Student Travel Insurance

Planning to Study Abroad? Here’s Why Student Travel Insurance Matters

Studying abroad presents a world of career opportunities, including exposure, pedagogy, diverse career options, cultural experiences, and numerous learning opportunities, among other benefits. Nevertheless, as opportunity-packed overseas higher education is for young students, just as much or more is the pack of risks, challenges, and responsibilities they have to look after during the term of their education.

Right from learning about a new culture to learning the curricular syllabus and subjects, the challenges remain endless. Students need to adapt themselves to the new culture, follow a curriculum they are unfamiliar with, adjust to hostels with other students, and bear high educational costs along with those of accommodation and various other expenses. The availability of student travel insurance helps mitigate the financial challenges for students related to studying abroad, providing the much-needed peace of mind. These insurance policies extend their coverage to various other aspects of overseas education as well, like risks of travelling to or from the destination, medical emergencies, cancellation of the trip, and so much more.

In some countries, you will also be mandatorily required to avail of a student travel insurance policy as an eligibility criterion when going there for higher education.

Understanding Student Travel Insurance

Student travel insurance is a type of insurance coverage that provides protection against financial losses when travelling abroad and staying there for the purpose of higher education. Such insurance policies can cover possible emergencies when travelling overseas for higher education for one year, or the coverage may extend throughout the course duration, depending on the policy type selected. A reputed overseas student travel insurance policy extends coverage that not only safeguards your finances when studying abroad but also ensures your well-being through various types of coverage protection. Under certain circumstances, student group travel insurance policies are also available.

Mitigating the challenges of staying far away from home to ensure the student carries out their studies abroad without any stress or uncertainties is what a travel insurance student travel policy ensures with its various coverages. It thus gives the confidence to carry out the education and live independently.

Travel insurance for students travelling abroad comes with the following types of coverage under a single umbrella for protection against various financial losses that may arise when studying overseas.

Coverage for medical emergencies

When studying abroad, medical emergencies can be deeply inconvenient. Apart from the physical inconveniences that one may encounter when studying overseas, a medical emergency can also create mental and financial burdens. Plus, getting treatment in an international destination can be extremely financially draining for students due to the high cost of treatments in countries like Canada, Germany, America, etc.

An international student travel medical insurance policy thus provides coverage for medical emergencies that may arise when studying abroad, thus paying for the cost of treatment incurred. Medical expenses provided for under this coverage can include the likes of hospitalisation, prescription medicines, doctor’s fees and even medical repatriation, if required.

Flight delays or cancellation coverage

Booking a flight for travelling abroad comes with its risks of flight delays, cancellations, etc. from the operator, which can cause unnecessary financial loss and burden for students scheduled to reach their destination of higher studies. A student travel insurance policy thus provides coverage for such delays and cancellations with necessary coverage.

Baggage loss or delay cover

During the journey, baggage loss or delay can be equally inconvenient, causing losses due to schedule interruption. The best student travel insurance policies provide coverage for losses arising due to checked-in baggage loss or delay when travelling as well.

Study interruption or cancellation coverage

Under certain circumstances, the student may have to pause, delay or shut off their higher education abroad, which can have a heavy financial bearing. These interruptions can be due to various valid reasons, like injuries, illnesses or even family emergencies. A suitable travel insurance policy thus provides reimbursements for various expenses already incurred and non-refundable during the course duration, lifting off a heavy financial burden and allowing affordable rescheduling or restarting of higher education abroad if interrupted.

Personal liability coverage

Staying abroad for higher education comes with the risk of accidentally causing financial losses to a third party, resulting in a personal liability claim. The best student travel insurance international policy thus provides personal liability coverage as well to navigate such financial and legal claims without any worries.

Coverage for loss of documents

Coverage under student travel insurance India is also available for loss of important documents like a passport and a visa when studying overseas. Under such circumstances, assistance for document replacement can be availed under the policy.

Features and Benefits You Shouldn’t Miss

Student travel insurance plans come with a number of features and benefits that make spending on them worthwhile. Let’s find out.

• Coverage for illnesses, accidents or any other medical emergencies: In case of medical emergencies like illnesses, accidents or more, the financial burden can be burdensome. With student travel medical insurance coverage, such financially demanding emergencies can be easily navigated.
• Covering losses arising out of study interruptions: With a good student travel insurance policy, one can also get reimbursement of expenses in case the study gets interrupted due to valid reasons.
• Assistance in case of passport or any important document loss: Loss of important documents like passport and visa can leave one in a fix in a new country with its demanding laws. These policies thus provide all the necessary assistance for easy reissue of lost documents in due time.
• Financial protection in case of flight delays or cancellations: Scheduled flight delays or cancellations can be a reason for financial inconveniences when studying abroad, which a student travel insurance policy provides for in case such delays arise out of operator issues.
• Compassionate family visits: When studying abroad, falling ill and hospitalisation can prove mentally and physically demanding for students staying in a foreign land. A reputed student travel insurance policy thus provides financially for compassionate family visits during such circumstances.
• Sponsor protection: In cases of the sponsor’s unfortunate demise during the course duration, some unique policies also provide sponsor protection benefits so that the higher education continues overseas without any hindrance.
• Legal assistance: If a student faces legal issues overseas in case of local regulations or any valid circumstance, legal assistance can also be availed under the policy.
• Support for emergency evacuation or repatriation: If emergencies result in unfortunate incapacitation or demise, emergency evacuation or repatriation support is also available under these policies.

What’s Covered in Student Travel Insurance

The extensive list of coverage available under the student travel insurance policy is mentioned below.

• Medical emergencies: A student travel health insurance policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies like illnesses and accidental injuries leading to hospitalisation or even doctor consultations.
• Flight cancellation/delays: Financial losses caused to a student studying overseas due to operator delay or cancellation of the booked flight are provided for under this policy.
• Baggage loss/delay: Loss of checked-in baggage or delay in receiving it is also adequately reimbursed under student travel insurance online.
• Study interruption: If any valid emergency like illness, injury or family emergency causes study interruption, adequate reimbursement of the paid higher education cost can be claimed. Lump sum compensation towards overseas higher education continuity is also provided in case of unfortunate sponsor demise under some best policy types.
• Compassionate visits: The cost of family member/s visiting the student abroad in the case of emergencies on compassionate grounds is also covered under these policies.
• Document and legal assistance: Coverage for document-related and legal assistance as and when needed during the course duration can be availed under travel insurance for student visa to study abroad.
• Personal liability: Coverage under these policies is also available for unfortunate accidents leading to personal legal liabilities from a third party.

Now that you know what student travel insurance coverage is, the following are the top exclusions to the policy -

• Expenses arising out of any pre-existing ailment not disclosed when buying the policy
• Self-inflicted injuries, mental disorder, drug abuse, alcohol, etc., related losses
• Issues resulting from experimental/alternative treatments
• STDs
• Negligence-related loss of a document
• Losses from war or nuclear threat in a foreign land of study
• Partial loss or damage of checked-in baggage

How Does Student Travel Insurance Work?

The working and applicability of a student travel insurance policy is simple. It provides coverage during the duration of the study. In case of annual coverage, renewal needs to be availed for the coming period post expiry of the tenure. Once purchased, the policy coverage shall start from the beginning of the trip for higher education and continue until the agreed policy tenure.

Claims under the policy can be made for the applicable coverage as and when the need arises. Each claim must be supported with required valid documents. The claim settlement can vary based on the claim made. If it is a medical emergency claim, treatment can be availed from network hospitals in the destination country. For coverage like baggage loss, trip delay, study interruptions, etc., reimbursements are available. The claim settlement process is simple and can be availed online easily through the insurance provider’s portal by filling up the necessary form and uploading relevant documents.

Who can apply for a Student Travel Insurance?

Any student travelling abroad for higher education can avail of a student travel insurance policy with the following eligibility fulfilment.

• You must be of the minimum age as required under the policy.
• Policy purchase must be made before the trip commencement date.

Top 5 Countries that Recommend Student Travel Insurance

The top countries where student travel insurance is recommended include -

1. The USA
   The USA is one of the top destinations for undertaking higher education with its reputed universities and world-class education, including vocational learning. Higher education here doesn’t come cheap, though, and travel insurance for students studying abroad provides just the right coverage to mitigate the accompanying risks of studying here.The best student travel insurance USA also provides coverage in the case of study interruption during emergencies.
2. Germany
   With its unique affordability and public universities, Germany is one of the top destinations for higher education abroad. Medical and other emergency expenses can be high here, though, which makes it good to carry travel insurance for German student visas when choosing the country for higher education.
3. The UK
   Home to some of the most reputed and among the oldest universities, the UK is a first choice for various overseas education aspirants. Studying here can, nevertheless, be financially demanding, with risks that must be covered with the best student travel insurance UK for peace of mind.
4. Canada
   Canada is known for its excellent pedagogy, a high quality of education and affordable higher education, which attracts international study aspirants. Student travel insurance for Canada here certainly provides peace of mind against various risks of studying abroad and losses thereto.
5. Australia
   Australia has one of the highest student visa acceptance rates in the world, which makes it a great destination for higher education. Various emergency assistance here can be costly, though and must be adequately covered under student travel insurance Australia.

Buying Student Travel Insurance in India via Goibibo

You can buy your preferred student travel insurance policy with GoIbibo in the following few steps.

1. Visit the official website or app of GoIbibo.
2. Then, choose your country of higher education under the Student Travel Insurance segment.
3. You can then select a suitable online student travel insurance policy, provide the required details and documents, and pay the premium amount to complete the policy purchase.

Purchasing student travel insurance is simplified with GoIbibo and requires a few steps online on the portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Do students need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is needed as a mandatory requirement in some countries for students going to study abroad. It is also of great need and provides the much-needed peace of mind in a foreign land during emergencies like medical illnesses, accidents, loss of baggage, loss of documents, etc.

Q2. Which insurance is best for an international student?

The best international travel insurance for students studying overseas is the one that provides adequate coverage for possible risks a student may face during their overseas trip and throughout the course duration.

Q3. What is student insurance coverage?

Student insurance coverage can be a type of student travel insurance policy that provides coverage related to travel risks, as well as risks like medical emergencies and study interruption that the student may face in their higher education journey abroad. Coverage under these policies is available in the form of network facility assistance, reimbursements and direct assistance. Knowing full well what is student travel insurance cover allows for better travel protection when studying abroad.

Q4. Which insurance is specially useful for students travelling abroad for studies?

An international student travel insurance policy is especially useful for students travelling abroad for studies as it comes with customised coverage and benefits.