Travel Insurance for American Students: Why Your Campus Plan Won't Cover You Abroad

This happened to my roommate in Prague. Broken collarbone, campus insurance covered $8k of a $12k bill. He is still paying the difference. Get supplemental insurance, people.

GeoBlue was a lifesaver for me in Seoul. Got food poisoning bad enough for an ER visit and they billed the insurer directly. I paid zero out of pocket. The direct billing feature alone is worth the upgrade.

Important note for UK-bound students: the NHS will treat you in an emergency regardless of insurance status but they WILL bill you afterwards if you are not a UK resident. Do not assume free healthcare means free for you.

The MedJet tip is solid. My study abroad program in Thailand actually recommended it specifically because local hospitals are fine for initial treatment but you want to get home for anything requiring surgery or extended care.

Canadian students have it slightly better since provincial health plans cover some international expenses, but even those are capped at domestic rates which are way below US or European private hospital charges. Supplemental insurance is not optional regardless of where you are from.

The ADHD medication warning for Japan is critical. A friend had her Adderall confiscated at Narita and was told she could face criminal charges. She had to get a completely different medication prescribed locally. Research this well in advance.

I wish someone had told me about the lookback period before I bought my policy. Changed my anxiety medication two months before departure and the insurer denied coverage for a related panic attack abroad. Read the fine print on pre-existing conditions.

For anyone heading to Ireland: the public healthcare system has long wait times but private insurance gets you seen quickly. Budget plan plus a private top-up is the move for semester students here.