Studying abroad in a new country is an exciting and fulfilling adventure. However, it if an emergency comes up, you won’t be able to rely on your family doctor or campus medical center from back home. Obtaining the right insurance plan can help make studying abroad a safe and stress-free experience. Below are seven reasons why study abroad health insurance is important for students going abroad.
1. You Can’t Predict an Accident
No one plans to have an accident or get sick. If you find yourself injured or ill, you do not want to deal with the added headache of having to worry about whether you can afford to go to the hospital. When studying abroad, you will be in unfamiliar territory, and managing your health and safety will be different than it was at home. It’s worthwhile to look into obtaining an insurance plan to make sure you have as few unpleasant surprises as possible.
2. Medical Expenses Can Add Up Without Insurance
Purchasing student insurance can help you avoid costly medical expenses down the road. It is hard to anticipate how much different countries may charge you for their health services. Having your insurance figured out before your trip can help reduce the stress of calculating medical costs.
3. An Accident or Illness May Unexpectedly Extend Your Time Away
Paying for hospital bills is one thing, but paying for an apartment, food, or even a visa because you had to stay abroad longer to recover will make your trip all the more expensive. If you can deal with a medical situation quickly and effectively, then you can avoid the costs of staying abroad longer than you need to.
4. Applying for Insurance Is Quick and Easy
Applying for study abroad health insurance won’t take long at all, and will prevent future stress in the case of an emergency. Doing a little “paperwork” before your trip will help avoid doing a lot more later on.
5. There’s a Plan That Works For You
Depending on where you go and how long you stay, there are plans that can meet your specific needs. If you have questions about anything related to your insurance needs, you should be able to easily contact your insurance provider for answers.
6. You Can Speak to Someone who Speaks Your Language
If you have study abroad health insurance, there will be staff from a global emergency medical assistance service available to speak to you in English 24/7, and available in most of the countries you may visit. Whether it’s midnight in Tokyo or an early afternoon in Paris, there are multilingual medical personnel on hand to assist you in case of a medical emergency.
7. It Will Help Mom and Dad Sleep at Night
Aside from the occasional phone call, text message, Facebook post, or Skype session, your parents won’t have as much contact with you as they usually do. It’s no secret that parents tend to worry for their children’s safety. If you’re studying abroad, your parents will feel more secure knowing you purchased study abroad health insurance to make your time away from home as safe as possible. Purchasing study abroad health insurance is not just for your benefit—it will be for your parents too. They will sleep better at night knowing their child has taken charge of their health and safety. Buying study abroad health insurance should be one of the first things you check off your list before studying abroad. If you’re ready to learn more, get in touch with LewerMark for advice.
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.
1. Be Prepared in Case of an Emergency
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.
2. Plan for Any Long-Term Conditions You May Have
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.
3. Keep Your Emergency Information Handy
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!
4. Research the Environment You’ll Be Living in
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.
5. Know What’s Covered
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.
