States, which is followed by Australia, the UK, Germany and Canada. Health insurance for Indian students studying abroad in important especially as health care may work differently than in India.
Unlike India’s national health care, countries like the United States provide private health care. In the United States, the medical expenses can be costly and you’ll be expected to provide insurance coverage in many doctor’s offices and hospitals. Indian students studying abroad in the US under an F-1 visa may be required by their school or organization to have coverage before the first day of school. Indian students studying under a J-1 visa are required by the US government to have insurance, including repatriation and emergency medical evacuation.
In Australia, the government provides insurance coverage through Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC), which will need to be purchased prior to arrival. In other counties like the UK and Canada where they do offer public health care, it is possible that you may not be covered. The British and Canadian Embassies recommend that Indian students have adequate health insurance before arrival since medical treatment can be expensive and students are not covered by their national health care. The exception to this is in the UK if you’ve been covered by a reciprocal health care agreement or enrolled in a course that is 6 months or longer.
Indians traveling to Germany to study are required to have insurance under the Student visa. Students under the age of 30 or until their 14th academic semester can take out the public health insurance, or you can choose to opt out for a private health insurance. International students over the age of 30 will no longer be eligible for the student rate and may voluntarily choose a public fund or a private health insurance provider.
When you are looking for your insurance while studying abroad or if you plan on traveling to other countries, you’ll want a plan that will cover you for the full duration of your studies or trip. The Student Health Insurance is designed to cover you up to 4 years of studying and meets many school and government requirements. The plan includes comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage (doctor visits and hospitalization), prescriptions, mental health, maternity, sports coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, etc.
If you are preparing to study in Spain, you will need Spain student insurance to meet the Spanish visa requirements.
Spain is considered a Schengen country, which requires that you have 30,000 euros in coverage. However, the Embassy has added additional requirements for students studying in Spain. In addition to the minimum coverage requirement, your Spain student insurance requires that you have 100% coverage up until 30,000 euros – or its $50,000 USD equivalent.
What does this mean to you? Your Spain student insurance must not have a deductible, co-payment, or coinsurance to be accepted by the Embassy. In addition, your Spain student insurance must include medical expense coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services.
When applying for your visa, you will need to provide a certificate of coverage/visa letter for proof of your Spain student insurance. Many insurance companies will allow you to purchase your Spain student insurance before departing on your trip. You will be able to choose your dates of coverage, which should be for the entire period you plan to stay in Spain.
Many students have opted for the Atlas Travel plan since this is a comprehensive insurance plan that meets all of the Spanish visa requirements. This Spain student insurance will allow you to choose a $0 deductible, or no deductible, and provides 100% coverage up until the policy maximum you select, with a minimum of $50,000 USD.
After you purchase the Atlas Travel plan, you will have immediate access to your visa letter at Student Zone. You would then just attach this letter to your student visa application. If for any reason you are not issued your visa, you would receive a full-refund. You will just need to send a written or emailed cancellation request before your plan begins.
Chinese students make up a large portion of students studying abroad. Health insurance is often times a big concern as most countries, colleges and Universities require that international students have it.
The Atlas Travel Series is an excellent choice for health insurance for Chinese students studying abroad. The Atlas Travel Series provides coverage to students studying outside their home country. It provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, 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).
The plan meets all of the requirements for the Schengen and US visa’s. In addition to that it can protect students from financial burden in the event of an unexpected illness or injury. So whether it’s required or not – it’s a smart idea for all Chinese students studying abroad to have health insurance.
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, visa letter and policy details. Students can simply print these documents out to show proof of coverage.
Denmark has become a popular international study destination for students from European countries including the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany…… and now from Asia, with a large number of Chinese students. Denmark is a popular destination for students to study for a number of reasons, including modern teaching styles, English familiarity and high academic standards.
One additional reason Denmark is popular with international students – free health insurance!
Well, almost free – as an international student in Denmark, if you get a residence permit and register with the municipal registration office upon your arrival, you will be covered by the Danish national health care within approximately 6-8 weeks.
Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a travel medical health insurance policy for at least the first 8 weeks of your stay, when you will not yet be covered by Danish national health insurance. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing a private plan for the duration of your stay which could provide coverage such as emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage, to cover you on the trip to and from Denmark and any other trips, and for the additional protections a private plan provides.
If you are considering purchasing a travel health insurance plan, or a private insurance plan to cover you in Denmark or abroad, we can offer a range of plans to suit all needs. Please do not hesitate to contact our support team who will be more than happy to assist you.
Sweden is a popular destination for international students – last year over 25,000 international students studied in Sweden. High-quality English language instruction, a high standard of living, and free tuition have all contributed to Sweden’s popularity with foreign students. Although Sweden has announced plans to begin charging tuition fees to non-EU students no later than January 1, 2010, Sweden is likely to remain a popular destination.
One item that all foreign students in Sweden must address is health insurance – in Sweden, medical care is very expensive if you do not have health insurance. Here are the Swedish health insurance requirements for different categories of international students:
Non-EU/EEA Students Staying Less Than 3 Months
International students or travelers in Sweden staying less than 3 months will not need a residence permit and will not qualify for public health benefits. Therefore students and visitors should purchase travel health insurance that meets all Schengen Visa insurance requirements (as Sweden is a Schengen country). For these travelers and students, the Atlas Travel Plan is the best insurance solution and will offer travel health benefits such as hospitalization, doctors visits, evacuation, repatriation and much more….
Non-EU Students Staying More Than 3 Months and Less Than One Year
Students planning to stay in Sweden for more than 3 months but less than one year must apply for a residence permit before they arrive; however, they will not be eligible for Sweden’s public health insurance benefits. In this case, a student should purchase comprehensive international travel medical insurance or international student health insurance that meets Sweden’s requirements. In both these cases, the Atlas Travel Medical plan and Student Secure plan would be ideal and can be purchased from 5 days up to 12 months (depending on the plan choice) and will provide a range of travel and student health benefits.
Non-EU/EEA Students Staying More Than a Year
Students staying in Sweden for more than a year must apply for a residence permit before arriving, and they are entitled to Sweden’s public health benefits. Immediately upon arrival in Sweden, you should apply for civil registration at your local tax office. Upon application, you will be eligible for public health benefits even while waiting for your registration to be complete. However, your travel to and from Sweden would not be covered, and the time you spend in Sweden before applying for registration would also not be covered. To fill those gaps, and for the comfort of having additional coverage anywhere you may travel to while studying in Sweden, many students purchase a supplemental travel medical insurance policy. In this case, the Atlas Travel Series would be the best plan.
Students from Nordic and EU/EEA countries
As a student from a Nordic or EU/EEA country, you must register beforehand at a social insurance office in your home country and obtain a European health insurance card, or a FormE128 or E111. When seeking medical care in Sweden, you simply need to bring that card or form with you.
Students from Nordic or EU/EEA countries that do not register with their social insurance office in their home country will need to purchase health insurance, just as non-EU/EEA students do.
To learn more about our plans for students and travelers visiting or studying in Sweden please see:
If you are planning to travel to Russia, whether for work, school or fun, you should purchase adequate health and travel insurance. For some, insurance is mandatory – for instance, travelers from the European Union are required to have medical insurance for their visa (due to reciprocity for the insurance requirements of the Schengen Visa). According to the Russian Embassy, there are no specific requirements for the insurance, except that it be valid in Russia.
The US State Department has stated that “western medical care in Moscow can be expensive, difficult to obtain, and not entirely comprehensive.” Although US citizens are not required for their visa to have insurance before traveling to Russia, the State Department “strongly urges all travelers who visit Russia to purchase travelers’ medical insurance which includes coverage for medical evacuation.”
The Atlas International plan, health and travel insurance offered by International Student Insurance, provides comprehensive international coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. With this travel medical plan you can select the days of coverage to match your trip, ranging from 5 days up to one year, renewable for up to 3 years in total. Visit the Atlas International page to learn more, or to quote or buy online.
If you will work or live in Russia for a year or more, you should purchase long-term major medical insurance with Russian coverage. The Citizen Secure plan provides coverage for all medical providers in Russia and is a comprehensive annually renewable plan with $5,000,000 of coverage. Visit the Citizen Secure page to learn more or to quote or buy online.
As many of you might know, the Italian Embassy requires non-European citizens to have proof of health insurance. The policy needs to provide coverage specifically in Italy and meet the specific health insurance requirements the Italian Embassy has set forth.
The Italian government requires a signed declaration from the insurance company, also known as the certificate of coverage, that is accepted by the Italian Embassy as proof of insurance. This letter must include the following:
-The dates of coverage must be for the entire trip
-The policy is valid in Italy
-Emergency Medical Evacuation, Hospitalization, Medical Expenses and Repatriation are included in coverage
-The policy provides at least $45,000 (or 30,000 euros) in coverage
To further elaborate, Italy is part of the Schengen Treaty countries. Thus, your health insurance plan must meet Schengen visa requirements. You will need to provide a visa letter from your insurance company that states you are particularly covered in Italy. You will also need to show proof that you have coverage for medical expenses, hospitalizations, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. Coverage for these benefits must not be less than 30,000 euros. When you go to your visa consulate appointment, make sure you bring your visa letter from the insurance company. The visa letter must show that you are covered for all the above benefits as well as the particular dates you are requesting the visa for. We offer two policies that meet and exceed the visa insurance requirements for Italy.
The Atlas International plan provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. This plan allows you to choose your maximum coverage limit (from $50,000 to $1,000,000) and your deductible (from $0 to $2,500). This plan provides worldwide coverage excluding your home country. To be eligible for this plan, you do not have to be a student but you must be outside of your home country.
The Student Secure plan is for full time college students. Student Secure comes in two levels, budget and select. The plan provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage up to $250,000 (budget) or $300,000 (select). The plan also includes maternity, mental health, prescription drugs, sports coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. You have the option to pay for it all at once or on a monthly basis.
You can apply directly online for these plans. 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. You can simply print these documents out, particularly your visa letter, and provide them to the Italian Embassy. Many plans, including the Atlas Travel and Student Secure, provide these letters once the policy has been purchased.
Many international students are going to Spain for studies and it’s important to have a health insurance plan that will meet the requirements for your student visa in Spain.
To apply for your student visa, you will have to present a letter (visa letter) from your insurance provider confirming that you have “international insurance coverage for health and accident with a minimum coverage equal to 30,000 euros (or its equivalent in US dollars) during the planning period of your stay in Spain”. Please note that a photocopy of your insurance card will not be sufficient proof. Your visa letter, should indicate your name, policy number, type of insurance coverage received overseas (i.e. accident, sickness, evacuation and repatriation) the dollar amount of your insurance coverage, and the effective and termination dates of your insurance policy.
There are two plans that work great and meet the requirements for Spain. They are the Atlas International and the Student Secure plans.
The Atlas International travel medical plan provides coverage outside your home country for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc.. This plan allows you to choose your maximum coverage limit (from $50,000 to $1,000,000) and your deductible (from $0 to $2,500). You do not have to be a student to be eligible for this plan.
The Student Secure comes in two levels, budget and select. The plan provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage up to $250,000 (budget) or $300,000 (select). The plan provides coverage for maternity, mental health, prescription drugs, sports coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc.
The main difference between the two plans is that the Atlas International plan doesn’t provide coverage for maternity, mental health and pre-existing conditions and the Student Secure plan is designed to allow you to make monthly payments.
How long does it take for the visa to be ready?
Generally, you should apply for your visa about 8-12 weeks before the date of your arrival in Spain. First, you must have a passport valid for at least six months after the date that your program ends, so be sure to allow adequate time to obtain or renew your passport and get the visa application processed.
In order to obtain a visa to travel to Germany, all non-European citizens must have a travel/medical insurance policy that meets particular requirements. The policy also must show that you are specifically covered in the country of Germany. There are many worldwide policies that cover you outside of your home country. So, it may be wise to purchase one of these policies in case you might be traveling to one of the other European Union countries.
Health insurance requirements for the German visa are that your policy provides at least 30,000 euros (or $37,500) in coverage. The policy is to provide benefits for emergency medical evacuation, medical expenses and repatriation (return of your mortal remains to your home country). Most domestic, U.S. health insurance policies do not provide this coverage in countries outside the U.S. Typically, they will provide emergency only type coverage. This will not be sufficient for the consulate. In addition to meeting the above requirements, you also must submit written proof of coverage to the consulate. It must state that you have coverage in Germany and show that you have coverage up to the required amount for the necessary benefits.
It can be difficult finding policies that meet these requirements. I would recommend either the Atlas International or Student Secure policy. Both of these policies meet and exceed the visa requirements. In fact, many students and travelers have purchased them and have had no issues in meeting the consulate’s requirements. You can apply directly online for these plans using a debit or credit card. After you purchase the plan, you can receive all of your insurance documents immediately via e-mail. Specifically, you will receive access to a visa letter. It will state which country you are particularly going to, how much you are covered for and will have your name and passport on it. It is also signed by an insurance representative. Once you’ve downloaded it, you can print it out and provide it to the consulate.
The Atlas International plan provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. This plan allows you to choose your maximum coverage limit (from $50,000 to $1,000,000) and your deductible (from $0 to $2,500). This plan provides worldwide coverage excluding your home country. To be eligible for this plan, you do not have to be a student but you must be outside of your home country.
The Student Secure plan is for full time college students. Student Secure comes in two levels, budget and select. The plan provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage up to $250,000 (budget) or $300,000 (select). The plan also includes maternity, mental health, prescription drugs, sports coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. You have the option to pay for it all at once or on a monthly basis.
