Health Insurance for Indian Students Studying Abroad: Benefits, Policies & Requirements

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Samarpita Goswami
Updated on Apr 21, 2022 05:00 PM IST

While many universities abroad provide health insurance, many require international students to get private health insurance. Let us find out the healthcare facilities available in various countries along with the policies, requirements, etc, for Indian students studying abroad.

Health Insurance for Indian Students Studying Abroad: Benefits, Policies & Requirements

In today's world, many students opt for a foreign degree in order to enhance their career prospects. However, amid that excitement to study abroad, many students forget how important investing in a good health or medical insurance package can be.

Not only will your health insurance save you a lot of unnecessary and unprecedented financial stress, but it can also make your study abroad experience more convenient and easier. Sometimes, it is not even optional to have health insurance while studying abroad. Many top universities abroad have rules and regulations that require every student to have a compulsory health insurance plan. This is why it is very important that you understand everything about a health insurance plan to study abroad. 

In this article, we talk about how you can choose the best study abroad Health Insurance plan, what are the policies available, and the benefits and requirements of health insurance to study abroad.

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Healthcare Benefits Abroad for International Students

Many countries have various healthcare benefits for international students. Health and safety are some of the most critical factors that a student considers when choosing to study abroad. Here are the top 5 countries offering health benefits to international students:

1. The United Kingdom

The students who are studying in the UK can expect to receive free healthcare from the National Health Service, which is a government agency. To receive free treatment, the student must meet several requirements. First, you must complete a full-time course in the UK for more than six months.

You must be a resident of a country that joins the European Union (or its member states) to receive free healthcare. You must also meet other requirements to be eligible for the program. Even if you don’t meet the above-mentioned requirements, it is still important that you get the proper insurance coverage before you leave to study abroad.

2. Germany

Not only does Germany take its students' health care seriously, but is a mandatory requirement to study in the country. Students who are enrolled in German university courses are required to have a health insurance plan. This is also the case for those who take language classes.

In order to qualify for public health insurance in Germany, international students must have their own health insurance plan in their native land. Students who live in their native land and have their own health insurance are not eligible for public health insurance in Germany.

Students who are self-employed and are not part of the German university's workforce are also required to have private health insurance. This is also the only option for those who are not part of the university's academic department or are working as freelancers.

3. Australia

An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required for all international students who are studying in Australia. Students in Australia are also required to have an OSHC for their hospital and emergency medical care.

Aside from basic services, OSHC policies also cover comprehensive products that provide various features and services. Some of these include extras such as emergency medical equipment and supplies. The basic products are usually covered by the OSHC policy. However, the comprehensive list also includes products that are designed to provide additional services.

4. Canada

Health care policies in Canada vary depending on the province where you are studying. For instance, in Ontario, students may have different healthcare policies than those in Alberta. For international students, it's important to know about the various health care policies in their chosen Canadian province.

Some provinces in Canada provide free health insurance plans to international students. In most cases, they have to register for their private insurance plans.

Canada has a universal public healthcare system funded through taxes, which can be accessed by all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. However, it does not cover every health service and product.

5. New Zealand

New Zealand's health care system is highly regarded by international students. They mainly prefer this country due to its public health care system that requires students to purchase insurance that provides them with access to the country's public healthcare system. They can then contact their local general practitioner or the host university's medical centre for help.

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Policies and Requirements for Health Insurance to Study Abroad

A comprehensive medical insurance policy is required for students planning on going abroad for higher education. Students may purchase their insurance policies from their home country or they can get one from the country they will be studying in. Many universities allow students to take insurance from home if they meet the requirements. Doing so saves them money and provides them with better coverage. Make sure that the health insurance policy you buy covers the various requirements of your chosen university. Most of the time, a combination of these requirements is required in order to get the best coverage.

  • One of the most important factors that students should consider is the coverage they're required to have. Usually, the minimum amount required is USD 50,000.

  • In addition, most universities abroad require international students to have coverage for the treatment of mental and nervous disorders, such as substance abuse and alcoholism.

  • Aside from these, international students also need to carry a dental insurance policy when studying abroad. The amount varies depending on the type of health insurance they buy.

  • They should also carry the necessary coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.

  • Many foreign universities also require their students to have a health insurance policy to cover the possible injuries caused by inter-collegiate sports activities.

  • As for the coverage that they need, most universities require their students to have coverage for various expenses, such as mammograms and pregnancy complications.

  • They also have to pay the required deductibles, which are usually higher than the amount that the insurance company will provide.

Since most universities require their students to have a variety of health insurance policies, it is important that they shop around for the best deal. Since students will most likely be travelling for a long time, having the proper insurance coverage is very important. Having the proper insurance coverage is also important because it can help minimize the possible expenses that students might face when they travel. Some of these include the cost of a bail bond, getting arrested, and emergency visits to and from home.

How to Choose Health Insurance to Study Abroad?

Now that we have understood what health insurance means in different study abroad destinations, choosing the right health insurance is extremely crucial. A number of insurance plans may be out there in the market, but you need to choose the one that fits your budget, medical conditions and other requirements. 

Choosing the Right Policy: Deciding on the right health insurance policy is an important step that a person should take before they apply for one. There are various factors that a person should consider before they apply for one. This would primarily depend on factors such as network hospitals, coverage, price and so on. 

Searching Online for Policies: Before going ahead with purchasing a health insurance plan, people can check out various websites to find the best possible insurance policy for their needs. They can also contact a professional to get advice on the various aspects of the policy.

Scrutinising Policy Details: Before buying a medical insurance policy, the consumer should consider the various qualities and terms of the plan. They should also pay attention to the minimum amount that the policy provides and the term of the payment.

Choosing the Best One: After going through all the available policies, the consumer can then pick the one that fits their needs and budget. Most policies are available for people who are between the ages of 16 and 35.

Applying for the Policy: Before a person can apply for a medical insurance policy, they should provide all the necessary details, such as their previous insurance policies. This ensures that the company can easily identify the appropriate policy for them. The consumer also has to provide the company with the details of their previous insurance policies. Doing so helps ensure that the company has all the necessary details to complete its policy transaction.

Obtaining the Policy: After the company approves the proposal, the consumer is issued the medical insurance policy. It will immediately effectuate once the necessary documents have been submitted.

Most universities and colleges abroad require their students to have medical insurance. Students who are not aware of this need to buy it from the university. This can be very costly in India as most policies are sold through banks and are usually more expensive than what students would pay in India.

In most cases, it's more expensive than what students would pay in India. In order to make students aware of the issue, many insurance firms in the country have started selling policies through banks. If a school or institution abroad doesn't accept a policy that's issued in India, its students may face issues with their insurance coverage. Before buying a policy, check the details of the school's website to see if the insurance fits all the requirements. Also, make sure that the policy is suitable for the student. If the policy has been rejected by the institution, then you can cancel it by sending a letter to the university.

For more doubts or queries related to studying abroad, write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com. Our team of experts and counsellors will help you get to your dream university.  

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