International student insurance: What kind of medical cover should I get?
Get a medical insurance to ensure that you are safe in terms of finances in the event of an emergency. Here you can explore everything you need to know!
When you’re getting ready to embark on your study abroad journey, you may have contemplated what international medical insurance you’ll want to purchase before your studies begin.
While some international student visas - particularly those in the United States and the United Kingdom - require incoming students to have at least some level of medical cover, others don’t; though it can be a worthwhile endeavour to seek out coverage regardless in the unfortunate event that you fall ill while abroad.
The good news is that there are many providers which offer medical insurance for international students.
In many countries, you will be treated in an emergency situation regardless of whether you have health insurance coverage - however, if you are uninsured, you would be expected to settle all medical costs incurred which could be prohibitive to completing your studies abroad.
Fortunately, there are various overseas student health cover programmes that cater specifically to the needs of international students which offer varying levels of cover. This is especially important to consider if you have a pre-existing chronic condition or illness that requires you to purchase prescription drugs.
The best insurance for students
Generally, countries around the world offer two types of insurance programmes - public, and private.
Public health programmes, sometimes under the banner of a National Health Insurance scheme such as in the UK, may offer government-subsidised medical insurance for international visitors.
Private programmes, in other nations, might enable you to purchase a subscription to coverage which will enable you to visit affiliated private healthcare facilities.
Which programmes are right for you are determined by your medical needs, your budget, and, ultimately, the laws and requirements of your study country.
Before you explore the various options available on the market, your first step should be to explore the requirements of your international study visa, if applicable. Certain visas, such as the US F1 student visa, require you to have some level of medical coverage that complies with national legislation. To do so, you might want to seek out options for health insurance for international students.
