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It's important that you have study abroad insurance for your study abroad experience. I'm not saying that anything bad will happen to you while you're studying overseas, but Murphy's Law says that if something can go wrong, it will. And a corollary to Murphy's Law says, "If something can go wrong, it will happen to the person without insurance." And I'm adding another corollary: "If something can go wrong, it will happen when you are abroad, and don't speak the language, don't know which foods to avoid, etc." There are things in the food and water overseas that foreign students in foreign colleges and schools deal with every day and are resistant to, but you won't be.
That said, fear not. It's neither difficult nor even terribly costly to get insurance for study abroad that will cover you during your study abroad experience, and most of those who study abroad have no major problems or illnesses.
Here are several things to bear in mind as you arrange for insurance:
- You might already have adequate insurance. Contact your insurer to see if they cover you abroad. If not, there might be some simple rider or add-on you can, um, add on.
- Insurance is part of the cost of many school programs. If your trip is school-sponsored, check to see if insurance is part of the cost, or if they recommend an insurer.
- Many colleges have student health programs. If you're going on a study abroad program arranged by your college, find out if the health program covers you off campus and overseas.
- Most reputable, established study abroad programs recognize the need for insurance and offer reliable options themselves.
- The cost of the insurance may be affected by the location of your study abroad. Some places are decidedly more dangerous than others. Most people avoid trouble spots, but some seek them out. If you think that studying to the sound of gunshots would be a thrill, expect to pay more for your insurance.
- Make sure that your insurer knows all the places you will go. Insurance can be limited to a specific country. Often a study abroad trip to Italy, let's say, includes a short side tour elsewhere overseas, like France, England, or Spain. That might not affect your insurance, but you don't want to get a good policy for Italy only to get hit by a car (going in what appears to be the wrong direction) in England or run over by a bull in Pamplona, only to find that you're not insured.
- A Web search will lead you to several firms that specialize in insurance for students in study abroad programs. One big one is Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), at CulturalInsurance.com. Firms like CISI know what they're doing.
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