International student health insurance is a specially designed insurance medical coverage and financial protection to students studying abroad. It ensures that international students have access to necessary healthcare services and financial assistance in the event of illnesses, accidents, or emergencies while studying in a foreign country.
✅ Conclusion: These FAQs aim to provide international students with crucial information about the necessity and benefits of health insurance coverage while studying abroad, helping them make an informed decision and to ensure their well-being during their education in a foreign country.
After your enrollment is complete, your Certificate of Insurance will be sent to the mailing address you provided during the sign-up process.
Yes, you can renew your policy if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements (see FAQ 1).
Your insurance coverage can begin as early as the next day after completing your online enrollment, as long as:
Please ensure both steps are completed accurately to avoid delays.
If you wish to adjust your policy start date after completing your online application, please send your correction request in writing using one of the following methods:
Make sure to include:
We will review and confirm the changes once received.
Insurance Company(IMG) will need to know ahead of time about the hospital, etc where the delivery is to take place to arrange payment and pre-authorize benefit payment. As soon as you find out you are pregnant, then call IMG customer service (M-F 9-4 EST) to find out what you should do.
Student Health Advantage Details
As long as you do NOT let the coverage lapse (forget to renew your policy when it expires) there will not be a break in coverage and a pregnancy started in the first year will continue to be covered in the next year of the policy. Should the policy lapse, then you may have issues getting coverage for an existing pregnancy. Conception must occur AFTER the start date of the policy. There is no waiting period or other condition.
Student Health Advantage Details
Yes, your example is accurate. You would pay only one $100 deductible for one sickness regardless of how many times you had to go to the doctor for the follow up etc.
This would have to be allowed by the university. Also, a co-pay is a payment made every visit (unlike the deductible), so in your above example, the $5 would be paid for first visit, another $5 for follow up.
Several international student insurance plans offer coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is defined as by the policy as "an injury, illness or condition which was contracted or which first manifested itself, or for which a licensed physician was consulted, or for which treatment or medication was prescribed, prior to the effective date of the insurance plan. Coverage typically begins after a waiting period of 6 to 12 months, depending on the plan, and requires continuous enrollment with no gaps.
Some of the popular student insurance plans with pre-existing condition coverage are Student Secure Smart, StudentSecure Budget,Patriot Exchange, Student Health Advantage Platinum and GeoBlue Navigator for Students .For detailed coverage limits, waiting periods, and plan benefits, explore our comprehensive guide on pre-existing condition coverage for international students .
Yes, many of our international student insurance cover pregnancy and childbirth benefits for the insured student or their enrolled spouse, as long as the pregnancy starts after the policy start date. However, they do not cover pregnancy for a dependent child.
Atlas America will not cover pregnancy. However once the child is born you may cover the baby by filling in an additional form, we can help you with this when the time comes.
The health insurance cost for the college student will depend on the student insurance coverage benefits, the age of the student, the medical maximum coverage required and the deductible for the plan. Coverage within the US is more expensive when compared to coverage outside the US. For example, the cost of student health insurance start as low as $30 per month for a 20-year-old student.
Students and scholars on F or J visas have the best student insurance coverage for maternity coverage. However, the benefits have been reduced a few years ago such that the best coverage is 80% coverage of costs, so the students will have to be aware that they will be responsible for a portion of all costs. Also note that unless their wife is the J1 visa holder they will have to be the primary on the policy and the wife (with J2) will be secondary. Also note that prices are DIFFERENT for the primary and the spouse, so when students quote the prices, quote them for two people at the same time since the cost will be MUCH HIGHER for the wife's coverage. There are two policies that cover maternity at an 80% coverage without a set limit on benefits, provided conception occur after the plan start date. Most require students to notify the insurer at least three months before the delivery date.
GeoBlue student insurance is a student health insurance plan that provides preventive care services along with the other benefits that are usually available with all student health insurance plans.
AmericanVisitorInsurance and/or its associates have tried to answer these frequently asked questions to the best of our knowledge. However we make no guarantee regarding the accuracy of our answers. The exact answers for some of the questions can change periodically as insurance companies change their plans/policies. AmericanVisitorInsurance is not liable for any problem resulting from the content on this FAQ. If you do not agree with the terms of this disclaimer, please do not use any information in this FAQ..
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A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan offers valuable flexibility and cost-saving benefits, especially for international students navigating the U.S. healthcare system.
Why choose a PPO? It offers flexibility, affordability, and ease of use — making U.S. healthcare more manageable for international students.
✅ Yes, F1 visa students are strongly encouraged — and often required — to have health insurance while studying in the United States.
💡 In Summary:
F1 students need health insurance to:The cheapest f1 student health insurance is the IMG Student Journey Lite Plan plan, starting at just $30 per month .This student insurance plan provides comprehensive coverage, including medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and accidental death and dismemberment.
Younger students generally pay lower premiums.
The length of health insurance for F1 students significantly affects the price.
The cost of F1 student health insurance is less for lower medical maximum and increases with higher medical maximum coverage.
Your out-of-pocket expenses play a major role in determining monthly costs.
Where you're studying affects cost.
Adding specific benefits can increase your premium. These may include:
For a detailed breakdown of these factors and tips on choosing the right plan, visit our guide on the factors for buying best student health insurance plan.
💡Tip:
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®
F1 visa holders are strongly advised to have adequate health insurance to manage the high cost of medical care in the United States. While the U.S. government does not mandate health insurance for F1 visa students, most universities require it for enrollment.
🔍 Learn more about selecting the most suitable plan by visiting our detailed guide on best F1 visa health insurance requirements .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.
Our support team is ready to assist you.
“ After rigorous searching for suitable student health insurances online, I stumbled upon the American visitor Insurance website and the customer representatives were really patient and helpful in guiding me with the best plan that suits me. ”
“ Your customer service provided me with perfect service and helped me very much to find policy I needed (for J2 visa). She was very polite and answered all my questions. I'm fully satisfied with the service. Thank you very much! ”
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