In the excitement of preparing your high schooler to study abroad, you may feel a little anxious. This could be your child’s first time living away from home for a long period of time, or you may have some concerns regarding their chosen destination.

In reality, you probably have a few looming “what if…” scenarios playing through your head:

• What if my child becomes seriously ill and needs to be hospitalized?
• What if my son or daughter has an accident playing an intramural sport?
• What if my child is caught in the middle of a terrorist attack?

Whatever the scenario, one investment you can make to help ease your mind is study abroad medical insurance.

 

Why Purchase High School Study Abroad Health Insurance?

There are many reasons why your high schooler may need study abroad health insurance:

 

1. High school study abroad programs often require students to possess health insurance.

Students can either register for a plan that's predetermined by their program or purchase their own medical coverage and submit a waiver form to their program officials.

Students planning to waive the program’s insurance plan may seek other coverage options that better align with their budget. However, alternative travel medical plans must still comply with the program’s health insurance requirements.

 

2. A domestic policy may not cover your child internationally.

It’s vital to check if your current health insurance plan extends across international borders. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to start searching for a policy that does. Some key benefits to consider for a study abroad medical insurance plan include:

• An Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit for potentially life-threatening illnesses or injuries incurred while studying abroad. This will cover eligible costs associated with the transportation of your child from an emergency facility with insufficient care to the nearest hospital that can provide medically necessary treatment. 
• A Leisure, Recreational, Entertainment, or Fitness Sports and Activities benefit that can reduce medical costs for the treatment of covered injuries or illnesses resulting from these types of sports and activities.
• A Terrorism benefit in case your child sustains injuries and illnesses resulting from a covered act of terrorism. This benefit would help reduce medical costs resulting from the necessary treatment. 

 

3. Your child will need a student visa in order to study abroad.

Some visas require applicants to provide proof of sufficient funds for food, accommodations, and medical costs incurred during the trip. An international student health policy could help prove your child’s ability to pay for unexpected medical costs incurred in their host country.

 

What Type of Insurance is Right for My Child?

You’ll need to ensure that the student health insurance you purchase for your child meets their school, program, and/or visa requirements.

WorldTrips’ StudentSecure® insurance offers four different plans so you can determine which plan meets your child’s requirements and works with your budget. Each plan meets J-1 visa insurance requirements for the U.S. as well as the requirements of most visas and many schools. However, plan costs and coverage limits vary.

For example, an elite plan like StudentSecure Elite will have a higher cost but will provide a higher maximum coverage limit and some additional coverages. A more economical plan like StudentSecure Smart will have a lower cost but will provide a lower maximum coverage limit and more limited benefits.

 

StudentSecure Plans

StudentSecure Elite:

Overall Maximum: $5,000,000

Maximum Per Injury or Illness: $500,000

• Meets J-1 visa requirements
• Medical expenses for covered injury or illness
• Mental health disorders
• Recreational sports and activities
• Pre-existing condition coverage after 6 months

StudentSecure Elite is the only StudentSecure plan that includes some coverage for vaccinations. It also includes coverage for interscholastic, intramural, or club sports and up to $200 for preventative care after 6 months of continuous coverage.

StudentSecure Select:

Overall Maximum: $1,000,000

Maximum Per Injury or Illness: $500,000

• Meets J-1 visa requirements
• Medical expenses for covered injury or illness
• Mental health disorders
• Recreational sports and activities
• Pre-existing condition coverage after 6 months

StudentSecure Select also includes coverage for interscholastic, intramural, or club sports.

StudentSecure Budget:

Overall Maximum: $500,000

Maximum Per Injury or Illness: $250,000

• Meets J-1 visa requirements
• Medical expenses for covered injury or illness
• Mental health disorders
• Recreational sports and activities
• Pre-existing condition coverage after 12 months

StudentSecure Smart:

Overall Maximum: $200,000

Maximum Per Injury or Illness: $100,000

• Meets J-1 visa requirements
• Medical expenses for covered injury or illness
• Mental health disorders
• Recreational sports and activities

X     No pre-existing condition coverage

 

Get a Free Quote

If your child needs international medical insurance, but you’re not ready to commit to a policy, you can get a free StudentSecure quote to help figure the costs. You’ll be able to save your quote for a later date you’re ready to purchase. 

 

 

Resources for Your High Schooler

Before your child leaves for their study abroad adventure, make sure they explore these study abroad resources. They’ll gain a better understanding of how to prepare for their trip and what to expect while they’re abroad.

• The Disadvantages of Study Abroad
• The Advantages of Studying Abroad
• Challenges for International Students in the United States
• Study Abroad Checklist