International students in the United States who have completed their required academic coursework—whether or not they have formally graduated—but still maintain their F1 visa status, may become eligible to participate in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
The OPT program, international students are granted temporary employment authorization to work in their major field of study, allowing them to gain practical experience in their specialized area.
OPT acts as employment authorization for F1 students during this transitional phase as they move toward becoming full-time employees. However, there are important health insurance considerations:
During this period, short-term insurance for OPT students is essential to cover medical expenses arising from unforeseen illness or injury.
At American Student Insurance, we assist international students in finding the most appropriate international student medical insurance during their OPT status.
We provide a comparison facilityfor the best insurance for OPT studentshelping them make informed decisions. Similarly, American Visitor Insuranceoffers a compare OPT student health insurance tool, which offers insights and information about suitable plans for OPT holders.
Several of the best health insurance options for international students on OPT are available. Students can easily obtain an instant quote on this page by entering:
The system will then display price details for STEM OPT health insurance plans based on the information entered.
Some more resourceful health insurance for opt international students information is available here where students can find the important student health insurance factors to consider before buying the popular student OPT health insurance and the reason for buying insurance while on the OPT status.
Yes, OPT students can buy health insurance. Since they are not typically eligible for school-sponsored health insurance or employer-provided coverage due to the temporary nature of their employment, OPT students can purchase short-term or specialized health insurance plans. OPT health insurance for students on American Visitor Insurance are designed to provide coverage for medical emergencies, illnesses, and injuries during their OPT period.
Yes, international students on OPT (Optional Practical Training) need health insurance. While they are no longer covered by their university's health plan after completing their coursework, they are required to have health insurance to protect against unexpected medical expenses. Since OPT students are often not eligible for employer-sponsored insurance during their temporary employment, purchasing a separate health insurance plan is essential to ensure they have medical coverage during their OPT period in the U.S.
Yes, it is highly recommended that you have health insurance during your OPT (Optional Practical Training) period.
While on OPT, you are no longer enrolled in your university’s health insurance plan, and you may not have health insurance through your employer since many OPT jobs do not offer health benefits. Without insurance, you could be responsible for significant medical expenses in case of illness or injury.
Is it worth buying US OPT health insurance:
If you're on OPT, it is best to look into a specialized OPT health insurance plan that provides the right coverage for medical or emergency expenses while in USA.
Covers doctor visits in case of sudden injury or sickness.
Some plans cover high school sports activities.
Repatriation of remains expenses to home country in case of death.
Expenses from sudden dental pain and accidental dental injuries.
Some plans offer coverage for pregnancy, maternity and new born.
Student insurance who need coverage for existing medical ailments.
The Cheapest health insurance for F-1 international students is the Student Journey Lite plan, with premiums starting at just $30 per month.
Other Affordable student health insurance options also includes the StudentSecure Smart plan and the Student Journey Plus plan.
The Best health insurance plans for international students in the USA include Student Journey Platinum by IMG, the Patriot Exchange Program from IMG, and StudentSecure Select from WorldTrips.
Selecting the right plan depends on several factors such as your individual health needs, budget, university insurance requirements, and visa status.
The OPT student health insurance cost per month ranges from around $42 to $463. The price depends on different factors like the age of the student, the duration, the medical coverage, the deductible and the co-insurance for the plan. Additionally the student health insurance cost in the US also depends on coverage for mental illness, dental expenses, hazardous sports, maternity and coverage for pre-existing ailments. Here at American Visitor insurance we have calculated the cost of health insurance for international students to help you compare and make an informed choice while buying the plan.
The average cost of OPT student health insurance for a 25 years opt student for one month.
| Insurance Plans | Policy maximum | Deductible | Cost * | Buy Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot America Plus IMG | $50,000 | $250 | $47 | Buy now shopping_cart |
| Atlas America WorldTrips | $50,000 | $250 | $47 | Buy now shopping_cart |
| StudentSecure Smart WorldTrips | $100,000 | $0 | $65 | Buy now shopping_cart |
| Diplomat America Global Underwriters | $50,000 | $250 | $67 | Buy now shopping_cart |
| Patriot Exchange IMG | $50,000 | $250 | $70 | Buy now shopping_cart |
| Navigator Student GeoBlue | Unlimited Coverage | $0 | $463 | Buy now shopping_cart |
Source: AMERICAN VISITOR INSURANCE®
International students in the US come from different countries, with diverse economic backgrounds and face different financial needs. At American Visitor Insurance we offer health insurance for international students with flexible payment structures designed to make it more affordable and convenient, whether they are in the US for a semester or for an entire program spanning many semesters.
There are different student insurance payment options available depending on the insurer and the length of coverage. The payment options are mainly either monthly or yearly, and the purchase can be either by paper or bought online. Here are some details of the different payment options for international student insurance in the U.S.
| Payment Period | Highlights | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Monthly payments, with recurring installments | Flexible with small installments | Overall higher total cost, and time consuming, Student must remember to pay on time to keep student medical insurance active. |
| Yearly | Pay the full premium up front (for entire policy period usually one year) | Cheaper than monthly payments, no risk of losing coverage by oversight | Larger upfront cost |
| Method | Description | Speed | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Application | Complete online application and payment on American Visitor Insurance | Fast — Policy issued instantly | Most common and use Credit card |
| Paper Application | Complete paper forms and submit documents by post | Slower — Takes time (few days) to process | Can pay by Check |
If you’re an international student planning to study in the USA on an F1 visa, having the right health insurance is essential. Most of the universities typically require F1 students to have health insurance coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and often mental health or maternity care. To make sure you meet both university and visa requirements, explore our comprehensive guide on best F1 visa health insurance requirements in USA.
There are quite a few US health insurance for students that cover sports activities. It is hard to pick one plan as the best plan. There might be slight differences in the kind of sports activities that they cover. On American Visitor Insurance we offer the best sports health insurance plans for international students.
Coverage level |
Add-on cost (flat monthly rate) |
Sports covered |
| Low Option | $12.00 | Ballet, Baseball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Horse Polo, Water Polo, Rowing, Softball, Surfing, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball |
| Middle Option | $26.00 | Basketball, Competitive Cycling (Road, Track, CX), Ice Hockey, Inline Skating (with helmet/proper gear), Lacrosse, Martial Arts/Karate, Modern Pentathlon, Skiing (Slalom, Giant Slalom, Downhill), Ski Jumping and Wrestling |
| High Option | $80.00 | Football (No Division I), Gymnastics, Rugby (No Division I) and Soccer |
The cost of international student health insurance starts as low as $30 per month . The exact price may vary depending on several factors such as the student’s age, coverage duration, medical benefits, deductible, and coinsurance.
The table below provides a clear side-by-side comparison of some of the most popular student health insurance plans designed for international students. Whether you’re looking for the most affordable monthly premium ,the highest coverage amount, or flexible payment options , this chart will help you choose the plan that best fits your health needs and budget while studying in the U.S.
Costs are based on quotes for 20-year-old students traveling to the USA
| Plan name | Max coverage | Deductible | Pre-existing coverage | Monthly cost | Yearly cost | Payment option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Journey Lite IMG | $150,000 per injury/illness | $100 | Covered after 6 months | $30 | $360 | Annual payment |
| StudentSecure Smart WorldTrips | $200,000 overall maximum | $0 | Not covered | $32 | $372 | Monthly & Annual |
| Student Journey Plus IMG | $300,000 per injury/illness | $500 | Covered after 6 months | $48 | $576 | Annual payment |
| StudentSecure Budget WorldTrips | $500,000 overall maximum | $0 | Covered after 12 months | $53 | $624 | Monthly & Annual |
| Patriot Exchange IMG | $500,000 overall maximum | $500 | Covered after 12 months | $66 | $794 | Annual payment |
| Student Joureny Platinum WorldTrips | $500,000 per injury/illness | $250 | Covered after 6 months | $74 | $888 | Annual payment |
| Student health advantage standard IMG | $500,000 overall maximum | $250 | Covered after 12 months | $95 | $1,146 | Monthly & Annual |
| StudentSecure Select WorldTrips | $1,000,000 overall maximum | $0 | Covered after 6 months | $106 | $1,248 | Monthly & Annual |
| StudentSecure Elite WorldTrips | $5,000,000 overall maximum | $0 | Covered after 6 months | $181 | $2,135 | Monthly & Annual |
| Student Health Advantage Platinum IMG | $1,000,000 overall maximum | $100 | Covered after 6 months | $282 | $3,389 | Monthly & Annual |
Source: American Visitor Insurance®
The OPT Student Health Insurance Plans cost varies depending on the age of the OPT student and the duration of coverage required. The older the student the higher will be the OPT medical insurance cost. The longer the duration of travel insurance required, the greater will be the cost of health insurance for students on opt.
Our cheap health insurance for OPT students quote comparison facility lists the opt student health insurance plans that satisfy your requirements comparing them based on price and benefit. Compare health insurance for OPT students on American Visitor Insurance to get free OPT medical insurance quotes and find the best f1 opt insurance online.
Comprehensive F1 visa OPT student health insurance that includes medical emergencies, doctor visits and prescription medications is recommended. Compare the different F1 visa OPT insurance options on American Visitor Insurance and ensure that the plan meets your needs when you are on the OPT status.
Important factors to consider include the medical coverage limits, deductible and co-insurance amounts, benefits for different medical expenses, the PPO network availability, coverage for any pre-existing medical conditions, and any other specific features that you require.
F1 OPT students should ideally buy OPT health insurance coverage before the start of their OPT period to ensure continuous protection as they transition from the F1 visa student insurance to the OPT status.
The US government does not make it mandatory for F1 OPT students to have health insurance. However given the extremely high cost of US health insurance, it is highly recommended that international students buy OPT health insurance as they start their working career in the US. The risks of not having the best OPT health insurance is simply too high.
Health insurance usa for international students FAQs.
Click here to read more »Resources for health insurance cost for international students in USA
Click here to read more »Factors while buying best insurance for international students in USA.
Click here to read more »International Student insurance
J1 visa holders insurance
F1 visa holders insurance
Student insurance reviews
F2 visa health insurance
USA Student overseas insurance
Best health insurance for students in USA
US students studying abroad insurance
OPT student health insurance
Obamacare requirements
Student group travel Insurance
Student colleges requirements
