International Student Health Insurance
Converse University Wellness Center
All international students are required to carry medical health insurance for the full duration of their
program at Converse. Converse does not offer student health insurance, so international students are
responsible for obtaining their own health insurance.
J1 visa requirements:
● Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
● Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
● Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home
country in the amount of $50,000
● A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
● A policy underwritten by an insurance carrier with:
o an A.M. Best rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above
o a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims paying Ability rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above
o a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of ‘‘B+’’ or above
o a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above
o a Moody’s Investor Services rating of ‘‘A3’’ or above
F1 visa requirements:
● Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
● Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
● Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home
country
International Student Health Insurance Requirements and Recommendations
Required:
● Make sure your plan has an adequate policy maximum. All international students are asked to
purchase a plan with a policy maximum of at least $100,000.
● Make sure to include emergency medical evacuation coverage. Emergency medical evacuation
coverage provides you with transportation services in case you need to be evacuated to the
nearest qualified medical facility, not necessarily to your home country. In some cases, the plan
will bring you home once stabilized, but be sure to double check with your insurance plan.
● Include coverage for return of mortal remains/repatriation of remains. The return or
repatriation of remains benefit is designed to cover the costs associated with returning your
body to your home country if you were to pass away. All international students are asked to
purchase a plan with a minimum of $25,000 coverage for this benefit.
Recommended:
● Choose a plan with a low deductible. Students are strongly advised to choose a plan with a
relatively low deductible (e.g., $500). Although plans with higher deductibles may be less
expensive, students may end up with more out-of-pocket expenses.
● Remember that basic international student health insurance does not cover vision or dental
care. If you wear replacement glasses or are cavity-prone, you may want to consider adding
vision and/or dental coverage—otherwise, you will be required to pay the full cost of these
services out-of-pocket.
● Consider adding mental health coverage. Students are strongly encouraged to include mental
health coverage. Although mental health services are available at Converse, this type of coverage
can be helpful in the event that a student requires specialized or more intensive mental health
care.
● Add pre-existing condition coverage if necessary. If you have a pre-existing condition (e.g.,
diabetes), you will need to include this type of coverage to avoid a waiting period for these
conditions to be covered.
● Consider including emergency reunion coverage. Emergency reunion benefits will transport a
friend or family member to be by your bedside if you are medically evacuated. The benefit will
often cover airfare, accommodation and living expenses.
● See if travel assistance services are right for you. Travel assistance services include coverage for
emergency prescription replacement, translation assistance, lost document assistance and more.
Keep in mind that these benefits are not monetary aids, but offer assistance services when you
need them.
What International Student Health Insurance Plans Won't Cover
International student insurance plans are intended to cover new illness or injuries so wellness or
preventative care, such as yearly checkups, mostly likely won't be covered. Depending on the plan,
pre-existing conditions may be covered after a waiting period of 6 months to 1 year. Also, vision and
dental benefits typically are not covered unless these plans are added as options.
Average Insurance Prices in the United States
While it is common knowledge that health insurance inside the U.S. is expensive, the price of
international student plans tends to be more budget friendly. Under the age of 25, students can expect
to spend between $30 to $140 a month, depending on the level purchased, but the prices rise
dramatically for older scholars.
International Student Health Insurance Providers
NOTE: Converse does not review the quality of services for any of the following companies; students are
responsible for researching their insurance provider and choosing the provider that best fits their needs.
● GlobalHealth by Foyer Group
● Cigna
● Aetna
● StudentSecure International Student Insurance by HCCMIS
● IMGlobal
● Visitors Coverage
● International Student Insurance by ISO
● Compass Student Insurance
● American Visitor Insurance
Links for More Information
● Top 10 Student Insurance Buying Tips
● Health Insurance for International Students in USA
● 7 Tips on Getting Medical Insurance for International Students in the USA
● Top 5 International Student Insurance Buying Myths
