Â鶹ԭ´´

When preparing to study abroad, insurance may not be the first thing that crosses your mind. However, student health insurance is key to safeguarding your educational adventure. Medical cover can give you peace of mind and will be essential in the unfortunate event of illness or an accident. To explain how it works, we've simplified the sometimes confusing world of health insurance for international students, taking you through everything from your options to the cost.

What is student health insurance?

Student health insurance is designed to cover the costs of any healthcare and medical expenses you may incur while studying abroad. It’s a safety net that protects you if you become ill or have an accident that requires hospitalisation or medical intervention. Although thinking about such misfortune may not be pleasant, it is important to acknowledge and address it. Health insurance is something that should be factored into the cost of studying abroad.

Don’t forget that not all insurance policies are created equal. Each one will cover you to a different extent, with variable premiums and costs. It’s best to seek a more comprehensive plan, even though this may be a little more expensive. You want to ensure that in the event of an emergency you can get the care that you need, and that your finances can take it.

Why do I need health insurance as an international student?

Having health insurance is important for any study abroad adventure. Not only does it give you the confidence to immerse yourself in the experience without being too risk-averse, but it’s also important for your financial wellbeing and stability. You don’t want to be in a situation where you are burdened with large medical bills that you cannot afford.

In some cases, it is a legal requirement for you to have medical insurance while studying abroad. National and regional governments may not always grant you a visa without it. For example, in Australia you must take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in order to be admitted.

Additionally, some countries and regions may require you to pay a set fee for access to local healthcare services. This can also be a condition of applying for a student visa. That is the case in the UK, where international students enrolled on courses for more than six months must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This costs GBP 776 per year.

If your course runs for fewer than six months, you will not need to pay the IHS. However, as this will mean you have only limited access to the UK's National Health Service – such as in emergencies – it will be advisable to take out student health insurance. Indeed, some universities will not only encourage you to do this, but make it compulsory.

Similar rules can be enforced by universities in the USA. While there is usually no requirement for you to have medical insurance when applying for an F-1 visa, institutions may not accept you without it. In the case of J-1 visas, used for exchange programmes, it is compulsory.

What are the rules in each country?

As just described, the rules for international student health insurance vary across countries and regions. The table below offers a simple overview of the situation in some of the world's top study destinations.

How do I get health insurance?

International student health insurance is most often obtained from private providers in the insurance industry. Sometimes, these are specialist medical or travel insurance companies. You can also apply for insurance through banks, travel agents, and certain retail outlets.

In some cases, you may be able to get insurance from an official public provider. This is how things work in some parts of Canada. Examples of region-specific options there include the Manitoba International Student Health Plan (MISHP).

When taking out insurance, it is important to evaluate your options. Consider things like the cost of the premiums, the coverage and the reputation of the provider. Not all insurance plans are the same.

Once you have made a decision, you will need to lodge an application, which requires you to submit certain information. This will include:

• Personal details
• Confirmation of acceptance by a university
• Study information
• Travel information
• Financial information
• Medical history
• Plans while studying (eg work, volunteering and travel)

Make sure that your cover is confirmed and coincides with your dates of travel and arrival, as well as the duration of your study programme. Verify whether there are proposed changes to premiums or costs over time, and whether the policy renews automatically each year or requires your confirmation for renewal.

What does student health insurance cover?

Establishing what you are covered for is an essential aspect of health insurance. Not all policies will cover you for the same thing, so you need to evaluate your requirements. Think about your personal profile and the sorts of activities you may undertake while studying – for example, working or sport.

At a fundamental level, the majority of international student health insurance policies will cover you in the event of a medical emergency and pay for your treatment. However, as with any policy, it’s important to check the fine print, as there can be limits on the amount that is paid out.

One key thing to be aware of is excess. This is an amount of money that you agree to be responsible for, if you make a claim. Often, it will be just a small percentage of the cost of your first claim, and in some cases, it may not be required at all.

Be sure to get your insurance provider to go through details like this with you. There are lots of things that you will want to be clear, including ones as basic as how to make a claim.

You may also be able to combine student medical insurance coverage with travel insurance. This could cover you for many more things, including:

• Tuition fees (when a medical condition stops you completing your course)
• Repatriation
• Accidents and personal injury
• Lost or damaged possessions
• Emergency travel costs

How much does student health insurance cost?

The golden rule when applying for student health insurance is to seek the best cover for your budget. Although it is tempting to underinsure yourself and save a bit of money, this is not the ideal approach in the long term. It could lead to finding yourself in a difficult situation.

Many factors can affect how much your insurance will cost. These include your medical history, your study destination, and the length of your course. Costs will also vary between providers, meaning that it’s always a good idea to do your research and compare what they offer.

In many countries, a good package can cost anywhere in the region of GBP 20 to GBP 50 a month, or between GBP 240 and GBP 600 per year. However, nation-by-nation differences can be vast. The cost of health insurance in the USA, for example, is often much higher.

However much you pay, you should make sure that you know the overall amount you are covered for. This will be broken down into multiple different areas of insurance, such as personal liability cover and emergency medical cover.

Now that you know more about international student health insurance, you might want to consider other aspects of applying and paying for study abroad. Start with our comparison of student loans and scholarships and our . Then, for a wider guide to good preparation, run through our comprehensive study abroad checklist.