H1N1 not as severe as first thought
December 11th, 2009 by International-Student-InsuranceThe latest information released this week shows that the H1N1 (swine flu) virus is not expected to be as severe as first thought. Many experts were predicting that the start of the northern hemisphere winter period was going to trigger the start the pandemic of the H1N1 flu virus, but latest figures are showing that new cases have been dropping off rapidly from a surge in early November. As Web MD quotes “When the fall/winter wave of H1N1 swine flu is over, it will have been no more severe than an average flu season, predict Harvard researcher Marc Lipsitch, DPhil, and colleagues from the U.K. Medical Research Council and the CDC.”
This positive news is also not a reason for complacency, and people should still do all they can to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, as with all other flu viruses. This includes following things like:
- Avoid Close Contact with Sick People
- Stay at home if you are sick to avoid spreading the virus
- Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing
- Clean your hands regularly to avoid germs spreading
As an international student or traveler in the USA or anywhere in the world, you also need to make sure you have an appropriate and adequate health and travel insurance plan to cover you in the event that you fall sick with the H1N1 virus. Most insurance policies already provide coverage for things like the standard seasonal flu, and variation of it such as the H1N1 virus – however it is always advisable to contact your insurance broker or company before you travel to confirm this.
If you are looking for coverage, we offer a range of international student health insurance and travel medical insurance plans that all provide full coverage if you contract the H1N1 virus.
Spain Student Insurance
December 10th, 2009 by International-Student-Insurance
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.
Please see our Spain student insurance section for an excellent overview of all the plans available to you.
Poland Student Insurance
December 4th, 2009 by International-Student-InsuranceAs you pack your bags for your upcoming trip, you are preparing yourself for an adventure in the fastest growing country within the European Union.
Before leaving, you will need to make sure that you are prepared with your Poland Student Insurance. If you are from a non- EU country, including the US and Canada, you will need to have Poland Student Insurance before entering the country. Poland, a Schengen country, requires that you carry proof of insurance of 30,000 euros or $50,000 in medical coverage. Your Poland Student Insurance will also need to include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.
Additionally, many insurance companies will provide you with a visa letter, also known as a certificate of coverage, necessary to show proof of your Poland Student Insurance. Your Poland Student Insurance coverage must cover you for the total trip duration, which will also be stated on your visa letter/certificate of coverage.
You may be required to show this letter at the time of entry- so be sure to bring proof of your Poland Student Insurance with you in your carry-on bag!
Many students have found the Atlas Travel plan as a well-suited option as it is easy to enroll and you can get same-day coverage with this plan or you can have coverage begin the date of your upcoming departure. The Atlas Travel plan provides coverage outside your home country for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc..
Not only does this plan meet the Polish visa requirements, but you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail. In this e-mail, it will contain your insurance card, letter of coverage, receipt and policy details. You can simply print these documents out to show proof of coverage. You will also have access to Student Zone to get your visa letter which will show proof of coverage for your visa requirement.
Get ready to join a number of other individuals who have traveled to Poland; Poland is ranked as the 17th most visited country in 2008 by the United Nations. Do widzenia!
Czech Republic Visa Insurance
November 13th, 2009 by Ross Mason
As you prepare for your upcoming trip to the Czech Republic – whether for business or pleasure – it is important to become familiar with the country’s entry requirements. The Czech Republic is considered one of the Schengen countries.
What does this mean? This is a group of countries that have signed the Schengen agreement. As part of this agreement, these countries do not require a visa if you are entering the country for up to 90 days within any 180 day period for business or pleasure. If you plan on studying or working in the Czech Republic, you will need to apply for a visa 3-4 months in advance. No matter what reason brings you to the Czech Republic, you are required to have Czech Republic Visa Insurance.
Czech Republic Visa Insurance is required for any foreigner entering the country and you will need to bring proof of insurance that meets the following:
- Valid coverage throughout Czech Republic
- Valid during the entire period that you will be in the Czech Republic
- Coverage for at least $45,000 USD (or € 30,000)
- Coverage including repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical care and/or emergency treatment in a hospital
According to the US State Department, a health insurance card will generally be accepted as proof of insurance to enter the country. With some Czech Republic visa insurance plans, you will receive a visa letter that is designed specifically to meet these requirements.
The Atlas Travel plan provides Czech Republic visa Insurance, covering travelers outside their home country. Not only will this plan meet the listed requirements, but after purchase, you will have access to your account where you can print out a tailored letter that will comply with the Czech Republic visa insurance requirements. With this plan, you can choose your dates of coverage, providing coverage anywhere from 5 days up until 1 year, and the plan can also be renewed for three years if you intend to stay longer.
If you are interested in learning more about this plan, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
International Trip Insurance
October 16th, 2009 by International-Student-InsurancePacking your bags is always an exciting beginning to your trip. Whether you are planning a rugged adventure action-packed with hiking, biking and camping or if you are planning to relax on a beach sampling the local cuisine, make sure that you leave fully prepared! While looking around for extra socks and fully updating your music selection, you may realize that some of the most important things won’t take up any space at all. International Trip Insurance is an important addition to any international trip. There is no telling what will happen in the future, and it is always important to leave home prepared.
The first step before leaving home is to check with your current plan to see if you are covered internationally. If so, you will want to find out whether your plan covers emergencies or if it will also cover you in case you get sick or injured. If not, you will want to look into appropriate international trip insurance. It is important to purchase your international trip insurance before leaving on your trip and also, make sure that it covers emergency medical evacuation, doctor office visits and hospitalization. You should also bring your policy information along for the ride for proof of insurance.
In addition to this basic coverage, there are also plans with additional benefits for your trip abroad. The International Travel Medical Insurance is an international trip insurance that will cover lost baggage, trip interruption, natural disaster benefit, and terrorism in addition to the medical coverage. The Trip Cancellation Insurance is also an international trip insurance that provides coverage for cancellation charges in addition to medical coverage. Whether you will be in Europe, Asia, the Americas, or Africa, international trip insurance is a must!
Insurance for International Students in the Netherlands
October 13th, 2009 by International-Student-InsuranceInternational students in the Netherlands are required to have international health insurance. The Netherlands require that international students have insurance that meets the Schengen visa requirements. Those requirements are as follows:
– The insurance company must have a representative office in Europe
– Medical evacuation/ repatriation coverage of at least US $37,500
– Insurance must be valid for the duration of stay in the Schengen countries
The Atlas Travel Series is an excellent solution for insurance for international students in the Netherlands. This 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).
The Atlas Travel Series meets all the visa requirements for insurance for international students in the Netherlands.
After you purchase this plan, you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail. In this e-mail, it will contain your insurance card, letter of coverage, receipt, visa letter and policy details. You can simply print these documents out to show proof of coverage.
Incidental Home Country Coverage
October 9th, 2009 by International-Student-InsuranceDo you plan on traveling abroad? Are you looking for an international travel insurance plan that will also cover you when you return home? This is a dilemma many travelers face when they no longer have health insurance in their country of origin. In this case, it is important to know your travel insurance plan and the home country coverage that it offers.
If you will be abroad for an extended period of time and plan to return home for short trips, you will want to consider a plan that provides incidental home country coverage. To further explain, incidental home country coverage is a benefit included in some international travel insurance that covers short visits home when returning abroad. For example, the International Travel Medical Insurance is designed to cover you outside your home country. The plan does, however, provide 15 days of incidental home country coverage for trips back to your home country for every 3 months of coverage. Incidental Home Country Coverage does not allow you to return home for the purpose of obtaining treatment of an Illness or Injury, although it provides medical coverage if you plan to be home for a visit. For more detailed information about the home country coverage included with Atlas Travel Medical plan, visit our Home Country Coverage FAQ.
If you plan on returning home frequently or for longer periods of time, you may want to consider a plan that offers more home country coverage. The international major medical insurance provides worldwide coverage, including significant coverage in your home country. This will allow you to travel back-and-forth with ease and peace of mind. The international major medical insurance covers non-US citizens in their home country for up to 12 months each year. For US citizens, the plan will provide coverage in the US 6 months out of the year.
International Major Medical Insurance
October 9th, 2009 by International-Student-InsuranceYou should consider an international major medical insurance plan when traveling or living outside your home country. These plans can protect you from high medical costs if the unexpected happens like an illness, accident or injury. International major medical plans usually come with much more comprehensive benefits like, maternity, mental health, wellness and optional dental and life.
The Citizen Secure plan is an excellent option for those in need of an international major medical insurance plan. The Citizens Secure plan provides comprehensive international major medical insurance coverage around the world for expatriates and anyone who needs international health insurance. The plan provides a high $5,000,000 policy maximum and various deductible options plus the option to have worldwide coverage, and worldwide coverage excluding the USA and Canada.
