International Student health insurance FAQ and Answers

For foreign students coming to the USA Our plans are open to students who have a valid F1 or J1 visa and who are enrolled in a full-time academic/cultural program at an accredited school, college or university.

For US Citizens studying abroad Our plans are open to American students studying abroad, who are enrolled in a full-time academic/cultural program at an accredited school, college or university

Yes, as long as you remain eligible (see FAQ 1). To renew your policy online you may do so 24 hours before your policy lapses. If you wish to renew via fax or mail then please allow at least 10 business days for renewal.

Best health insurance for OPT students in USA, OPT student health insurance
Atlas America Insurance Buy online	Comprehensive plan with worldwide coverage including and excluding the US for visitors traveling outside their home country. Plan provides coverage for Covid-19 Plan is suitable for OPT holders, H1 Visa holders, Green Card holders as a temporary health insurance plan during transition. No arrival time restriction with this plan to come to the US.
Student Secure Elite Buy online	This plan provides coverage for Corona and provides a policy maximum of $500,000 This plan is available for full time students enrolled in a college or University Full time scholar affiliated with an educational institution and performing research for at least 30 hours per week. People holding an F1 Visa ,OPT or a J1 Visa are eligible to buy this plan. Students must reside outside their home country for the purpose of pursuing international educational activities.
Safe Travel USA Buy online	This is a comprehensive plan for visitors or Non US citizens visiting the USA.. This plan provides coverage for Covid-19 and needs precertification for getting tested for the virus. This is not available for US citizens, residents and Green Card holders. This plan provides coverage for one well doctor visit and this must occur within 21 days after the plan has become effective and the plan must be purchased for a minimum of 30 days. This plan provides up to $1000 for acute onset of pre existing condition
Patriot Exchange Insurance Buy online	This is a student insurance plan for international students and exchange scholars enrolled in full time University This plan covers Covid-19 and covers the expense for illness. This is very popular among F1 Visa and J1 Visa holders. Unique feature of this plan is J2 and F2 visa holders can buy this plan without J1 and F1 Visa holders being on the plan.
Travel Medical Plus Insurance Buy online	This plan provides coverage for individuals outside their home country. This plan is specifically designed to cover Covid-19 illness and it provides coverage for Covid-19 This plan provides worldwide coverage including and excluding the US. Within the US, the co insurance of this plan for in network PPO covers 90% of the expense after the deductible and for outside the PPO covers 80% of the expense up to $5000. Outside the US the co insurance for the plan is covered for 100%
Diplomat America Insurance Buy online	This plan is available for Non US citizens coming to the US This plan covers Covid-19 as any new illness This plan DOES NOT cover pre existing conditions The plan also covers US citizens living abroad coming to the US on business trips or vacation while living outside their home country. The covers 80% up to the first $5000 and then covers 100% coinsurance when a claim has been activated.

Yes. Dependents (spouse and/or child under age 18) of enrolled students may apply for F2 visa insurance with the student, or within 31 days of birth, legal adoption, marriage or arrival in country of study. If your dependents are not eligible for Student insurance, they may enroll in one of our other plans for people outside their home country.

Also Patriot Exchange insurance F2 visa insurance by IMG is an excellent health insurance for F1 & F2 visa holders. It is ideal because Patriot Exchange can be purchased by the F2 dependent visa holder even if the F1 student is not part of the same Patriot exchange plan, as long as he or she is covered by another plan offered by the school or educational institution

Yes. You may purchase Student insurance regardless of how long you have been studying outside your home country, as long as you fulfill the eligibility requirements described earlier.

International Students in the USA with the F1 (Students) visa are eligible to get internship on a work permit for 12 months. Since these students will no longer be taking courses in the university, many schools do not provide student insurance. These students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) will not be eligible for international student insurance as eligibility for these insurance plans require full time enrollment in the school.

International students also cannot avail of domestic insurance plans as they are not US citizens or permanent residents (Green card holders). However, we offer medical insurance for OPT students which are both affordable and comprehensive in their coverage.

Patriot Exchange insurance is available for F1 and F2 Visa holders too. It is one of the few plans that allows F2 and J2 visa holders to buy the plan when the F1 and J1 visa holder is not enrolled in the Patriot Exchange plan as a result it is highlighted in the policy brochure.

Yes, Navigator for Students offers unlimited annual and lifetime medical maximum.

Yes. So long as you are a full-time student you will be eligible for the period of time that you are enrolled in the university/school.

If you wish to make the purchase online you will need to pay by credit card only. If you wish to mail in an application form then you may pay by certified check or Money Order.

Due to the way in which the plan is structured you will need to make a one-time payment for the full period of coverage.

To fill in the application online here is the link to the application form: Buy Atlas America Insurance Online

To print out an application form for mailing please go to the following link for the correct form. You will see a plan brochure and at the very end is the application form: Atlas America Paper Application

As long as the paediatric visits are for any new sickness or injury, they are covered but routine checkups, vaccinations/immunizations are not covered.

Patriot Exchange plan is available for F1 and F2 Visa holders too. It is one of the few plans that allows J2 visa holders to buy the plan when the J1 visa holder is not enrolled in the Patriot Exchange plan as a result it is highlighted in the policy brochure.

In order to get a compliance form signed we must first ensure that you select a plan that matches with the compliance form requirements and that the plan provider is able to sign off on it.

To do this what we suggest is that you first send us the compliance form by Email. We will check to see which of our plans match the compliance form and then check with the plan administrator to see if they agree to sign it. Once we have their approval we will inform you. Then you should purchase the international student Insurance. After your purchase (enrollment) is complete, simply fax your school's Compliance Form to us and we will ensure that it is completed and faxed back to your school.

As a F1 visa international student, you can definitely buy the plans that we offer on our website. The J1 visa requirements are specific requirements which some of our F1 visa plans also satisfy as required by the US consulates. To reiterate, as a F1 visa holder, you can buy the plans on American Visitor Insurance.

There are several plans such as Patriot Exchange from IMG, Study USA from Travel Insure. If you need a plan from WorldTrips, then you can go for Atlas America which is a comprehensive plan and suitable for F1 Visa holder unless the University has any specifications.

Without doubt, all students should have health insurance while they are in the US. The US health care costs are the highest in the world and a minor injury or accident could set you back tens of thousands of dollars.

Being healthy and taking care of yourself is, of course, highly recommended, but accidents happen to us all and when we least expect. Students should have proper international student insurance before anything emergency situation arises so that you do not find yourself in serious debt.

Most international student health insurance plans seem similar on first impressions. However, while they have many benefits in common and the premium is also similar, different student insurance plans do have some additional benefits or perhaps some specific constraints.

In order to choose the best plan based on the students requirements and to get sufficient coverage from the international student insurance plan, it is important to compare different features available in the student health insurance plan.

The following are important factors for comparing student health insurance plans:

Policy Maximum: This is the maximum amount on the insurance plan which normally ranges from $50,000 up to $1,000,000. This is the maximum a policy can cover in case of an extreme emergency as per the policy guidelines and conditions mentioned in the policy.

Deductible: The deductible options can range anywhere from $50 up to $5000 between the plans. A larger deductible means lower premium price and vice versa. Picking a large deductible thus low premium by choosing a comprehensive plan is usually recommended, as most of the comprehensive plans have an one time deductible and is cost effective.

Pre existing condition coverage: This is very important benefit factor as many students need this benefit. The student insurance for acute onset of pre-existing conditions have a minimum 6 month waiting period.

Student health insurance for mental illness and drug abuse: This coverage is required by most of the universities.

Cancellation and Renewability: Each plan have their unique cancellation and renew-ability policies. It is important to pay attention to it if there is any ambiguity while booking insurance initially.

Sports and other unique activities: Some international student insurance offer student intercollegiate sports insurance for intercollegiate and interscholastic sports.

Based on these factors, American Visitor Insurance provides an excellent compare student medical insurance facility where getting quotes as per students’ requirements. Once the required information is entered in the form, a summary of popular student insurance plans are displayed which can be compared.

At American Visitor Insurance, we offer several international student health insurance with Covid19 coverage. The Covid-19 cover provides coverage just like any other illness irrespective of the variant Earlier international students in the US had to buy affordable care act, ACA (Obamacare) compliant medical insurance, however recent changes have removed this requirement.