All students studying outside of the United States should make sure they have adequate medical insurance coverage that will cover them overseas and in the United States in case they need to return home for health care. Many U.S. medical insurance policies provide little or no coverage outside the U.S. because the providers are considered "out of network." Therefore, if your study abroad program does not include medical insurance, you should puchase a policy.

Students participating in the U.S. Partner Programs should purchase U.S. medical insurance if their program does not provide it.

International Medical Insurance

You should select an international medical insurance plan that meets your specific medical coverage needs and covers you for the duration of your time abroad, including when you travel independently. For your convenience, we offer a partial list of possible international medical insurance providers below, but encourage you to consult with your insurance agent about other options.

• International SOS (purchase the Optional Medical Insurance)
• Medex
• CISI (Cultural Insurance Services International)
• HTH Worldwide

1. Many international medical insurance providers for students cover students only during the dates they are enrolled in their study abroad program and do not include coverage prior to the program beginning or after the program ends when you may wish to travel on your own overseas. If you plan to travel independently outside of your program's dates, be sure to purchase a policy that includes coverage for that time period. Some companies offer a separate insurance plan for independent travel periods.
2. When purchasing the international medical insurance, be aware that most companies offer medical evacuation and repatriation with a separate option for regular medical insurance for more routine doctor's visits. Be sure to purchase the regular medical insurance option.
3. Pre-existing conditions are typically not covered by international medical insurance, so this is an important reason for a student to maintain their regular U.S. based insurance.
4. Some international medical insurance plans include some outpatient and inpatient mental health coverage and some do not.