Best international health insurance for Indian students

Some of the insurance company’s Student programs have unique Special Extensions specifically provided in the schedule of benefits:

• Only Inpatient Medical expenses related to pregnancy, termination of pregnancy only as a result of physician’s advice to terminate pregnancy due to medical reasons and not due to insured person’s choice to terminate pregnancy subject to waiting period of 10 months
• Medical expenses related to treatment for mental and nervous disorders, including alcoholism and drug dependency are covered subject to maximum amount as provided in the schedule of benefits
• Medical Expenses related to Cancer Screening and Mammographic examination on recommendation from a physician is covered subject to maximum amount as provided in the schedule of benefits. Any tests done as a part of preventive health check-up are not included under this benefit
• Medical expenses due to Pre-existing Condition in case of Life threatening unforeseen emergency subject to maximum amount as provided in the schedule of benefits. In such event, measures solely designed to relieve acute pain, provided to the Insured by the Physician for Disease/accident arising out of a pre-existing condition would be reimbursed. The treatment for these emergency measures would be paid till the insured becomes medically stable or is relieved from acute pain
• For ongoing physiotherapy to treat a disablement due to an accident, unless this is recommended in writing by the treating registered medical practitioner, upto the amount as stated in the policy schedule
• Childcare benefits – We will pay upto the maximum amount as provided in the schedule of benefits, if the child is in between the age of 7 days - 90 days, and is hospitalized for 2 days or more for any ailment.

Student Insurance is an insurance policy that any student between the ages of 16-40 (depending on the insurance company opted for) can purchase while travelling abroad to pursue their higher studies at a foreign College/University. Today insurance coverage is available at competitive premiums primarily depending on i) Destination Country that the student is going to; ii) Duration of policy required (1 or 2 years) and iii) Sum Insured (coverage value) opted for. Student Insurance policies from India insurers are very competitively priced when compared to the insurance plans offered to the student by the College/University. (For example for a 25 year old student going to USA for higher studies for a period of 1 year (365 days), the insurance premium across multiple products from Indian insurance companies ranges from ₹26,000 to ₹44,000 for the whole trip – this is for a coverage of USD $500,000 which is around ₹3.40 cr for Accident & Sickness. If we take the average cost of 1 years fee to be around ₹8,00,000, then the insurance premium contribution is just 3.2%. These premiums will be even lower when the student is visiting any other country in Europe, UK, Australia, Asia etc.). It is important to note that apart from Accident & Sickness the plans also have many relevant benefits for students like Compassionate Visit, Sponsor Protection, Study Interruption, Cancer Screening & Mammography, Maternity Coverage etc. Students should ideally compare the Indian Insurance plans vis-à-vis what the College/University is offering before making a decision. Indian Insurance plans also offer cashless treatment if the student is seeking inpatient treatment for an accident or sickness. If the student is indeed travelling with an Indian Student insurance plan, and the College/University needs an Insurance waiver form to be submitted, the same can be provided by the India insurer. Hence it is strongly recommended that every student buys a student insurance policy before leaving India.

Yes, student health insurance is necessary for all students planning on pursuing their studies abroad. This is mandatory irrespective of which College/University the student is joining anywhere in the world. Apart from the fact that student health insurance is mandatory, it is advisable for the student to protect themselves financially from any unexpected exigencies (both medical and non medical) that can occur while they are abroad. Under the Medical cover, the student is protected against Accident & Sickness expenses, Personal Accident, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation while Non Medical coverages include Maternity Coverage, Study Interruption, Compassionate Visit, Sponsor Protection, Cancer Screening & Mammography etc. Since the students are anyways spending a reasonably high sum of their parent’s money (either savings or through educational loans), it is prudent to spend 3-4% more and protect themselves against any untoward incident. Being insured also allows the student to remain stress free and focus on their studies.

Student Insurance is mandatory for every student travelling abroad for their higher studies. It is not permitted for any student to enrol in a College/University abroad without having an insurance coverage in place. The students have two options to purchase student insurance. The most preferred method currently is to purchase the same from the College/University where they are joining as part of their overall educational expense. The other option is to purchase a comparable and competitive student insurance plan from India, which is offered by multiple insurers. The Indian insurance plans also have a comprehensive range of coverages (both non medical and medical) which the student can compare and before opting for a suitable plan. Every student should understand from their College/University the Minimum Health Requirements of the institution and then explore insurance plans with comparable features from the Indian bouquet of student insurance options and then take an informed decision. It should also be noted that the process of buying a student insurance policy is simple and will require some basic information and payment. EIndia offers the most comprehensive plans online for the student to compare and choose from. This process is as simple as buying the policy form the College/University.

International Student Health insurance is a comprehensive student insurance plan that all students should have in place before they travel abroad to pursue their higher education. The coverage should have a stipulated coverage for Accident & Sickness Expense cover and some other mandatory benefit coverages in place. While currently most India students are opting for purchasing these policies from their respective Colleges/Universities, the Indian insurance companies also offer comprehensive insurance plans with benefits that match the College/University requirements (and sometimes exceed the same). Students are expected to have coverages for Accident & Sickness, Sponsor Protection, Cancer Screening, Maternity, Mental & Nervous Disorders, Personal Liability etc and most Indian insurance plans offer the same. The Indian insurance plans while being comparable on benefits are also extremely competitively priced with the premium being relatively lower than the premiums offered under the College/University plans. The Indian student health plans also offer cashless treatment for inpatient sickness and accident coverage.

No, it is not possible for college students to get free health insurance from their College/University. Students who manage to obtain scholarships based on their meritorious application will received a waiver of their education fees, but will still need to purchase an insurance cover for their tenure as a student at the College/University since it is a mandatory coverage requirement. But when the cost of insurance is just between 3-4% of the total cost of the education course, each student should ensure be willing to buy the insurance policy irrespective of it being mandatory or not. Indian insurance companies have been offering comparable and competitively priced student health insurance plans for the Indian students going abroad and they should evaluate the options within India before they opt for the College/University plans.

Yes, it is mandatory for all students proposing to go abroad for their higher education to any College/University to have a health insurance plan in place. No student will be enrolled into the College/University without confirming coverage under a health insurance plan which meets the University Minimum Health requirements. Currently all students bound for Colleges/Universities abroad have an option to buy the insurance plan through the College/University or purchase the same from an Indian insurance company prior to travelling abroad. While there is a preference for the Indian students to but the policy offered by the Educational Institution, the Indian insurance companies also do offer comprehensive student insurance solutions for the discerning student traveller. One can opt for the Indian insurance plans since they offer more comprehensive coverages at lower premiums that their foreign insurance counterparts (through the College/University). Indian insurance companies offer Accident & Sickness expenses, Personal Accident, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation while Non Medical coverages include Maternity Coverage, Study Interruption, Compassionate Visit, Sponsor Protection, Cancer Screening & Mammography as some of the key coverages under their student insurance plans.

Most Colleges/Universities have their own arrangements in partnership with local insurance companies to offer Student health insurance plans for the students enrolling in their institution. This is in line with the Minimum Health requirements of the particular state/territory and all student policies must comply with these requirements. Indian insurance companies also offer student health insurance plans with comparable benefits to the Minimum Health requirements and these coverages are offered at very competitive premiums as well. Students traveling abroad should know that they can purchase the Indian insurance plans as long as they meet the Minimum Health Requirements laid down by the College/University and should buy this policy before leaving India. Indian insurers also offer a long term 2/3 year duration student health insurance plan to cover the entire duration of their study abroad. Most of the Indian insurance plans cover Accident & Sickness, Sponsor Protection, Cancer Screening, Maternity, Mental & Nervous Disorders, Personal Liability.