Did you know it is mandatory to have student health insurance if you aspire to study abroad? Whether you are planning to go to Australia, the UK, or the USA, you will need maximum protection to cover your medical bills in an emergency.
Each country and university has its own health insurance requirements that students must meet to get clearance by the student visa officials. In Australia, you have the Overseas Student Health Cover and UK, there is the National Health Service.
In this blog, let’s dive into what is student health insurance and the key benefits of securing the right student health insurance as an international student.
What is Student Health Insurance?
A student health insurance is a health policy designed for students to cover their sudden or unexpected medical bills and hospitalization. It covers a range of facilities like surgeries, hospitalization, immunization, counselling and medicines. A student health insurance is often a mandatory requirement for studying abroad and your visa could be rejected if your health cover does not meet the university requirements.
Also Read: Studying Abroad Guide for Indians
7 Benefits of Student Health Insurance
1. Financial protection: The biggest benefit of a student health insurance plan is the financial protection it offers. At a premium rate, you can protect your bank from heavy healthcare costs. Without health cover, an international student could easily be left with the $800-$1000 bill in the USA.
The foreign healthcare system is notoriously expensive and complicated. A sudden illness or accident could leave you and result in debt. Thus, getting student health insurance is mandatory because it acts as a financial safety net.
2. Access to health quality care: A good student health insurance provides you with a robust network of hospitals, doctors and medical practitioners that can assist you in a medical crisis. By securing a good cover, you can be assured that your treatment will be within your budget, and you will have access to quality healthcare at a moment’s notice.
3. Peace of mind: No one wants to head to college with the stress of an impending health crisis. University life is stressful enough, you don’t want to be constantly worried about your health too. A major benefit of a student health insurance plan is that peace of mind and comfort it offers to a student and their family members! It allows you to focus on your university life without fearing hospitalization.
4. University-fit student health: Foreign universities value a student healthcare plan. There are specific rules and requirements that every student must meet to get a visa. A major mistake students make is selecting the wrong or insufficient health insurance coverage for their student visa application. A good provider can help you select the right student health insurance that meets your country and university’s requirements to give you the perfect cover in the event of any accident or sudden hospitalization.
5. Affordable options: Student health insurance is a mandatory requirement, and you can find various affordable options to cover your study abroad stay. While selecting a health coverage, make sure it covers your university mandate and your visa requirements so that your study abroad plans are not disrupted. Do check with your university if your health insurance plan is recognized by the government and university to avoid any errors.
6. Complete coverage: From emergency visits, surgeries, nursing, ambulance, diagnostics, immunizations, cancer screening, hospital bed to counselling, a student health insurance can cover all these needs. A good student health insurance can take care of 90% of your medical needs.
7. Post-care assistance: Getting a student health insurance is not enough. A major benefit of a good student health insurance is that it helps you navigate the complicated administrative process in a foreign land. It allows you to get cashless facility from the beginning so that your valuable money is not spent. In a medical crisis, you or loved ones should not be focused on money but on the well-being of their child.
Also Read: Know all about a Masters in the UK: Universities & Cost
Things to Consider Before Buying Student Health Insurance
The most important requirement for a health cover is that it be tailored to your needs. No two people are the same, hence, no two health insurances can be the same. Here are some things you must consider before buying a health insurance:
- University needs: Check if your health insurance meets the minimum requirements of your university and visa.
- Coverage type: Your health cover must include sudden hospitalization, surgeries, emergency treatment, accidents, and pre-existing conditions like diabetes, blood pressure or heart conditions. You can also check if the plan includes mental health support.
- Network hospitals: A good health cover offers a robust network of hospitals and doctors with the facility of cashless treatment.
- Policy duration: Your health cover must cover your entire study abroad experience.
- Post care claims : One of the most stressful thing is the claim process for a insurance holder, you must take a policy that offers hassle-free claims and is responsive in the time of need.
- Exclusions: Many policies have underlying exclusions that students do not know of util the time of hospitalization. Make sure you ask your provider what is included in your plan and what is excluded.
Also Read: MBBS in UK: Universities, Fees & Process
How to select the right overseas student health insurance?
Selecting a student health insurance with EduFund is a 4-step system. All you need to do is provide information about your university and we will help you customize a student health insurance plan to meet the necessary needs. Each country and university have their own set of requirements that must be addressed while purchasing student health cover.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: Choose your visa status, school & age
Step 2: Receive customized plans for your needs
Step 3: Compare your options & finalize
Step 4: Receive your insurance policy via email
FAQs
- Why is student health insurance essential?
Yes, a student health insurance is essential for students. A good cover provides access to quality healthcare so that you are protected in the event of sudden hospitalization and accidents without the burden of unexpected medical bills.
- Who does EduFund student insurance cover?
EduFund partners with the leading insurance manager to help international students. It offers specialized health insurance plans tailored for students and scholars on F1, J1, and F1-OPT visas and their F2/J2 dependents.
- Can a student apply for health insurance?
Yes, a student can apply for student health insurance and get coverage that aligns with their university needs and their personal requirements.
- Is EduFund student insurance good for international students?
Yes, our insurance plans are designed for international students to meet the specific needs of your school waiver’s requirements or visa status at an affordable rate.
