Insurance for Visiting Scholars
October 17th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelLast year, the United States received over 115,000 visiting scholars from around the world working at colleges and universities – this was a dramatic increase from 86,000 in 2001. Visiting scholars typically come to the United States to be involved in academia acting as researchers, professors, and instructors.
Most visiting scholars come to the United States on a J-1 visa which is granted based on the program duration ranging from a few months up to a few years. To obtain the J-1 visa, insurance for visiting scholars is a must. Required by the US federal government, visiting scholars must obtain proof of insurance prior to being issued the J-1 visa. According to the US State Department Rule 22CFR62.14, all international visitors on J-1 and J-2 (dependents including children and spouses) visas must have health insurance which meets the following minimum requirements:
- Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the participant’s policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country.
All international scholars and their dependents must have insurance that meets the above requirements. The Department of State has proposed an increase in the minimum criteria for insurance for visiting scholars, however the new requirements and when this will go in affect remains unspecified.
Currently, international visiting scholars will need to present a letter showing that confirms that the insurance plan meets these minimum requirements. Many times the school will also request proof of insurance as well. The Atlas Travel plan is an excellent insurance for visiting scholars whose school does not provide insurance (or allows the option to waive). The plan meets the J-1 visa requirements and covers doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency room, urgent care, repatriation, emergency medical evacuation, labs, x-rays, and much more! Once the plan has been issued, international scholars will be able to receive a customized visa letter that allows participants to present proof of coverage that both meets and exceeds these requirements.
ESL Insurance
October 12th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelBefore applying to a higher education institution overseas, many students must first learn the native language in that country. Many international students may want to study in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. The common thread among these countries is that the native language, and thus the language of instruction, is English. That being said, whether you want to apply to Cambridge in the United Kingdom or Harvard in the United States, you must first learn English and prove that you can succeed in an environment that requires you to write, speak, listen, read and understand English.
Because of this, many students decide to enroll themselves in an English language school that specializes in English as a second language (also known as ESL). Many of these programs provide students with the foundation needed to be successful all the while introducing them to both the culture and traditions that they will be exposed to later as an international student. In either case, before you leave for your English language program, it is important to become familiar with your destination country’s health care system. Many countries, like the United States, have private health care which leaves it up to the individual to cover the cost of medical treatment. Because of this, it is important to have an ESL insurance plan that will be comprehensive enough to cover illnesses and injuries that may occur during your program.
Students planning to learn English overseas must also think about their ESL program. There are a variety of English language programs that students can choose from that expose students to college campus life, local activities, conversation and much more! You can find a program that will teach you general English – or you can build a program focusing on your area of concentration (such as business English). You may find some programs that may also allow you to play sports. After you have decided on the program that you want to study, you will need to ask them whether they provide each participant with their own ESL insurance. Find out what it covers and see if it will cover you if you arrive early, or leave late. If you plan on playing intercollegiate or club sports – does your ESL insurance plan cover this? Keep in mind that if your English language program has limited health insurance, you may be responsible for any excess expenses.
Alternatively, some language programs do not provide insurance to students and they are required to purchase their own individualized plan. You can purchase your own ESL insurance plan for the full duration of your program – and some plans do not require you to be a student so you can use the plan as international gap insurance as well. These insurance plans cover doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medication, labs, x-rays, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation and much more! Contact our insurance agents to find out the plan that is best for you.
Study Abroad Health Insurance for Thailand
October 10th, 2011 by ahoontrakul
With its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, exotic culture, rich history and delicious food, Thailand is known as a great vacation destination of the world. While these reasons bring many tourists, the same reasons also bring many students seeking an exciting and unique study abroad experience as well.
It is important to keep in mind that health care in each country is unique and the same goes for Thailand. If you are coming from the Unites States or other western country it is a good idea to be aware of how the health care system works beforehand.
The majority of people arrive in Thailand via the capital city, Bangkok, where most of the major universities are also located. There are many clinics and hospitals in the city as well, but private clinics may not be staffed with English speaking professionals. For most foreigners, the best option may be to visit a general hospital which in most cases is a private hospital. While they are usually more expensive, they are more accustomed to treating foreigner and are often equipped with state of the art medical equipment.
If you decide to study or travel to a more remote area of the country, language barriers may be an issue if you do not speak Thai or if you do not have someone who can translate for you. Most sicknesses or injuries can be treated in the local facilities, but if you need emergency care that would require more specialized treatment, you may need to be medically evacuated to a nearby major city. This is especially true for the poor North Eastern region of the country where the ratio of doctor is 1:7251 according to the World Health Organization’s 2002 data.
It is important to protect yourself with a private health insurance plan while you are studying abroad in Thailand since there is no free national health care system. Our international student insurance for Thailand will be able to provide medical coverage in case you get sick or injured during your time abroad, it also includes benefit for emergency medical evacuation and also translation service available 24/7! If you have more questions, feel free to contact our international insurance agents at any time!
Chinese Student Health Insurance in Alberta
October 3rd, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelAlberta, like all provinces in Canada, provides universal health care for their citizens and permanent residents that is publically administered and funded. Alberta’s health care system known as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is available to international students studying in Alberta for 12 months or longer.
To be eligible for the AHCIP, foreign students must register within 3 months of arrival in Alberta by presenting your Study Permit and your Temporary Resident Visa. AHCIP will cover basic services like hospital costs, doctor visits, and laboratory tests; however it does not cover prescription drugs, rehabilitation needs, dental services or ambulance transport. Because of this, some international students will purchase a private medical insurance plan for Canada to ensure that out-of-pocket expenses are minimized. Additionally, if you are not eligible for the AHCIP, then your school may or may not provide you with a mandatory insurance plan. Before arriving in Alberta, it is important to contact your school about insurance options as a Chinese international student.
If you will be studying in Alberta for less than 12 months and your school does not have a mandatory insurance plan, you may want to consider purchasing your own private student health insurance since you will be responsible for any costs related to medical treatment. Because of this, many schools recommend having coverage begin as soon as you arrive so that you will be fully insured for the duration of your studies.
Chinese Student Health Insurance in New Brunswick
September 26th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelNew Brunswick is a province in Canada that is located on the eastern shoreline. Like with the other provinces in Canada, New Brunswick offers national health care to its citizens and permanent residence called the New Brunswick Medicare. If you are an international student studying in New Brunswick, whether a student from another province or country, you are not eligible for the New Brunswick Medicare.
Instead, if you are a Chinese international student in New Brunswick, you will need to purchase a separate policy to cover you while studying in Canada. If you do not have an insurance plan in place, you will be expected to pay for medical treatment and expenses out-of-pocket. To cut down on your expenses, you should first contact your school to see whether they have a mandatory insurance plan in place.
Some schools will allow you to choose your own student insurance plan if you are able to provide proof of insurance upon arrival. Other schools will leave students on their own to purchase insurance. Other universities may build insurance into the tuition without the option to waive out. In any of these cases, it is important to find out what your school offers, what options you have, and what type of benefits are included in your plan.
International Student Health Insurance in Taiwan
September 23rd, 2011 by ahoontrakulAccording to the CIA World Fact Book, Taiwan has an estimated GDP real growth rate of 10.8% placing it at number 4 compared to the rest of the world (2010). Taiwan has one of the most dynamic economies in the world but is often an overlooked destination for student studying abroad. However, this country is a great destination for students who want to study abroad and learn Mandarin Chinese at the same time!
If you will be an international student in Taiwan for over four months you will receive an Alien Resident Certificate which will allow you to enroll in the government’s National Health Insurance (NHI). If you are studying in Taiwan for just a semester, you would not be eligible for the National Health Insurance program and would need to have your own private international student health insurance in Taiwan.
For students ineligible for the Taiwan National Health Insurance (or for those wanting private insurance), our private international student health insurance in Taiwan would be able to provide a great protection against any unforeseen sicknesses or injuries that might happen while you are there.
Chinese Student Health Insurance in Quebec
September 19th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelWhile Quebec offer its citizens national health care, it is not available to international students studying in Quebec unless there is a bilateral agreement that entitles them to national health care in Canada. While China does not have an agreement, France, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden all allow students to obtain free health care in Quebec.
If you are not from one of these countries, however, you will need to purchase a private health insurance for your studies in Quebec. Most universities, however, have their own mandatory health insurance plan that most Chinese international students must purchase. The two largest mandatory insurance plans required by universities are Blue Cross and Desjardins Securité financière.
You will need to contact your school to see what type of insurance is available and whether it is mandatory. If they use the Blue Cross and Desjardins Securité financière insurance plans, they are modeled after the national health care plan called the Quebec Assurance maladie (RAMQ Medicare). Be sure to find out the benefits of the plan and check coverage to make sure that you will covered if you will be traveling.
International Student Insurance in Chinese
September 14th, 2011 by ahoontrakulInternational Student Insurance brings you interesting, useful and relevant information with our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. We are always looking for new ways to provide more useful information to our community – and we’ve just done it again!
The number of international students studying abroad has been increasing year after year. A large number of these international students are from China. In the most recent Open Doors Report 2010, statistics show that the total number of international students increased by 3%. Of this total number, the report found that “this year’s growth was primarily driven by a 30% increase in Chinese student enrollment in the United States to a total of nearly 128,000 students.”
Because of this explosive growth, we have been targeting information relevant to international students from China. We are excited to announce that our International Student Insurance plan information, for example, is now available in Mandarin Chinese! You can now read more about both of our Student Health and Travel Medical Insurance plans in your native tongue.
That’s not all! We’ve just launched our International Student Insurance Chinese blog where international students can comment and read about the latest changes affecting Chinese students studying overseas. We’ve even translated our relevant blog posts to help students in their native language understand pertinent information!
Chinese Student Health Insurance in Manitoba
September 12th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelManitoba, a province in Canada, insures its citizens under a nationwide universal health care plan called Manitoba Health. Recently, the province has made some reforms as to the eligibility of their health insurance specifically directed at international students.
As of January 19, 2011, Manitoba Health is no longer available to foreign students who only have a Study Permit. Instead, if you are a Chinese student or other foreign national, you are eligible for Manitoba Health if you have a valid work permit. However, if you do not have a valid work permit and intend on studying only, they will need to purchase a private student health insurance plan either individually or through your school.
International students in Manitoba enrolling in a post-secondary school are typically required to purchase the Manitoba International Student Health Insurance (MISHIP) through their school. This plan is provided by Great West Life and provides coverage only in Manitoba. If you plan on staying in Manitoba, we recommend that you contact your school to confirm your insurance options. Universities that offer the MISHIP generally make enrollment mandatory unless you have a valid work permit and have a Manitoba Health card.
If your school requires this insurance, it is important to contact your international student office to confirm coverage. If you plan to travel to another province or country you may want to consider purchasing a travel insurance since some services may be limited or excluded entirely.
