Nikhil meticulously researched and planned his study abroad journey. He opted for a well-ranked university, a trending study program, and a popular destination. Also, he arranged his accommodation to stay in his host country to ensure a smooth experience. Since he aspired to finance his education independently, he opted for a student loan too.

However, Nikhil did not opt for a student travel and health insurance plan. Once he landed in his host country, the talented and dedicated Nikhil began his study abroad journey. Unfortunately, Nikhil experienced a health crisis and had to bear the medical expenses as he was not covered through any travel and health insurance plan, which caused him great distress and affected his studies too. 

Many students often commit this common mistake of not opting for travel and health insurance when they plan to study abroad. Studying abroad is an expensive affair, and not being covered by travel and health insurance plans can affect your stay and burden you with unplanned expenses. Hence, it is best to be prepared for any unforeseen situation such as this. 

Let’s understand travel and health insurance in detail, which will help you with your abroad journey planning:

1. About travel and health insurance 

Most international universities require you to be covered under travel and health insurance plans. If you do not buy it from your home country, you will have no choice but to purchase it from your host country. In most countries, student travel and health insurance plans are also mandatory to acquire a visa to study abroad. This insurance covers not only the medical fees but also other expenses such as loss of baggage.

• Pro tip: Getting travel and health insurance from your home country is lighter on the pocket and hassle-free too. 

2. The types of expenses covered by travel and health insurance 

When you opt for travel and health insurance to study abroad, check which expenses are covered under the policy. Depending on the provider, the expenses covered under the plan may vary. Ideally, the student travel and health insurance will cover:

• Hospitalisation and other medical expenses 
• Lost passport 
• Accident
• Lost baggage
• Missed flight 
• Other unforeseen situations 

3. Eligibility 

All students who aspire to study abroad enrolled on any graduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme can opt for student travel and health insurance. Also, it is necessary to have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies letter (CAS) to prove that you have secured a seat at your university. 

4. Incredible benefits 

Medical cover: The hospitalisation and medical expenses are exorbitant in study abroad destinations, including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, and Ireland, to name a few. If you are not adequately covered by student travel and health insurance, your expenses can shoot through the roof. This can also affect your education loan repayment plan to a great extent. But you don’t have to worry about medical expenses with the right student insurance policy. 

Preserve your savings: Many students set some amount aside when they start their study abroad journey planning. This corpus is retained to pay off the education loan or some other education-related expenses. In the absence of a student travel and health insurance, you may end up unwillingly utilizing this corpus for unforeseen emergencies instead of exclusively reserving it for educational purposes.

So, this is what you must know about student health and insurance to have a smooth and seamless study abroad journey. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer overseas education loan that covers the holistic cost of education, including tuition fees, airfare, accommodation cost, study material expenses, cost of learning devices, living expenses and other education-related expenses. 

If you have queries, please share them with us. We will be glad to hear you out and extend our full support. We wish you all the best.