Health Insurance for International Students
Health Insurance Recommendations
International students need health insurance in the United States.
There are many plans to choose from. We recommend that you choose a plan
with all of the coverage below.
What your plan should include:
| Coverage | What it means | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Medical benefits | The most the insurance company will pay for each accident or illness | At least $100,000 |
| Medical evacuation | Pays to take you to your home country if you have a serious medical problem | At least $50,000 |
| Return of remains | Pays to send your body to your home country if you die | At least $25,000 |
| Deductible | The amount you pay first, before the insurance starts to pay, for each accident or illness | $500 or less |
| Co-insurance | The part of the cost you pay after you meet your deductible | You should pay no more than 25%. The insurance should pay at least 75%. |
Insurance Companies
These companies offer health insurance plans for students with an F-1 visa
and for their dependents (spouse and children). Click a company name to
learn more.
- ISO Student Health Insurance
- International Medical Group (IMG)
- International Student Insurance (ISI)
- COMPASS Student Insurance
- LewerGlobal
You can also look at insurance companies that are not on this list.
If you do, check that the plan meets the recommended coverage in the table above.
REVIEWING HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS
Many insurance companies offer plans for international students. Choosing a plan can feel confusing.
Before you buy any plan, make sure it includes the items below:
- Doctor Visits, Urgent Care, Emergency Care, and Hospital stays: Your insurance should help pay for any kind of visit you may need to a medical facility.
- Prescription Medicine: Many illnesses require medicine from a pharmacy. Make sure your plan helps pay for prescription drugs.
- Medical Evacuation: This benefit helps pay for transportation to another medical facility if the care you need is not available nearby.
- Repatriation of Remains: This benefit helps pay transportation costs if a student dies while studying in the United States.
- Coverage Across the United States: Make sure your insurance works when you travel within the U.S., not just near WWCC.
- A Large Provider Network: A provider network is a group of doctors, clinics, and hospitals that work with your insurance company. A larger network gives you more choices for care.
- Reasonable Deductibles: A deductible is the amount you must pay before your insurance starts helping with costs. Lower deductibles can make healthcare costs easier to manage.
- Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions: If you have an ongoing health condition, check whether the plan covers treatment related to that condition.
- Coverage Dates: Make sure your insurance starts before classes begin and stays active for your entire time at WWCC.
Seeking medical treatment
In the US, hospitals are used primarily in emergency situations only. If a student needs treatment for a minor injury or illness, or for routine medical care, they should go to a walk-in medical clinic (no appointment needed) or make an appointment to see a general practice doctor or specialist. Make sure to check with your insurance to review which clinics/medical offices are part of their insurance network.
Summer Break and Insurance Coverage
We strongly recommend that students keep their insurance for their entire stay in the United States. If a student is staying in the United States during the summer and not enrolled, students are not required to have insurance. However, we highly recommend students continue coverage to avoid high medical bills.