International Students in South Carolina
July 13th, 2012 by Bryanna DavisIndividuals interested in becoming one of the many international students in South Carolina for this upcoming fall semester do not have much time left before the deadlines will start rolling in. Schools will want to make sure their international students have been successfully admitted, have their student visa in place, have purchased an insurance plan that meets their requirements and that they are starting to think about their housing arrangements, classes and getting situated in their new environment.
If you do not have any of these items complete yet but would like to be one of the international students in South Carolina next school year, you can start by finding a school that is right for you.
South Carolina has a plethora of colleges and universities to choose from throughout the state. Whether you would like to attend a school that is primarily focused on one area of study like Greenville Technical College, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary or Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic or if you prefer to attend a school that offers multiple subjects to choose from like Lander University, Furman University, Wofford College or Winthrop University, there are multiple schools to choose from in South Carolina.
After you find a school that you would like to attend you will need to then contact their admissions department directly regarding their international admissions process and start completing the required documents as soon as possible. The admissions department is also a good place to start when it comes to finding out what other requirements you will need to meet are like insurance requirements. Many schools require that their international students have an international student health insurance plan that will meet a certain list of coverage benefits.
If you are looking for a plan that will meet your school’s insurance requirements that are given to international students in South Carolina, you can search through our school requirements database to see what plan will meet your school’s list of coverage benefits or contact one of our licensed agents who will help you find a plan that meets your needs.
Student Health Insurance for Portugal
July 6th, 2012 by Bryanna DavisMany students that decide to travel while studying have turned to Portugal in order to complete a semester or year abroad. It’s not a secret as to why students would want to study in Portugal. The country has hundreds of miles of coastline to relax on between study sessions, history that dates back hundreds of years to compliment any history class and plenty of culture to offer an international student looking to dive into a new environment.
If you are a student interested in studying in Portugal, you have probably already realized that the school year is approaching fast and there is not much time left to make sure you have everything in place, including your student health insurance for Portugal.
Since Portugal is part of the Schengen region, if you will be there for up to 90 days you will need to obtain a Schengen visa, meaning you will need student health insurance that meets the Schengen visa requirements. One popular student health insurance for Portugal option is the Atlas Travel.
The Atlas Travel plan will meet the 30,000 euro requirement with the lowest coverage option available and gives you the choice to pick a $0 deductible. A few benefits included in the Atlas Travel plan include repatriation of remains, emergency medical evacuation, doctor visits, emergency reunion, hospital room and board, trip interruption, local ambulance and accidental death and dismemberment. The Atlas Travel plan will meet your Schengen visa requirements, but also provide you with the coverage you need as a student abroad.
If student health insurance for Portugal has been the last thing on your mind while planning your studies abroad, you have the ability to purchase your health insurance right online and receive your confirmation of coverage right away.
If you would like to purchase your student health insurance for Portugal, contact one of our licensed agents today.
July 2012 Travel Warning
July 1st, 2012 by Jennifer FrankelFor many students, it’s summer time and that means school is out. It is a popular time for students to take advantage of their time off and travel around the world. Whether Europe, Asia, North America, or South America is on your list of destinations, it is important to be aware of what’s going on in the international environment. This July 2012 Travel Warning blog will let you know of the current travel warnings that were recently issued in the last month.
Since our last June 2012 Travel Warning, there have been five travel warnings issued that all travelers to the region should be aware of:
- Travel Warning for the Philippines – June 14, 2012 – Replacing the already existing travel warning from January 5, 2012, the Department of State warns travelers of terrorist activities especially around Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao. Threats exist including kidnapping and violence.
- Travel Warning for Somalia – June 15, 2012 – This travel warning also replaces the current warning from August 19, 2011. Travelers should know that there is no U.S. Embassy or U.S. diplomatic presence in the country and thus recommends avoiding all travel to the country. Terrorist activities have resulted in kidnappings, murders, roadblocks, theft, and other violence against foreigners in the region.
- Travel Warning for Haiti – June 18, 2012 – Replacing the warning from August 8, 2011, this travel warning states that there are security concerns including the “crime level, the prevalence of cholera, lack of adequate infrastructure – particularly in medical facilities – seasonal severe inclement weather, and limited police protection.” While many travelers visit the region without any problems, visitors should keep these concerns in mind when planning a visit to the country.
- Travel Warning for Nigeria – June 21, 2012 – Replacing the warning back in February 2012, this travel warning advises against any travel to the following states due to kidnappings, robberies, and armed attaches: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano. The President of Nigeria back in December 2011 declared a state of emergency in 15 different areas that in many cases remain in effect.
- Travel Warning for Afghanistan – June 27, 2012 – Replacing the warning back in December 2011, the warning continues to restate the security threat that exists in the region including kidnapping and insurgent attacks. The security remains uncertain and can be unsafe due to military combat, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry, and violent attacks.
Our July 2012 Travel Warning is an overview of the Department of State’s newly issued warnings. To read more and stay up to date with the latest, we recommend that you check out the Department of State’s website which monitors the international climate closely.
ประกันสุขภาพสำหรับฟินแลนด์
June 30th, 2012 by ahoontrakulเริ่มต้นตั้งแต่ปี 2007 รัฐบาลฟินแลนด์ได้แนะนำกฎหมายสำหรับนักศึกษาต่างชาติทุกคนที่จะเข้าเรียนในมหาวิทยาลัยในประเทศฟินแลนด์ให้ต้องมีประกันสุขภาพสำหรับเรียนที่ฟินแลนด์
กฎระเบียบประกันสำหรับนักศึกษาต่างชาติในประเทศฟินแลนด์ในปัจจุบันนี้คือ:
- สำหรับนักศึกษาที่อยู่ในประเทศฟินแลนด์น้อยกว่า 2 ปี ต้องมีประกันสุขภาพส่วนตัวที่คุ้มครองค่ารักษาพยาบาล วงเงิน 100,000 ยูโร ขึ้นไป
- สำหรับนักศึกษาที่อยู่ในประเทศฟินแลนด์มากกว่า 2 ปีขึ้นไป ต้องมีประกันสุขภาพที่ครอบคุมค่ารักษาพยาบาล วงเงิน 30,000 ยูโร เป็นอย่างน้อย
ตั้งแต่นั้นมา ที่ InternationalStudentInsurance.com เราเป็นบริษัทชั้นนำที่จะให้การประกันสุขภาพสำหรับนักศึกษาต่างชาติที่ฟินแลนด์
แผนประกันสุขภาพสำหรับฟินแลนด์ที่นิยมมากที่สุดของเราเรียกว่า Atlas plan สำหรับนักเรียนอายุ 18-29 ปี ราคาเริ่มต้นที่เพียงแค่ 273 เหรียญสหรัฐฯ (ประมาณ 8,700 บาท ต่อปี)
อีกแผนหนึ่งที่นิยมของเรานั้นเรียกว่า Student Secure plan แผนนี้เป็นแผนเฉพาะสำหรับนักศึกษาที่สามารถคุ้มครองค่าตั้งครรภ์ จิตวิทยาและ สามารถที่จะจ่ายรายเดือนได้ด้วย
กรุณาติดต่อเราถ้าหากคุณมีคำถามเกี่ยวกับการประกันภัยสำหรับนักศึกษาที่ฟินแลนด์
How to Study Abroad
June 29th, 2012 by Bryanna DavisAre you a student who has always wondered what it would be like to travel to different countries around the world and see sights like the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower and the Great Barrier Reef? Many times students find that studying for tests, finding financial aid and hanging out with a roommate might take precedence over finding out how to study abroad and make this dream of travel actually happen. Here are a few key point to help you figure out how to study abroad.
When coming up with a game plan on how to study abroad, you will first need to decide where to study abroad. There are numerous locations around the world that would compliment a year of learning, however, you will also need to make sure that your school offers a study abroad program for the overseas school you have in mind. Contact your school’s international office and find out which schools around the world they have a student exchange agreement with.
After you have established a school to study overseas at you will then need to make sure you can afford a semester or year abroad. Since the number of international students around the world has increased within recent years, so has the number of financial aid options for those individuals. Study abroad loans and international scholarships are both good places to start when determining how you will fund your studies abroad.
The next step in determining how to study abroad is finding out what paperwork you will need to complete. It is best to dive into the required paperwork as soon as possible to have it complete by the deadline. Many schools have lengthy study abroad applications that require letters of recommendation, official transcripts, international student health insurance, proof of funds and sometimes even an essay. It is best to get this in as soon as possible so the process is not delayed. However, you should not rush the purchase of your international student health insurance plan. Before purchasing your insurance, it is best to check what visa requirements you will need to meet with your plan. If you are unsure which plan you need to purchase to meet your requirements, you can contact one of our agents for assistance.
The preparation to study abroad takes effort and time, but the reward of traveling the world is what makes it worthwhile.
Insurance for your University
June 22nd, 2012 by Bryanna DavisBecoming an international student can be a lot of work, but it can also be a very rewarding experience. Before classes even begin, most international students have a stack of paper work to complete and a check list of guidelines to comply to, including finding international student health insurance that will meet their school requirements.
Since each school has their own requirements that they have put in place for their international students to meet with their insurance plan, you are able to search our school requirements database to see if we have insurance for your university.
Many students purchase the Student Secure plan since it will meet many school requirements such as maternity, repatriation of remains, emergency medical evacuation, mental health care and prescriptions. Also, since this plan is able to be purchased on a monthly basis, you only have to buy coverage for the time that you need, whether that is one month, one semester or one year*.
Some schools have an insurance plan that international students must purchase or waive out of. Usually schools will allow students to waive out of the university insurance plan as long as the alternate insurance plan will cover certain benefits as laid out in a school-provided waiver form. If you would like to purchase one of our plans that will meet your school’s requirements but are required to also complete a waiver form, we can take care of this for you. After you purchase insurance for your university we will complete the waiver form and ensure it is sent to your school. That way you can focus on completing other items on your check list to become an international student.
Finding insurance for your university can be difficult if your school has several benefit requirements listed. Contact one of our agents today to see if we have a plan that will meet your school insurance requirements.
*Coverage can be purchased for up to 364 days with the option to renew.
Russian Study Abroad Health Insurance
June 16th, 2012 by ahoontrakul
Russia has become an economically powerful country in the world. Any students who have considered studying in Russia in the near future, now is a great time to do so because of its economic growth in the recent decades. However, many students going to study in Russia may find that they must obtain a Russian study abroad health insurance plan in order to apply for a visa.
International students are encouraged to have international health and medical insurance before arriving in Russia. If you will be studying in Russia for longer than 3 months, you should also know that Russian law requires an HIV test report to be submitted before arrival, so be sure to put it on the list of things to do prior to leaving your home country.
Purchasing health insurance while in your home country is recommended by many throughout Russia. “Educational institutions are able to offer only Russian state-subsidized health insurance provided by the old dilapidated system of Russian clinics and hospitals, so we strongly recommend securing your own international health and medical insurance before you arrive,” according to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Education in Russia for Foreigners webpage.
Our Russian study abroad health insurance plan called the Atlas Travel plan is a health and travel insurance plan available to students from anywhere around the world going to Russia. The plan provides comprehensive international coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. With the Atlas Travel plan you can choose to have coverage from 5 days up to one year and it is renewable for up to 3 years in total so you can purchase it to match your specific coverage period that you need.
Feel free to contact our friendly customer service agents with any questions you have about our Russian study abroad health insurance plan.
Hungary Student Health Insurance
June 15th, 2012 by Bryanna DavisAre you considering becoming an international student in Hungary? Each year Hungary draws in international students that are interested in studying the sciences, who enjoy exciting nightlife and those that appreciate architecture.
A few of the top universities that international students in Hungary choose to study at include McDaniel College, Semmelweis University, Corvinus University of Budapest, Szent Istvan University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Franz Liszt Academy and Central European University (CEU).
Although Hungary is a smaller country tucked inside of Europe, it still has plenty to keep an international student busy during any free time. There are many locations throughout Hungary where culture and history can be explored such as the Castle District in Budapest and the small town of Esztergom. A few other attractions that international students in Hungary will want to check out between hitting the books and attending classes include the thermal baths, the Great Hungarian Plain, the Elizabeth Bridge, the Caves of Aggtelek and the Budapest Parliament building.
It is a good idea to know ahead of time what you will need before classes start. If you will be an international student in Hungary for longer than 90 days, you more than likely will need to have a Schengen Visa before you arrive in Hungary. If you will be applying for the Schengen visa to become an international student in Hungary, you will need to have proof of Hungary student health insurance that meets the Schengen visa requirements. Also, if you have already decided which school you will be attending, it is important to check with that institution as well to ensure your Hungary student insurance plan will meet any requirements they have in place for international students.
If you would like more information on international student health insurance or to purchase Hungary student health insurance, contact one of our licensed agents today.
International Student Insurance Plan Updates 2012
June 14th, 2012 by ahoontrakul
In 2012, International Student Insurance made some very exciting benefit upgrades to the Student Secure and Atlas Travel plans – two of our most popular health insurance options for students overseas. Along with increasing coverage, most of our plans kept rates the same and some even had a rate reduction!
The Student Secure plan, a popular option for international students in the US, provides comprehensive medical coverage for sickness and injury. With the Budget and Select level, students have coverage for maternity, organized sports injuries as well as pre-existing conditions. Additionally, we’ve also improved the overall benefits on the plan including:
- Substance abuse is now part of the mental health benefit
- Emergency Room treatment is now covered after the deductible whether or not you are admitted into the hospital
- The local ambulance benefit has been increased to $750 on the Select level
- The emergency reunion benefit has been increased to $5,000 on the Select level
- Pricing is now available in both daily and monthly rates
- Rates have stayed the same – which means no price increase for even more coverage!
Our Atlas Travel plan is popular for students outside the US or for short-term trips inside the US. It provides medical coverage for sickness and injury with the option to have coverage up to $1 million and a deductible as low as $0! This year’s new Atlas Travel insurance plan updates include:
- Adventurous and hazardous sports are now automatically included at no additional cost
- Increased acute onset of pre-existing condition coverage
- Acute onset of dental pain is now covered up to $250
- Lower rates now available on non-US coverage
If you need insurance while you study overseas, or have any questions about our insurance plan updates, please contact one of our fully licensed heath insurance agents for assistance.
June 2012 Travel Warning
June 12th, 2012 by Jennifer FrankelSince our last travel warning update, back on May 5th, there have been a few revisions to the travel warning list. For this month’s June 2012 Travel Warnings, there have been a total of three travel warning revisions that we would like to inform you about:
– Travel warning for Lebanon – Issued 5/8/2012 – This travel warning replaces an already existing warning currently in effect. The new warning “urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon” due to the spontaneous violence that can erupt without any warning. Additionally, the travel warning also states that there continues to be a “threat of anti-Western terrorist activity.” If you are planning to travel to Lebanon, be aware that the U.S. Embassy is limited and it is possible that services may be unavailable in certain parts of the country.
– Travel warning for Saudi Arabia – Issued 5/18/2012 – The May 18th travel warning for Saudi Arabia has been reissued from the previous warning in effect from August 5, 2011. While there were no changes from the previous warning, the US State Department continues to urge travelers who visit Saudi Arabia to be cognizant of the “presence of terrorist group…who may target Western interests, housing compounds, hotels, shopping areas, and other facilities where Westerners congregate.” When traveling to the area, be advised to stay alert of your surroundings and exercise caution.
– Travel warning for Mauritania – Issued 5/24/2012 – Also, as an update on an already existing warning from October 10, 2011, this travel warning urges extreme caution to visitors due to threats from “terrorist groups.” The warning discourages non-essential travel to the region, stating that some NGO’s, private aid organizations and Peace Corps suspended operations in the country.
For the latest on the June 2012 Travel Warnings, check the US State Department for recent updates and country profiles. With the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP as the State Department refers to it, you can get routine information on your destination so that you can get assistance in case of an emergency.
