How to Select a Health Insurance Plan for International Students

As you start to recruit more international students to your campus, you are going to want to make some well-informed decisions on how to pick the right health insurance plan for them. These students have distinct needs that are different from your domestic students. In the same way you may provide reading and writing support for students who come from different countries, you will also want to select a health insurance plan that meets their unique needs.

But where do you start? And what sort of questions should you ask when picking a plan? Here is some guidance on how to select a health insurance plan that will work for your international students.

Make Sure the Plan’s Benefits Meets the Needs of Your International Students

There are some services and benefits that are standard for international students. These factors will be different from what you would look for in a health insurance plan for domestic students.

Students coming from abroad need to consider questions like: When should I go to the emergency room as opposed to a clinic or my student health center? Will I be able to get home if I am so sick or hurt that I cannot attend class anymore? Will my health insurance plan be able to provide translation assistance to help me converse with nurses and doctors?

An insurer that focuses solely on international student insurance needs will be able to help students answer these types of questions every day.

Find a Plan That Is Cost-Effective

Since students coming from abroad have different needs, you may find that the pricing and benefits of the health insurance plan will be very different as well. You want to try to find that balance between a plan that covers what is needed for your students, while also providing the coverage at a price that works for your students.

This sort of balance can be difficult to manage at first, but the sooner you get in touch with your potential insurance provider, the more empowered you will feel to make a decision. Look for an insurer that puts themselves in the shoes of an international student just like you do as an advisor every day; the right partner will care for your students as well as you do.

Find Companies with Experience with International Students

When comparing one health insurance plan to another, you may be overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite choices of providers. You’ll want to check to see if they are a well-established company in the international student insurance market that provides customized plans to meet the needs of your students. When you contact their representatives, do they seem knowledgeable about the unique needs of your students?

Finding the right plan can feel like a huge task, but the best way to start is by gathering information and reviewing what a few different companies offer. Another important thing to remember is to listen to the advice and needs of your own students. If they tell you something needs improvement, take their opinions into consideration.

If you don’t know where to start, contact your peers from other colleges and universities and start asking questions on how they protect their international students. LewerMark is interested in helping you find the right plan for your students. So get in touch via phone, email, or online live chat to start this important conversation.