Insurance
Choose the plan that meets your needs and spend more time enjoying your international experience not worrying about your insurance coverage.
Find Your PlanWhat type of coverage
do you need?
Travel Medical
Insurance
Temporary coverage for accidents, sicknesses, & emergency evacuations when visiting or traveling outside of your home country.
International Health Insurance
Annually renewable international private medical insurance coverage for expats and global citizens living or working internationally.
Travel
Insurance
Coverage designed to protect you from financial losses should your trip be delayed, interrupted, or cancelled.
Enterprise Services
Meet your duty of care obligations with confidence, knowing your travelers are safe, healthy, and connected wherever they may be in the world.
Show ServicesWhat type of organization do you represent?
Medical & Travel
Assistance
Your travelers can access 24/7 global support should they need medical attention, travel assistance, or medical transport services.
Global Workers' Compensation Case Management
Rest assured knowing you have an experienced team who is committed to reducing your costs, moving your files forward, and serving as an international resource for all your work injury claims.
Security Assistance
Services
Keep your travelers safe, no matter where they are, with real-time alerts and intelligence on safety, health, political, and other global risks.
Insurance Administrative
Services
You’ll have experts to guide you through all things related to your health care plan needs, from enrollment to claim reimbursement.
International Student Health Insurance
Health Insurance Plans for International Students & Students Studying Abroad
Health insurance plans for international students provide the right mix of plan benefits, value, and coverage to keep you safe and healthy. IMG student health plans can help keep your budget healthy, too.
Coverage for international students studying in the U.S. is available to students on an F1 visa and meets J1 visa requirements. Students from the U.S. studying abroad can also stay protected in Schengen visa countries and beyond with an IMG plan.
Long- and short-term student health plans from IMG are great for:
- Individuals and groups participating in international student programs
- Cultural exchange participants
- International graduate students
- Scholars and educators
- Dependents of those participating in international study programs
With health insurance plans designed specifically for international and study abroad students and scholars, IMG has done the homework so you don't have to. To compare IMG's student insurance plans, check out our article, Choosing the Best International Student Insurance Plan for You.
Popular Student Health Insurance Plans
For International Students & Scholars
Why Do I Need International Student Health Insurance?
Simple. It's Generally Required.
Most universities and colleges require that international and study abroad students obtain a minimum level of medical coverage for their enrollment period.
While some schools provide their own coverage options for students, others do not require students to buy the university-sponsored insurance as long as they buy comparable coverage that meets or exceeds the school's requirements.
Your host country may also require insurance for international students, so it's important to verify your visa requirements before purchasing coverage.
International students who hold F1 visas are not required by the U.S. government to meet certain health insurance requirements, but they may still be required by their school to purchase certain coverage.
Factors that Determine Cost
The cost of an individual international student health insurance plan varies based on the following factors.
Age of the Student
Age is the primary determining factor for price. Insurance companies often charge different amounts for different age groups, with the price increasing for older age groups.
Length of Coverage
There are monthly rates associated with international student health insurance, so price increases proportionally to the number of months of coverage purchased.
Level of Coverage
Plans can range from basic and budget-friendly, to robust and complete with maternity coverage and enhanced pre-existing condition coverage. Students can choose the level of coverage they desire and balance that with the cost they are willing to incur.
International Student Health Insurance Benefits
Key Considerations for Purchasing Student Health Plans
Student Medical Coverage for Accidents or Illnesses
Your school and host country will often require students to purchase a plan that includes a minimum amount of medical coverage for accidents or illnesses.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Coverage for an emergency medical evacuation to the nearest qualified medical facility, expenses for transportation resulting from the evacuation, and the cost of returning the student to either their home country or the country where the evacuation occurred.
Repatriation and Return of Mortal Remains
In the unfortunate event that a student dies as a result of a covered illness or injury while outside of their home country, this benefit can cover expenses for transporting the remains back home.
How to Get International Student Health Insurance
Follow these simple steps and purchase your coverage worry free.
1. Research
Research your school's and host country's coverage requirements.
2. Confirm
Confirm that your school allows you to waive the university-sponsored plan and purchase your own insurance.
3. Search
Search for the right plan for you, paying close attention to coverage and cost.
4. Purchase
Purchase a plan and submit a waiver to your university, providing proof of coverage and any other necessary documentation.
Recent Blog Articles
A Student's Guide to Studying Abroad
Studying abroad provides U.S. students a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to attend classes at first-class educational institutions, get a first-hand look at the lives of peers across the globe, and gain a new perspective on life.
This opportunity is one that many students are taking advantage of, highlighted by 2015 statistics that show the number of U.S. students studying abroad doubled over the previous two years.
If you’re one of the many students considering a study abroad program, here are some valuable tips to keep in mind.
How to Choose a Study Abroad Destination
The success of your experience depends partially on choosing a suitable destination. In making your choice of where to study abroad, you should consider:
- Climate
If you despise the winters at home, you’re not going to love Sweden during the cold months. Just because you’re in a new country doesn’t mean your personal preferences will change. Choose a place and term (summer, winter or entire year) where you’ll be physically comfortable.
- Language
If you’re a beginner or partially fluent in another language, consider studying in a location where that language is spoken. Learning a language in an immersive environment will speed up your rate of fluency and give you a satisfying extra benefit from your studies abroad.
On the other hand, if you don’t understand one word of German, don’t put added pressure on yourself by studying in Berlin. You’ll have enough challenges while studying abroad without having to figure out what everyone is saying.
- Curriculum
If the study abroad program in one country will advance your career path, while another one will delay it, choose the former over the latter. Studying abroad should add value to your curriculum, not detract from it. Save the other destination as a victory trip after you’ve graduated with your chosen degree.
- Civil/Political Environment
Many places that boast accredited study abroad programs are safe for U.S. students – but not all. Even popular places like Paris and London can pose threats to U.S. students studying abroad. Be sure to check in with the latest State Department travel advisory list to see if there are travel warnings posted for your destination. Carefully read any warnings for your destination and the surrounding countries, then make your decision accordingly.
Steps to Take Before Your Departure
Once you’ve decided on your destination, here are some steps you should take before leaving for your study abroad program.
- Study the Culture
To prevent a faux pas in another country, study up on various cultural differences. There are many articles and publications available in print and online that can detail your destination’s social customs and governing laws.
While it’s not necessary for you to change who you are while living abroad, you will need to respect the culture of your destination.
- Cover Your Medical Needs
It’s essential – and often mandatory – to purchase international student health insurance to cover your medical needs while studying abroad.
Even students who are healthy as a horse can experience unexpected illnesses or injuries. Your U.S. health insurance plan might not cover your medical care in a foreign country, so consider getting specialty international student health insurance that provides coverage while you’re studying abroad.
Additionally, if you need certain prescription medications, contact lenses or have other medical needs, make sure you have what you need before you leave for your program. You may need to get a certified doctor’s letter to allow you to bring certain medications into a foreign country. Bring ample medicine and replacement contact lenses to last you during your trip. Other countries have very different over-the-counter-medicines, and their availability may be limited.
- Make Copies of All Your Documents
Photocopy your U.S. documents, including your letter of acceptance to study abroad, your driver’s license, your passport and your visa. Give these to your parents, a teacher or another trusted adult to hold onto while you’re abroad. Also give them contact information for your host family or landlord where you’ll be staying. If for any reason there’s a problem, you’ll feel better knowing there’s someone “on the other side” who has all your pertinent information.
Stay Connected
It’s amazingly freeing to lift off on a plane and fly to another country where you know you’ll be staying for a while. You may like the feeling of being “off the grid,” and away from parents. But resist the urge to “disappear” off their radar. Remember that you’ll be returning after the program, and you don’t want to alienate yourself from friends and family while you’re gone.
Also, keep in touch with parents and friends on a schedule that’s comfortable to you. The more routine you can make it, the better because if the routine varies, they’ll know as soon as possible that something is amiss. Chances are, you’ll be perfectly fine, but it doesn’t hurt to put extra safeguards in place. This will help you, as well as comfort your parents, who are likely concerned about your well-being and happiness.
As you embark on this amazing adventure of studying abroad, remember the big picture. It’s an experience of learning, sharing and growing even more toward adulthood and independence. Have fun, be safe and make friends that will last a lifetime!
Disclaimer
This is not an offer to enter into an insurance contract. This is only a summary and shall not bind the company or require the company to offer or write any insurance at any particular rate or to any particular group or individual. The information on this page does and will not affect, modify or supersede in any way the policy, certificate of insurance and governing policy documents (together the "Insurance Contract"). The actual rates and benefits are governed by the Insurance Contract and nothing else. Benefits are subject to exclusions and limitations.