Exposure to a new culture while studying abroad can be an enriching and life-changing experience. Throughout all the excitement of planning your trip, it’s easy to forget to take care of administrative tasks, such as looking into the details of your health insurance coverage. It is important that you do everything that you can to feel secure during your trip. By making sure that you understand your insurance coverage before your trip, you will know what to do in the event of an accident or illness.
To learn more about what you can do to stay safe while studying abroad, read these five ways student insurance can help you protect yourself.
Your insurance provider should have existing relationships with reputable hospitals and doctors. However, when dealing with an emergency, you don’t want to have to look up this information. Make sure you identify the locations of these hospitals in advance and that you know how to get there. Don’t take a chance—plan ahead to protect yourself.
Many people have long-term conditions, such as diabetes, that may need ongoing attention. If you have a long-term condition and are studying abroad, you want to make sure you have your life organized in case anything were to happen. If you require medication on a regular basis for the duration of your time away, talk with your doctor before you leave. You’ll also want to find out if your health will be impacted by spending time in a new country with a different health care environment.
If you find yourself in need of medical attention, you do not want to have to sift through your bags to find the right information. We recommend printing out your insurance policies and other travel documents before your trip—you might even want to laminate this information before you put it in your wallet or purse. Saving a copy on an electronic device like a mobile phone, tablet or laptop is always a good idea as well!
When studying abroad, you will likely be in a place that has an environment different to your own. If you have sensitivities or allergies of any kind that are affected by environmental factors, you will want to make sure you research them in advance. If there are any medical issues brought on by these factors, you’ll have fewer surprises along the way. You’re already going to be looking up interesting places to visit during your trip abroad, so you can include this step as part of your planning process.
Health insurance is meant to support variety of medical issues. It is wise to make sure that you fully understand the nuances of your coverage. Certain medications, procedures, or services will be covered, but typically there is a limit to what is included. Look into the details of your plan so that you know how to respond in various situations.
When it comes to planning your trip abroad, opting for health insurance is a no-brainer. Make sure you take the extra step to protect yourself with student insurance while studying abroad and know the details of your coverage. If you want more tips on studying abroad, visit our student resources page.
