Student Insurance Abroad: What Every Parent Should Know Before Sending a Child Overseas
One of the largest and most worthwhile expenditures you will ever make is sending your child to study abroad. Planning flights, organizing paperwork, and packing bags are all exciting, but many parents forget about one thing until it’s too late: insurance.
This post is for parents who are getting ready to say farewell to their children as they go on their trip to study abroad. I won’t overcomplicate or sugarcoat anything. Before your child boards the plane, read this straightforward, honest, and intimate guide to all you need to know about student insurance.
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Student Insurance Abroad: What Every Parent Should Know Before Sending a Child Overseas
Insurance is a necessity, not a luxury.
First, let’s face it: medical care overseas is costly.
Depending on the nation, a single ER visit might cost hundreds, thousands, or even thousands of dollars. Let’s say your child gets the illness, fractures a bone, or worse, requires surgery. You’re not only paying for rent and tuition if you don’t have insurance. Your entire financial plan may be derailed by unforeseen medical expenditures that you must deal with.
Your child’s safety net is insurance. It’s also yours, which is more significant. It shields you from having to make rash financial decisions when traveling abroad. It is not a choice. It is necessary.
Don’t assume that the school has enough insurance.
Many schools and universities provide overseas students with health insurance of some kind. That’s great, but keep going.
Pose inquiries. Examine the fine print. Some school plans don’t include emergency evacuation back home, only cover basic treatments, or don’t cover dental or optical care. Others have restricted hospital networks or hefty deductibles.
Consider adding an international student insurance plan from a reputable source if the coverage seems too limited or excludes important aspects of your family’s life.
If the default plan offered by a school does not suit your child’s needs, you are perfectly entitled to refuse it. If you can show that you have better or comparable coverage, some schools will even let you “waive” your plan. Make good use of the opportunity.
What Should Be Covered by an Effective Student Insurance Plan
Here is a basic checklist to help you decide what should be in a student policy. At the very least, search for:
- Surgery and hospitalization: Inpatient treatments are fully or significantly covered.
- Prescription drugs and doctor visits: Particularly for routine checkups or minor ailments.
- Emergency services include emergency surgery, ambulances, and ER visits.
- Medical evacuation: In the event that your child requires return transportation to their nation of origin in order to receive better care.
- Returning the remains: It’s a painful subject, but you can’t ignore it. If something goes wrong, you want to be ready.
- Mental health services: Stress, homesickness, and anxiety are common issues among international students. If necessary, they must have access to therapy or counseling.
- Depending on institution regulations and travel needs, COVID-19 coverage is still important.
Additionally, look for pre-existing condition coverage if your child has asthma, wears glasses, or takes medication on a daily basis. Some insurance price more for it, and not all offer it.
Health Insurance and Travel Insurance Are Not the Same
A common mistake made by parents is to believe that travel insurance is sufficient. It isn’t.
Typically, short-term risks covered by travel insurance include:
- Baggage lost
- Cancellations or delays in flights
- interruption of the trip
- Emergency medical attention (often minimal)
These arrangements are useful, particularly for vacations or the actual trip. However, they don’t take the place of full-coverage student health insurance, which is necessary for day-to-day living abroad.
You need a long-term student health insurance plan, not just a trip one, if your child will be traveling overseas for longer than a few weeks.
Legal Requirements Are Important
Prior to granting a visa, some nations require insurance for international students. Others demand evidence of particular coverage levels prior to enrollment. Here are few instances:
- Germany: Needs authorized private or state health insurance.
- Canada: Each province has different coverage requirements; some provide public plans, while others do not.
- Although there isn’t a legislative requirement, the majority of schools in the US demand their own or comparable insurance.
- Australia: Students with student visas must have Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC).
Don’t rely on conjecture. Go to the target country’s official immigration or embassy website. Verify their most recent insurance needs. The last thing you want is to be denied a visa because your insurance documents are not complete.
Additionally, think about liability and property insurance.
Health is not the only aspect of student insurance. What if the laptop belonging to your child is taken? Or do they inadvertently cause damage to their student apartment’s property?
You may wish to investigate:
- Insurance for personal belongings: For jewelry, phones, laptops, and devices.
- Liability insurance: Provides coverage for harm or damage your child may bring to other people.
These are bundled with health plans by some providers. Others offer them for sale separately. A bit more protection now can save a lot of worry (and money) later.
Show Your Kids How to Utilize the Policy
This may seem absurd, but it’s essential.
Your child must understand:
- What is covered by their policy
- How to locate hospitals or doctors that are in your network
- How to handle an emergency
- How to submit a claim
The policy details can be saved on their phone or printed out. Verify if they have an insurance card on them. Take them step-by-step. It may feel like a handshake, but believe me, it’s helpful when things become busy.
What Is the Price?
The destination, plan type, and degree of coverage all affect this. However, here’s a ballpark estimate:
- Basic student health insurance costs between $300 and $800 annually.
- All-inclusive foreign plans: $1,000–$2,000 annually
- Extras such as property or liability insurance: $50 to $200 more
That may sound like a lot, but consider that the cost of a single emergency surgery overseas can reach tens of thousands.
Keep in mind that insurance is not about anticipating negative outcomes. If they do, it’s about being ready.
Avoid Taking Chances
I understand. As a parent, you have a lot to consider, including airfare, accommodations, tuition, and visas. It may seem like insurance is just another box to be checked.
However, don’t handle it that way.
The last thing you want is to receive a panicked call about an accident or illness when your child is thousands of miles away, with no plan in place.
You may rest easy knowing you have insurance. It protects your youngster. It eases the burden of an already emotional adjustment for both of you.
Give it your best effort.
Because if there is one thing that is true about this path, it is that the most potent kind of love is preparation.
