The Importance of Student Health Insurance While Studying Abroad

1
The Importance of Student Health Insurance While
Studying Abroad

• Teresa Koster
• President, Koster Insurance Agency
• 500 Victory Road
• Quincy MA 02171
• 617-770-9889
• 800-457-5599
• tkoster_at_kosterins.com

June 14, 2006
2
Introduction

• The objective of this presentation is to identify
  concerns, realities and health insurance
  solutions for your students participating in your
  Study Abroad program.
• Areas Being Addressed
• Insurance Coverages
• Health/Disease Risks

3
Study Abroad Program Options

• Institution-Supported Programs
• The Institution should have clear policy
  procedures governing their Study Abroad Program
• Processes all paperwork, arranges housing, and
  makes tuition and housing payments on students
  behalf.
• Provides official transcript with U.S. grade and
  credit equivalents.
• Independent Programs
• Approved for credit transfer through other
  hosting Universities
• Offers more options and may cost less for
  students
• Requires students to complete paperwork directly
  with host school, handle housing arrangements and
  currency transfers

Pre-departure Orientation should be a requirement
for whatever type of program is selected!
4
The Growth of Study Abroad Programs

• Nationally, in 2003-2004, 191,321 U.S. students
  studied abroad, a record number according to the
  Institute of International Education.
• Since the 2000-2001 academic year, the number of
  students studying abroad nationally has gone up
  almost 20 percent.
• Only 6 percent of students study abroad for a
  full academic year, compared with 38 percent who
  go for a semester. Summer programs and those
  lasting less than eight weeks now enroll nearly
  46 percent of all study-abroad students.

Source Chronicle of Higher Education (11/18/2005)
5
Trends in Study Abroad Destinations

• Top 2003-2004 Destinations for U.S. Students
• Britain 32,237
• Italy 21,922
• Spain 20,080
• France 13,718
• Australia 11,418
• Mexico 9,293
• Germany 5,985
• Ireland 5,198
• China 4,737
• Costa Rica 4,510
• Japan 3,707
• Austria 2,444
• New Zealand 2,369
• Cuba 2,148
• Chile 2,135

Source Chronicle of Higher Education 11/18/05
6
Trends in Study Abroad Destinations

• While the majority of students still head to
  Europe (with the largest contingent going to
  Britain), Europes share has dropped from 67 to
  61 in the past decade.
• Asia Latin America are increasingly popular
• The number of American students going to China
  jumped 90, following a 36 drop between fall
  2001 and fall 2002 (during which time many
  colleges cancelled Chinese programs due to the
  SARS virus).

Source Chronicle of Higher Education (11/18/2005)
7
Insurance Coverages

• Proper Insurance Concerns
• What Students Should Ask of Their Health
  Insurance Provider
• Coverage available under sponsored University
  Student Health Insurance
• Coverage available under stand-alone marketed
  plans

8
Proper Insurance Concerns

• No student should travel abroad without
  sufficient medical insurance coverage for all
  possible medical needs, Including medical
  evacuation and repatriation.
• Research indicates that most Study Abroad
  participants do not have comprehensive insurance
  for travel outside the U.S.
• Parents plan often offer limited coverage
  outside the U.S. or are restricted in the length
  of coverage.
• Students need to be aware of their limits of
  coverage (pre-existing conditions, deductibles,
  reimbursement, etc.).
• Students seeking health care abroad should
  understand that medical systems outside the U.S.
  may operate differently from those in the U.S.
  and are not subject to the same rules and
  regulations.
• Purchasing the International Student ID Card (25
  at http//www.isecard.com) provides very basic
  medical benefits that cover up to 2,000 in
  medical expenses, up to 5,000 in evacuation fees
  or costs, and a 24-Hour Emergency Hotline
  Services.

9
Health Insurance Check List for Students Studying
Abroad

• Insurance Requirements
• Does your insurance plan meet all requirements of
  the program you are studying abroad through as
  well as the country you are traveling to?
• Does your insurance provider limit or exclude
  coverage of any services while overseas?
• Does your insurance provider limit which doctors,
  hospitals or other medical facilities you may go
  to?
• Do you have access to emergency assistance
  services while overseas, such as somewhere to
  call to be referred to the nearest appropriate
  doctor or hospital in your area?
• Does your insurance plan cover Emergency Medical
  Evacuation and Repatriation? (most study abroad
  programs require these benefits)

10
Health Insurance Check List for Students Studying
Abroad

• Information Students Need to Have
• Are there other health insurance requirements in
  order to get a visa to enter the country you are
  studying in?
• Do you have a copy of your current health
  insurance card and important policy information
  to take with you?
• Will you have phone or email access to your
  insurance provider in case you have a question
  about coverage or limitations while abroad?
• Getting Reimbursed for Medical Expenses Incurred
• Are you required to pay up front for services and
  submit bills for reimbursement based on your
  plan?
• Are you required to have specific information
  from any doctors or hospitals you may visit while
  overseas in order to be reimbursed under your
  policy?
• Does your insurance provider require all claims
  to be submitted in English/US dollars? Do they
  offer translation services?

11
Coverage Available through University-sponsored
Plans

• University Accident Sickness Insurance Plans
  should include the following coverage for travel
  abroad
• Coverage for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
• Worldwide Medical Coverage
• 24-hour Travel Assistance Service
• A minimum of 80 Coverage for Usual Customary
  Medical Expenses
• A minimum Plan Maximum of 50,000 per condition
  Benefit

12
Coverage Available Through Koster Insurance
Stand-Alone Product

• Comprehensive Short-term Study Abroad Health
  Insurance Plan
• 250,000 lifetime aggregate maximum per condition
• Covers emergency and non-emergency medical
  expenses on an in or outpatient basis
• Includes high limits for medical evacuation
  (100,000) and repatriation benefits (25,000)
• Provides travel assistance services
• Accidental death and dismemberment benefit (up to
  15,000)
• Offers optional coverage for Home Country
  Extension of Benefits
• Term of coverage can be a minimum of one month to
  12 months
• Very responsible premiums (i.e. age 18-24, 39
  per month)
• Coverage available in all Countries

13
What is Medical Evacuation?

• Emergency Medical Evacuation means the Students
  medical condition warrants immediate
  transportation from the place where they are
  injured or ill to the nearest hospital where
  appropriate medical treatment can be obtained or
  for Students after being treated at a local
  hospital their medical condition warrants
  transportation to their Home Country to obtain
  further medical treatment to recover.
• Expenses covered under the Medical Evacuation
  Benefit include transportation, medical
  services, and medical supplies necessarily
  incurred in connection with Emergency Medical
  Evacuation.
• All transportation arrangements made for
  evacuating the Student must be by the most direct
  and economical conveyance, and typically approved
  in advance.
• Expenses for special transportation (air
  ambulance, land ambulance, private motor vehicle)
  must be recommended by the attending doctor, or
  required by the standard regulations of the
  conveyance transporting the Student. Evacuation
  insurance only includes transportation care
  costs, not the cost of actual medical care.
• Evacuation can cost 8,000 to 50,000 or more.

14
What is Repatriation of Remains?

• Should a student die while abroad, repatriation
  insurance would cover the cost of transporting
  his or her body back to the United States
• The cost of repatriation can be 10,000-15,000
  or more.
• If a student dies abroad, the U.S. Consulate can
  assist in planning, but will not cover any costs.
• Additional costs may include transporting
  relatives of a deceased student abroad in order
  to accompany that students remains.
• In the event of the death of a Covered Person,
  the Company will pay the actual charges for the
  covered expenses for the preparation and
  transportation of the Covered Persons remains to
  his or her Home Country. This will be done in
  accord with all legal requirements in effect at
  the time the body remains are to be returned to
  his or her Home Country. The death must occur
  while the person is insured for this benefit.
  Covered expenses include, but are not limited to,
  expenses for embalming, cremation, coffin, and
  transportation.

15
Health/Disease Risks

• Students must be properly educated on the health
  and disease risks of their new host country
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  (CDC) provides excellent alerts advisory notices
  to travelers
• Be aware of travel advisories, new travel
  guidelines and other travel information
• A travel advisory recommends that nonessential
  travel be deferred
• A travel alert does not advise against travel,
  but informs travelers of a health concern and
  provides advice about specific precautions
• Updated vaccinations are key to managing
  potential exposure to new diseases
• The number one health risk for people age 15-24
  traveling abroad is unintentional injuries

16
Specific Health Risks

• Rabies is an epidemic in domestic animals
• HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
  are more common
• Insects and animals are a major source of disease
  (i.e. Malaria)
• Drug Abuse
• Airborne Respiratory Conditions are easily
  transmitted (i.e. SARS, Avian Flu)

17
Avian Flu Status Report

• The risk of avian influenza to travelers is very
  low
• Only rare cases of human infection with avian
  influenza have occurred, and there has been no
  sustained human to human transmission
• Travelers to areas affected by avian influenza
  (Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt,
  Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam) in
  birds are not considered to be at elevated risk
  of infection unless direct and un-protected
  exposure to infected birds occurs

Source http//www.cdc.gov/travel
18
CDC Avian Flu Travel Tips

• Traveling to an Affected Area
• Avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds
• Avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry
  farms
• Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with
  animal droppings/feces
• Avoid handling birds found dead
• Do not eat or handle undercooked or raw poultry,
  egg or duck dishes
• Exercise good personal hygiene with frequent hand
  washing
• After You Return from an Infected Area
• Monitor your health for 10 days.
• If you become ill with a fever plus cough, sore
  throat, or trouble breathing during this 10 day
  period, consult a healthcare provider. Before you
  visit your health care provider inform them of
• your symptoms
• where you traveled
• if you have had direct contact with poultry or
  close contact with any severely ill person or
  persons

19
Internet Resources

• NAFSA Association of International Educators-
  Education Abroad Network
• http//www.secussa.nafsa.org
• Center for Disease Control- Travelers Health
• http//www.cdc.gov/travel/
• Travel Health Online
• https//www.tripprep.com/scripts/main/default.asp
• U.S. Dept of State Travel Warnings
• http//travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_176
  4.html
• U.S Customs Traveler Information
• http//www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/
• Travel Safety from FirstGov
• http//www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Usgresponse/Travel_
  Safely.shtml

20
Contacting Koster

• For more information about Student Study Abroad
  Insurance, please contact Teresa Koster,
  President of Koster Insurance Agency at
  800-457-5599 x222, or tkoster_at_kosterins.com.
• To download Study Abroad Plan brochures, please
  visit http//www.kosterweb.com or
  http//www.studentcare.com