Vietnamese International Student Insurance
February 7th, 2011 by Jennifer FrankelMany international students from Vietnam come to the United States to pursue a higher degree. According to the IIE-Vietnam Office Director, “The U.S. remains the preferred destination for students from Vietnam who want to study abroad because of the quality and prestige associated with an American degree.”
Vietnam is in the top 10 countries sending international students to the United States. This year, there was a 2.3% increase in the number of Vietnamese students coming to the US. In 2010, there was 13,112 international students studying in the United States and the international student population is expected to continue to grow.
Many international students will realize that there are many differences between the United States and Vietnam – especially when it comes to the health care system. Many universities and colleges recommend that Vietnamese purchase an international student insurance policy before arriving in the United States. While purchasing a health insurance plan may cost you a few hundred dollars, this could save you thousands of dollars in case you need to seek medical treatment.
In fact, the United States is one of the most expensive countries to receive medical attention. To avoid high medical bills, many international students do research on their medical student insurance policy in advance of arriving in the US. To avoid the possibility of being in the United States without coverage, international students will ensure that their policy begins coverage the same day as their arrival.
One popular option is the Vietnamese international student insurance which allows you to start coverage the day you arrive in the US and you can get coverage as early as the same day (that is – in case you have already left your home country).
This Vietnamese international student insurance is available in three levels to allow students to choose the plan best designed to fit their budget and coverage needs. This international student insurance will cover Vietnamese in all 50 states while they study in the United States. Be sure to check your school requirements to confirm that this Vietnamese international student insurance plan will work for you.
Political Emergency Evacuation Insurance
February 4th, 2011 by ahoontrakulAfter the recent political unrest in Egypt and Tunisia, we thought it would be important to mention political evacuation insurance plans.
Political turmoil in a country can cause problems for many people around the worlds not just for those living in the country. What if you are in a foreign country traveling or studying abroad and then something happens? What if you haven’t left your home country yet when it happens? Sure that is better than being there in the middle of the chaos, but what happens to your expensive plan ticket that you have already bought?
There are different insurance options which can provide protection against these political uncertainties. A good comprehensive travel medical insurance, like the Atlas Travel plan, can provide you with not only coverage in case you get sick or injured, but also with coverage in case you need to evacuate due to local unrest. If the United States government issues a travel warning that becomes effective after you have already arrived in your destination country, the Atlas Travel plan will provide transportation to the nearest place of safety or even cover your return back home.
If you are already covered for your medical needs, a stand-alone emergency evacuation insurance may be for you. While this plan doesn’t provide coverage for medical expenses, it will provide coverage for medical emergency, political evacuation and more.
Because you never know when something bad can happen, you want to have protection for when you are abroad and also before you actually leave for your trip. If certain events happen that would prevent you from taking your trip, you don’t want to lose all the money you have spent on your non-refundable plan ticket. The Trip Cancellation insurance plan can provide this coverage. If you add the Cancel for Any Reason option to the plan, you can be reimburse for 75% of your non-refundable tour cost. As with all insurance plans, it is important to read the terms of the plan carefully.
Ireland Study Abroad Insurance
January 28th, 2011 by ahoontrakul
The shamrock, the leprechaun, the world famous Guinness beer and just about everything green green and green! Not every country around the world has such recognizable images associated with it. Cliché or not, Ireland attracts many visitors each year as well as it should, many of which are international students.
In addition to the all the great places to visit and wonderful culture, Ireland has a dynamic atmosphere and world class education. Ireland has a young population, with well over 4.5 million people in a country slightly larger than the state of West Virginia; 35% of the population is under 25 years old. The University College Dublin’s MBA program has also been ranked 31th out of 100 of the world’s top MBA programs by the Economist Magazine for 2010.
While students from the European Union countries are eligible for free hospital services in Ireland, non-EU students are not covered for any free medical service and are required to show proof of medical insurance when going to register and apply for a student visa to study in Ireland.
Starting January 2011, all non EU/EAA newly arrive first year students in Ireland may purchase a private insurance policy as long as it meets these requirements:
- The insurance covers the student for one full year or where the student is staying in Ireland for less than one year for the entirety of their stay;
- The insurance coverage covers the student at a minimum of €25,000 for Accident and €25,000 for Disease;
- The insurance coverage covers the student for any period of hospitalization.
A great choice for study abroad insurance in Ireland is the Atlas plan, which would meet these requirements.
If you will be studying in Ireland for more than one year, the second year onward you have to buy your health insurance sourced in Ireland.
Educational Programs in Cuba Now Available to US Citizens
January 25th, 2011 by International-Student-InsuranceDating back to the 1960’s, US citizens have been restricted from traveling to Cuba due to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. Since the US President, Barak Obama took office, he promised that these restrictions would be reduced. Many educational programs and tourism agencies were preparing themselves strategically in hopes that they would be ready when these restrictions were lifted.
On January 14, 2011, this moment had finally come. The White House issued a press release officially announcing that educational travel would be allowed under what they dubbed “purposeful travel”. The press release further explained that the current legislation has been modified to allow licensed academic exchanges to permit students to travel to Cuba as long as students received credit toward their undergraduate and graduate degree. Additional modification was granted allowing academic institutions to sponsor and co-sponsor seminars, conferences, and workshops in Cuba and specifically announced that all those affiliated with an institution – student, faculty, staff – would be able to attend.
If you plan on studying or traveling to Cuba, you will most likely need an insurance plan. As you do research, you will notice that many US-based insurance companies have restrictions on coverage in Cuba. It is important to verify with you carrier about the coverage area as you may find that Cuba is an exception.
According to the US State Department, no medical facility in Cuba will accept U.S.-issued insurance cards, credit cards, or checks and that medical services must be paid for in cash. If you go to the doctor or hospital with a US policy, be prepared to pay out of pocket and then you will be able to submit receipts and bills for reimbursement.
We here at International Student Insurance work with students traveling all around the world, including in Cuba. If you are one of these students, faculty or staff looking for international travel insurance in Cuba, we recommend contacting our licensed agents that can further assist you.
Study Abroad in China 100,000 Strong Initiative
January 21st, 2011 by ahoontrakulOn January 19th 2011, the U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gave a speech at Howard University. During the speech she mentioned the importance of studying abroad, which coincided with the Chinese President Hu Jintao visit to the United States.
To show the need for strong ties between China and the United States, during the speech she talked about the “100,000 Strong Initiative”. The 100,000 strong initiative is supported by the U.S. government and was launched back in 2009 to encourage a greater diversity and the number of Students from the United States to study abroad in China.
With growing interest in China, more and more people are going to study abroad there. Between 2001-2007, the number of Americans studying in China grew by 30 percent and is expected to continue to grow into the future. It’s becoming more and more accessible for students to go study abroad in China and new scholarships are emerging to help students finance their trip. The Chinese government is also offering 10,000 scholarships for US students studying in China.
After Mrs. Obama’s speech, a four student lead panel discussed and shared their experiences on studying abroad. This included two recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This program is design to provide scholarship opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students who want to study abroad. This year the program awarded over 2,300 scholarships with the average award being about $4,000. If you are studying a critical need language like Chinese you are then eligible to receive an additional $3,000 award.
Many other international scholarships are also available, as well as opportunities to study in China and around the world.
Turkish International Student Insurance
January 19th, 2011 by International-Student-InsuranceFor many international students, health insurance is an important consideration before arriving in the United States. Many Turkish international students will find that the U.S. health care system is much different than Turkey. In fact, it is not uncommon to walk out of a U.S. hospital with thousands of dollars in bills if there is no insurance plan in place.
To prevent this from happening to you, it is important to read up on the many differences in health care systems. As an overview, health care in Turkey is more centralized, with the majority of individuals enrolled in the state health care system. Although private health care has experienced growth over the last few years, only 2% of the total population in Turkey has private health care.
Unlike Turkey, the majority of the population in the United States has private health insurance. There are only a few public health care options, and you may soon find out that as an international student you’ll be required to have an insurance of your own. In fact, many hospitals and doctors may require proof of health insurance before you are even seen. If not, it is possible to walk out with a bill that can easily add up to thousands of dollars.
Because of this, Turkish international student insurance is a popular option. Normally purchased before arriving in the United States, this comprehensive international student health insurance can help students seek the coverage they need in an affordable way. International students may be surprised at how expensive health care costs in the United States can be! This is why you’ll want to research your Turkish international student insurance plan.
One popular option is the Student Secure plan which provides comprehensive coverage to international students outside their home country. The plan is available in three levels to give you plan options to find the best fit. This international student insurance plan for Turkish students covers hospitalization, doctor visits, repatriation, emergency medical evacuation, mental health, prescription medication, etc.
If you are interested in finding out more information about this plan, please contact a licensed agent.
Atlas Travel Rate Change
January 13th, 2011 by International-Student-InsuranceThe Atlas Travel plan announced new rates for the New Year.
On December 15th, 2010, new rates went into effect for both US and non-US coverage on the Atlas Travel plan. These rates continue the long history of offering competitive pricing and comprehensive benefits to those traveling abroad. For those individuals traveling outside their home country, the Atlas Travel medical insurance remains a popular choice for students and travelers going overseas.
As always, the Atlas Travel plan allows you to choose your coverage and deductible allowing you to customize coverage. This travel medical insurance plan offers daily pricing so that you pay for the dates of coverage you need – no more, no less! With benefits including doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, to name of few, it is no wonder that this plan meets most government regulations.
If you have questions about the plan and want to know how the Atlas Travel plan will cover you, contact one of our licensed agents to help you plan for your upcoming trip!
Japanese International Student Insurance
December 23rd, 2010 by International-Student-Insurance
The Japanese health care system is much different than in the United States. These differences can be especially startling for Japanese international students who come to the United States unprepared.
First, let’s talk about the differences in health care.
The health care system in Japan has what is called universal health care. For Japan, this means that the government covers 70% of treatment leaving patience with just 30% of the cost. In the US, however, the health care system relies on the individual seeking treatment and if available, private health insurance, to cover medical expenses. Because of this, it is important for Japanese international students to come prepared with their own insurance plan. If they do not, international students can easily incur thousands of dollars in medical bills by simply going to the emergency room without an insurance plan in place to help cover the expenses.
The health care costs also differ between the two countries where the US can be much more expensive compared to the regulated costs in Japan. A recent article published in the Washington Post stated, “Japan has a system that costs half as much…it does so by banning insurance company profits, limiting doctor fees…[and creating a] low-cost system.”
Now that we’ve spoken about the health care system, let’s discuss options when you study overseas.
Because of the differences in health care, you can see why it is important to have Japanese international student insurance in place before arrival in the United States. A popular option for Japanese international students is the Student Secure plan which provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage up to $200,000 (smart), $250,000 (budget) or $300,000 (select). This Japanese international student insurance plan is comprehensive in coverage and includes hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. Additionally, you have the option to include coverage for maternity, mental health, sports coverage, and pre-existing conditions, etc.
For more information about the plans for Japanese students, please see our international student health insurance options.
Image of a Geisha provided by Shutterstock
