If you’re planning to study in the United States as a student from another country, is international student health insurance necessary?
The short answer: Yes. Some type of insurance is a must when you are studying abroad so that you can pay medical bills in case of emergency. However, there are many types and options of insurance coverage for international students so it’s important to get the details before you settle on an insurance plan.
Health insurance is essential for US citizens or residents because they are otherwise unlikely to receive any aid in paying medical bills – unless they are on special veterans insurance or Medicare plans.
As an international student who is not eligible to receive veterans or Medicare benefits, it is important to secure some type of international student health insurance plan. In fact, most US colleges and universities require international students to prove that they have some sort of international student health insurance plan.
There’s really no way out of it: international student health insurance is simply a must.
There are a number of approaches to take when deciding on a health insurance plan. Three of the major options are:
Different insurance plans will cover different things. For example, some plans cover more medical procedures than others. Find out which plan will give you what you need.
If you have no special medical needs, a bare-minimum plan may be sufficient. If you have medical conditions that require regular treatment, care or expensive drugs, you should take this into account and find out which insurance plans will help you cover these costs.
The best thing to do may be to contact the international student services of the college or university you plan to attend. They may have additional information and be able to advise you regarding your international student health insurance options.