Why Students Should Always Get Travel Medical Insurance Before Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is quite possibly one of the most exciting and all encompassing learning opportunities available to college students worldwide. Not only is there the chance to learn desired educational content in a new environment and from a different perspective, but often the ability to learn about a new culture and language as well. Many students use the once in a lifetime opportunity to study and travel abroad to explore not just the city they are studying in, but surrounding areas as well. There are so many chances to try new foods, activities and adventures while abroad, that many times students have no idea just where they will end up or what exactly they will be doing. Due to this ambiguity and the distance from home, protecting oneself with student travel insurance should be a top priority prior to leaving the country. The following are several benefits that make the investment in travel insurance worth it. 

Peace of Mind for Those at Home

Knowing your child is gone and out of physical reach is such a challenging reality for a parent to face. Losing the ability to show up and fix potential problems is a concern for most families, while the potential liability or inability to ensure necessary care in the event of an emergency can cause additional anxiety. Travel insurance is an effective way to alleviate many of these concerns for relatively little cost financially, and it does not impose controlling rules on students traveling. More restrictive alternatives to family peace of mind generally involve asking the student to avoid certain opportunities which may cause resentment. Trip protection and travel medical insurance is a benefit for everyone involved, both at home and abroad. 

Protection for the Student

Traveling abroad can sometimes raise stress levels, which can negatively impact physical health. Under stress, the body is less able to fight off illnesses that are typically easily handled by the immune system. Having travel medical insurance means that a student can go to the doctor if they become sick or injured during their trip, and their policy will cover medical treatment costs up to the policy limits. There are many unknown details in medical care abroad, including when payment is required, what currency is required to pay the bill, and even how billing works if medicine is socialized in the host country. Students typically do not have the experience to consider how to overcome these unknowns. A trip protection plan can help to cover the costs and the insurer can also help navigate the entire process. 

Another concern is the possibility of a catastrophic event abroad. While unlikely, it is still wise to determine how such an event would be handled. Emergency evacuations can run tens of thousands of dollars or more, and often require some form of payment up front. Travel insurance (with emergency evacuation coverage) avoids the possibility of frantically figuring out how to send money abroad in the middle of an emergency, and assures peace of mind that alleviates stress for all involved. 

Flexibility While Traveling

Many students take advantage of studying abroad to further their travels and go see other landmarks. Each new destination has different rules and systems in place for medical care, and figuring out the details of each requires time, energy and linguistic skills that most students do not possess. Knowing that a blanket plan covers them wherever they go ensures their health and safety while they are abroad, no matter where their travel adventures take them. 

Travel insurance also offers the benefit of assisting in the event of travel plans changing. Students, in particular, experience frequent changes in travel dates or destinations. A protection plan can assist in figuring out and paying for details in the event of a necessary change, if it occurs for a covered reason under the policy.

The State Department Recommends Insurance

It is common to experience some kind of minor emergency while abroad. The local United States embassies are able to help in case of missing or lost paperwork related to travel, but except for extreme cases, they do not offer financial assistance for U.S. citizens abroad. There may be occasional times in the midst of a natural disaster that the embassy can assist with evacuations, but it is unlikely and not recommended by the U.S. or any agency to rely on State Department assistance in the event of an emergency. 

Travel insurance is an investment worth making. Not only can it save from large scale potential disasters, it can also lower stress by providing daily peace of mind for students traveling abroad, as well as for their families at home.