University Student Health Insurance Options!

Student Medical Insurance for Overseas Learners

Going back in time to 1990/91 I did a backpacking tour of the world, well half of it, and there were many Western students in many of these faraway places either getting some kind of work experience overseas or studying as part of a program. I was astonished to discover that so many international learners overseas either had no health insurance cover or inadequate cover. Their policy was that they were young and invincible. Probably the most dangerous policy going! Proof of a university student health insurance, or some kind of special overseas policy for youngsters studying outside of their own country, should be a requirement before such posts are offered to study posts abroad.

To be fair, the careless attitude of youth is not a new thing. It has been the case for generations of young people to believe they are indispensible and future generations will be no different. Even though these young learners are introduced to the need of having some form of university student health insurance by guest speakers from various companies, it often falls on death ears with most which is why the parents often take the medical insurance for their students into their own hands.

But here's a News Flash: For the risk of sounding patronizing or sarcastic, it’s still important to make young learners aware that anyone at any age can get into health problems in an instant. Smug young students often seem to think that because they’re fit and healthy now, an insurance plan of any kind is just not necessary, and I’m here to tell you that that just ain’t true!

Sadly, way too many backpacking students are trying to do the ‘survival on a shoe string’ style of travel or educational experience, and so spending valuable cash on insurance doesn't even get a thought. But believe me, some kind of international medical insurance is an absolute necessity, not an option. In my book, if you can’t afford one of those low cost medical insurance for student plans, then you can’t afford to work, travel, or study abroad. You’re just a catastrophe waiting to happen.

A lot of young students opt for studying in distant lands and feel this is great for personal growth as well as being a fantastic educational experience in general.

So many young folks feel themselves to be unbreakable, imperishable, and everlasting, and although it's nice to feel that way, a little healthy fear knowing that these are just feelings and not realities, will help them to stay safe in a foreign land. Students can and do become ill suddenly or find themselves in an accident overseas. It happens somewhere to someone numerous times every single day!

Remember, your general health and wellbeing overseas is your responsibility, and health insurance is a must. If you fail to take out an adequate policy and you find yourself needing emergency treatment, you could end up in a very sticky situation as some countries will neither operate nor care for patients until their costs are guaranteed up front.