Florida International University Student Health Insurance
August 16th, 2013 by Ross Mason
To see the latest insurance requirements for Florida International University, please see our school page here.
Florida International University (FIU) is a student-centered public research university located in Miami, Florida. It is committed to high-quality teaching, state-of-the-art research and creative activity, and collaborative engagement with its local and global communities. It is a great choice for international students considering studying in the United States.
All international students who attend FIU are required to carry coverage that meets the Florida International University Student Health Insurance requirements – and students with F and J visas are required to present proof of medical insurance before they register for classes. Like many schools in the United States, the university offers a university-sponsored policy with the State University system’s Insurance Broker, however that can sometimes be costly to purchase.
Students are however allowed to purchase their own health insurance policy, and have their insurance company complete and fax the International Student Alternative Health Insurance Compliance Form to the student health center. Although FIU’s health insurance plan is perfectly adequate for international students, you will find that it is more expensive, and you can save money by purchasing a health insurance plan from another provider.
Further Information:
Our Student Health Insurance plan Budget, Select and Elite levels meet all the health insurance coverage requirements set by Florida International University, and is less expensive than their school sponsored insurance plan. Please visit our website for more information about the plan, or contact one of our insurance experts if you would like help purchasing the right plan. You can also visit the FIU school page to learn more about your school’s requirements and how our plan meets that requirement.
Updated August 5, 2020
Navigating the US Healthcare System Video
August 14th, 2013 by Ross MasonPerhaps one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from students and schools alike, is that there are not enough resources available for international students to learn about navigating the US healthcare system. Probably one of the most complex systems in the world, we find many students are unsure of how to seek treatment appropriately or that without insurance they could be paying thousands of dollars out in medical expenses!
To help students, we have developed our new video titled “Overview of the US Healthcare System for International Students”. The video is designed to give international students an introduction on the system in the USA, including topics such as how to prepare before they travel, an overview of the US healthcare system and advice on where to seek treatment if they do become sick or injured.
You can view the video below:
We have designed the video to be educational for all international students, so that they can learn how the system works in the USA and avoid troubles or issues later down the line. For more information on various insurance topics for international students, please visit our insurance explained section for more information.
International Student Orientations
If you would like to show this short 6 minute video to your incoming international students at their orientation, or you would like to include the video on your website – please contact us as we would be happy to provide you with the embedding code or a copy on DVD.
Top 5 Benefits of Going In-Network
August 12th, 2013 by Jennifer Frankel
Your insurance plan contracts with a number of doctors, specialists, hospitals, labs, radiology facilities, and pharmacies. These providers make up your network, and can sometimes be known as your insurance provider network or PPO network. It is generally best to seek care within your network and there are several benefits of going in-network for health care.
The top 5 benefits of going in-network are:
You save money
Providers in your network have agreements with your insurance company that save you money. These providers agree to accept your plan’s contracted rate as payment in full for services. This contracted rate included both your insurer’s share of the cost and your share.
Services are provided at a lower rate
Your plan may require higher co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance for out of network care. For example, if you usually have to pay 20% of the cost of the service in-network, you may have to pay 30% of the cost out of network. Often, you will have to pay that as well as any difference between your insurer’s allowed amount and what the provider charges.
Streamlined expenses
You will typically expect that the process when seeking medical care from a provider that is part of your network is the process is much smoother and streamlined, with less paperwork to complete and in some cases you may not have to make any payments upfront.
Quality Standards
Providers are held to certain quality standards for plan members, this means that you can be certain you are receiving the highest possible quality of care when you seek in-network treatment, allowing you a certain peace of mind.
No Coverage!
Your plan may not cover out of network care at all. If this is the case, you will have the pay the full cost of treatment yourself, and paying for health care without insurance can get very expensive very quickly.
If you seek health care from a provider outside of your network, you will certainly end up paying more for care, for a variety of reasons. If at all possible, try to make sure that any health care providers you use are within your insurance network. This will help keep your out-of-pocket expenses relatively low. For more information about insurance provider networks, please visit our insurance explained section to learn more.
University of North Carolina Charlotte International Student Insurance
August 10th, 2013 by Ross Mason
This blog has been updated to reflect the new insurance requirements for the University of North Carolina Charlotte for the 2019-2020 school year.
The University of North Carolina in Charlotte requires all international student have health insurance while in attendance at the school. UNC Charlotte offers students the University of North Carolina Charlotte International Student Insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield, in which international students can choose to enroll. However students also have the option to choose to waive this plan and enroll in another US or home country plan that meets the university’s minimum health insurance requirements.
Alternative Health Insurance
The minimum requirements that your health plan must meet are:
- Full sickness and accident coverage per plan year
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness per plan year
- Deductible no greater than $500
- Minimum of $25,000 for repatriation coverage
- Minimum of $50,000 for medical evacuation
- Pregnancy and mental health benefits (must be comparable to the benefits offered in the Student Insurance plan)
Health Insurance that Meets Your Requirements
Our Student Health Insurance plan meets all of these requirements on both the Select and Elite levels. Choosing either of these plans over UNC Charlotte’s school sponsored plan will save you a considerable amount of money.
- UNC Charlotte School plan $1,313.50 for 9/1 until 12/31
- Our Student Health plan for an international student between 18-24 years old:
- Select – $448.29 for 9/1 until 12/31
- Elite – $824.67 for 9/1 until 12/31
If you do choose to waive the school sponsored plan, your dates of coverage need to be through December 31. You will need to complete an online insurance waiver and send a copy of your policy declaration page to the school for review. The deadline for the waiver form is September 10, 2019.
For more information on our plan, please visit our website, or you can contact one of our insurance experts who will be more than happy to assist you. You can also learn more about the International Student Health Insurance requirements for University of North Carolina Charlotte on our school requirements page.
Updated July 2, 2019
Carnival in Rio for International Students
August 9th, 2013 by Ross Mason
If you study in Brazil over the spring semester, you will have the opportunity to experience the Carnival of Brazil. The Brazilian Carnival is an annual festival that takes place from the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It is the most famous holiday in Brazil, and has become an event of huge proportions. The country more or less stops completely for about a week while the festivals continue, day and night.
Carnival celebrations differ from one region of Brazil to another. The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is considered to be the biggest carnival in the world, with two million people per day in the streets. The city hosts a huge organized parade led by samba schools. A samba school is a large group of performers, financed by respected organizations (although some are sponsored by illegal gambling groups). They work year-round in preparation for Carnival and the Carnival in Rio for International Students is a must-see event!
One of the key purposes of the Rio Carnival parade is for samba schools to compete amongst each other. This competition is the climax of the Carnival celebration. It runs for four nights, and at the end one school is declared the winner. They are judged by costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance.
Another feature of the Rio Carnival is the blocos. Blocos are groups of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes and/or logos. They include both a percussion or music group and an entourage of revelers. They are generally associated with certain neighborhoods.
Street festivals are very common during Carnival, and are extremely popular with the locals, as anyone is allowed to participate in the street festivals. Music and dancing make up an integral part of the celebrations. In 2012, over 5 million people attended a bloco in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival is an experience you will certainly not want to miss if you have the opportunity to experience it. Let loose and experience the festival in all its glory!
To learn more about Brazil in general, and the Brazil International Student Insurance requirements, please visit our website for more information.
Making Insurance Purchases Easier | New Application System
August 8th, 2013 by Ross MasonOver the last few weeks we have been working hard at developing our new online application system with the aim of making insurance purchases easier, and we are proud to announce that the new system went live yesterday, offering our clients some excellent new features and tweaks. The new system is designed to be easier to use, and should make your insurance purchase that much smoother.
Some of the new features include:
- Simplified 4 step process to purchase coverage
- Running summary on the sidebar so you can always see what you are purchasing
- Save quote & email feature allowing you to come back to your application later
- Live chat embedded into the application to contact us quickly if needed
Both applications are available on our main products – and you can purchase coverage and run free quotes now at:
We have also created a brief tutorial for our students to walk them through the Student Secure application:
If you would like more information about the system, or need help purchasing coverage please contact one of our insurance experts who will be more than happy to help you.
Crushing Student Insurance Myths
August 5th, 2013 by ahoontrakul
“So if it wasn’t confusing enough that I’m moving to an entirely different country to study, learn a new culture and make a new set of friends all over again – I have to figure out their insurance/ health system too?”
Ok, so this may not be exactly what international students in the US are thinking, but often times, students are confused about the purpose of health insurance and how it works in the US compared to other countries around the world.
Sure, as an international student you can ask your American friends to help you out, but that can cause even more confusion. For example, your American friends may be covered under their parent’s insurance policy and those are very different when compared to international student insurance plans. Benefits are different, access to care may be different, regulations on those plans are different – you get the picture!
To help you through this process, and crush those student insurance myths – here are two of the most common myths that international students (and sometimes even Americans) have about student insurance.
#1 – “I can just buy insurance when I need it, worst case I might just have to pay a little bit more”
FALSE! If you get sick or injured today and you want to buy an insurance policy so that you can use right away for that injury/ illness – it will not work! The plan will not cover you. Think about it, would you be able to buy home insurance to cover your home against it burning down, after it has already burnt down? With all insurance, it is meant to protect you against something that may happen in the future, not what has already happened.
#2 – “A good insurance plan will cover me for everything”
FALSE AGAIN! Not many health insurance plans cover you for “everything”. A good student insurance plan will cover you for your medical costs if you get sick or injured. However, all insurance plans includes some exclusions or limitations. For example, many insurance plans will not cover you incase your injured while participating in dangerous sports. Some may not cover you if you injure yourself while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. So it’s important to read your insurance policies benefits and exclusion in detail, and perhaps a better question than “does the insurance cover everything?” ask “what are the exclusions on the insurance?”
There are many other myths about student insurance out there. To read more about them, check out our article on Student Insurance Myths and Realities. And if you have any insurance myths to share, post it in the comment section.
Not sure if what you heard is a myth or reality? Ask our insurance agent so they can tell you the fact and bust those myths for you!
Florida Atlantic University International Student Health Insurance
August 3rd, 2013 by Ross Mason
International students from all over the world are attracted to Florida’s sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and world-famous attractions. These students study at any one of Florida’s many high-quality colleges and universities, including Florida Atlantic University. As an international student studying in the United States, it is likely that your school requires you to show proof of sufficient international student health insurance coverage for the duration of your studies. Your school will probably offer a sponsored health insurance plan for its students, but you may choose instead to purchase your own private health insurance. This often proves to be the cheaper option!
Alternative Insurance Coverage
At Florida Atlantic University, international students are allowed to register for classes only after they have demonstrated that they hold medical insurance coverage that meets the guidelines set by the Florida Board of Governors Regulation BOG 6.009 and FAU Regulation 4.009. International students with either F-1 or J-1 status must maintain continuous insurance coverage for the entire duration of their studies at FAU. For more information about the Florida Atlantic University International Student Health Insurance requirements, please visit their school requirement page.
Florida Atlantic University offers a school sponsored health insurance policy and the annual cost for this plan for an international student is $1,475.
Although this insurance plan is perfectly adequate, you may choose instead to purchase a less expensive health insurance policy elsewhere. Our Student Health Insurance plan Select and Elite Level, for example, meets all the health insurance coverage requirements set by Florida Atlantic University, and costs less. For an international student aged between 18 and 24, the annual cost on our plans are:
- Select – $1,066.52 per year
- Elite – $1,961.96 per year
Updated June 21, 2019
August 2013 Travel Warnings
August 2nd, 2013 by Ross Mason
The August 2013 Travel Warnings are a listing of any warnings that have been posted by the US Department of State in the month of July, warning travelers who plan to visit those countries. Remember to exercise extra care if you are visiting these countries, and check with your travel insurance provider to make sure you still have coverage in place – sometimes coverage can be excluded to countries that are under a travel warning.
Countries listed through the month of July 2013 include:
Saudi Arabia – 25th July 2013
Department of State urges travelers to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia. As the August 26, 2012, arrest of two terrorist cells by Saudi security authorities indicates, there remains an ongoing security threat due to the continued presence of terrorist groups, some affiliated with al-Qaida, who may target Western interests, housing compounds, hotels, shopping areas, and other facilities where Westerners congregate.
Mali – 18th July 2013
The U.S. Department of State warns against all travel to Mali because of ongoing conflict in northern Mali, fluid political conditions, and continuing threats of attacks and kidnappings of westerners. While the security situation in Bamako remains relatively stable, there are ongoing security concerns and military operations taking place in the northern and western parts of the country.
Yemen – 16th July 2013
Due to the ongoing unrest in the Yemen, the security threat level in Yemen is extremely high. In September 2012, a mob attacked the U.S. Embassy compound. Demonstrations continue to take place in various parts of the country and may quickly escalate and turn violent. Travelers are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise extreme caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration.
Niger – 15th July 2013
The U.S. Department of State warns of the risks of travel to Niger. Those considering travel to Niger should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing threats to safety and security. On June 13, 2013, the Department of State approved authorized departure for family members of Embassy personnel because of security concerns. Since that time, circumstances have improved and, as of July 12, the U.S. Embassy in Niger is no longer on authorized departure status.
Mexico – 12th July 2013
Although millions of travelers visit Mexico each year, the department feels travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) which engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. The TCOs themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity. Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere. Visitors have fallen victim to criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery. While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs, innocent persons have also been killed.
Philippines – 5th July 2013
The Department of State warns of the risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago and the island of Mindanao due to the continuing threats in those areas due to terrorist and insurgent activities. It is recommended to defer non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago, due to the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there.
Kenya – 5th July 2013
The U.S. government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at U.S., Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. Terrorist acts can include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports. Therefore they are recommending that those traveling to Kenya should evaluate their personal security situation to make sure they are prepared.
Egypt – 3rd July 2013
Due to the continuing political and social unrest, the State Department advises that all non-essential travel to Egypt should be postponed until the situation improves. Political unrest, which intensified prior to the constitutional referendum in December 2012 and the anniversary in 2013 of Egypt’s 25th January Revolution, is likely to continue in the near future.
While traveling, please keep these June 2013 travel warnings in mind. Additionally, travelers are advised to enroll through the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to stay up to date on travel security information.
University of Central Florida International Student Health Insurance
July 31st, 2013 by Jennifer FrankelThe University of Central Florida has selected ISI as a pre-approved insurance option for international students. Learn more and apply online to meet your school’s requirements.
Because health care costs in the United States can easily add up, many colleges and universities in the US require international students to purchase medical insurance coverage for their time abroad. Depending on the school, international students may be required to purchase the school’s group plan unless they can show proof of an alternate health insurance policy that meets a certain set of insurance requirements.
UCF Insurance Requirements for International Students
The University of Central Florida is one of these schools that requires their international students to purchase health insurance plan for the duration of their studies. UCF does have a group health insurance plan, however if international students are able to show proof of insurance that meets their minimum health insurance requirements, they can opt out and choose a plan of their own. Many times, these options can be more affordable and allows students to choose a plan that will meet their particular health needs.
Alternative Health Insurance
If you are interested in University of Central Florida International Student Health Insurance for the 2020-2021 year, there are certain requirements that you will be required to prove in order to choose your own international student insurance. Among the requirements, you must have a plan that has a policy maximum of $100,000 per injury/illness, mental health, maternity, has a $50 deductible at the Student Health Center, and more.
Our StudentSecure -UCF Plan will meet these and the other listed coverage requirements set forth by the University of Central Florida. While UCF offers an excellent insurance plan, our plan can save you money for the new school year. If you are an international student ages 24 and younger, here’s how the costs stack up:
- University of Central Florida’s Group Plan: $2,923 per year
- Our Student Health Plan
- Select – $1,161.16 per year
- Elite – $2,140.32 per year
If you are interested in learning more about our plan, please check out our benefits page or speak to a representative who can help you navigate your international student insurance. You can also learn more about the International Student Health Insurance for the University of Central Florida, check out the insurance requirements on our school requirements page.
Updated July 29, 2020
