Is There Evacuation Insurance For International students?

Foreign students often have many considerations to think about before ever setting foot on their flight. One such responsibility is the purchase of health insurance. Typically, foreign students buy health insurance and then realize that there is no coverage for evacuation and repatriation. 

Students on J1 are required to have repatriation and evacuation coverage. Of course, if such students were to require evacuation/repatriation and didn’t have coverage for it, the result could be financially burdensome, if they were to get injured or ill abroad. This post will take a look at evacuation and repatriation insurance for foreign students and what these policies look like. 

Not All Insurance is Made Equal

Foreign students can easily get lost in the shuffle of finding the right medical insurance. They may already face language barriers or cultural gaps, so to find an insurance plan that can provide them with every facet they need is an added burden. Case in point, many students on a J1 Visa arrive at their new destination without medical evacuation and repatriation insurance. 

They might assume that their current insurance plan already has this provision, but often, it does not. So these students may be in for a big surprise if they were to face an injury or illness and had to pay exorbitant costs to return home if necessary. 

A rule of thumb that all students (or anyone for that matter) should follow is this: never assume your insurance plan automatically covers something.In fact, you should assume that your insurance plan DOESN’T cover something unless you’ve seen it or heard it from a broker or agent themselves, or seen it in your plan. 

That leads us to the answer to the questions posed in this article’s title. 

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance for Students?

The short answer is “yes”, that medical evacuation and repatriation insurance exists for international students. Not all plans that insurance students buy come with this coverage – it’s also sold as a separate plan. Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance usually come with 24-hour assistance to students, so that they’re able to access critical services whenever necessary. 

It also offers the following benefits: 

The Following Medical/Travel Benefits will be paid up to the Maximum Combined Single Limit of $ 50,000 per event per Member. 

• Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation up to $ 50,000 or $100,000- Combined per Event per Member
• Emergency Reunion Combined Single Limit of $ 2,500 for One Economy Fare, 
• Round-trip Airline ticket and accommodations/meals not to exceed $150 per day subject to a maximum of 5 days for a Family Member to join hospitalized Member 
• Return of Dependent Children up to $ 2,500 per event per Member; 
• Return of Deceased Remains up to $ 50,000 per event per Member

In addition to these monetary payouts, medical evacuation and repatriation insurance typically offers the following benefits: 

• Up to $2,500 Joining of Injured Family Member
• Up to $2,500 Joining of Family Member Accommodation
• Up to $ 2,500 Return of Dependent Children
• Medical Monitoring
• 24 Hour Nurse Help Line
• Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Referrals
• Dispatch of Medicine
• Dispatch of Physician/Nurse

Some of these balances and offerings may vary depending on certain circumstances, but they are generally similar for all J1 applicants. 

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance’s Ultimate Benefit

No student (or traveler) wishes to suffer an injury or illness abroad. But life is, of course, uncertain and unforeseen occurrences can happen. In the unfortunate event that a student on a J1 Visa gets hurt or sick abroad, medical evacuation and repatriation insurance offers peace of mind. There’s no greater benefit than knowing one will be taken care of if they can’t help themselves. 

There is peace of mind for both the victim and the victim’s family because their relatives know that their family member is cared for and in good hands. It also eases the financial burdens that may be incurred by family members who have to travel abroad to see their ailing relatives. 

All Students Should Purchase Repatriation Insurance

If you are a student or have a family member who is a student and is considering travel on a J1 Visa, be sure to consider repatriation insurance and J1 Visa Insurance. It’s imperative to protect yourself, especially in our uncertain world. Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance gives students a means to return home safely if there is a need to. It should be on every student’s to-consider list.