Insurance for students abroad and travel

Getting ill or injured abroad can be extremely expensive. Knowing what your visa requires and what travel insurance should cover protects both your health and your savings.

Why travel insurance matters

• The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns that without insurance you could be liable for emergency medical costs 'which may cost thousands of pounds'.
• GOV.UK gives examples of a broken leg in Spain costing over GBP 25,000 and a hospital stay in the USA costing over GBP 150,000.
• The FCDO advises buying travel insurance soon after you book, so you are covered if something happens before you go.
• Your UAE health insurance may give little or no cover abroad. Check with your insurer before you travel.

What a good travel policy covers

• Emergency medical treatment and hospital costs, including ambulance transport.
• Repatriation: getting you home if you are seriously ill or injured and cannot use your original ticket.
• Activities you plan to do. Standard policies often exclude winter sports, jet skiing and riding quad bikes or mopeds, so you may need an add-on.
• Declare any existing medical conditions honestly; not doing so may invalidate your cover.
• Read the exclusions and limits, and keep your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour helpline with you and with family at home.

Health cover rules for student visas

• UK: most Student visa applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the application. GOV.UK lists GBP 776 a year for students and their dependants.
• After paying the IHS you can use the NHS from the date your visa starts, but you still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests.
• Example: a visa covering exactly 3 years would mean 3 x GBP 776 = GBP 2,328. Student visas often run a few months past the course, and the extra part-year adds half or a full year's charge depending on its length.
• Australia: holding Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay is a condition of the student visa.
• Schengen area: applicants for a short-stay Schengen visa need medical insurance covering emergency care, hospital treatment and repatriation.
• Other countries and universities have their own rules. Always check the official government and university websites for your destination.

Visa health cover is not travel insurance

• The UK IHS gives you access to the NHS in the UK. Do not rely on it for medical costs on trips to other countries during your holidays.
• For each trip, you need suitable travel insurance for that destination.
• Check whether a policy covers the whole trip length and the countries you will visit.
• Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance documents and emergency numbers in a secure place.

Protect your belongings

• Laptops and phones are the most valuable things many students own. Check whether your accommodation contract or a family policy covers them.
• If you buy gadget or contents insurance, check the excess, whether accidental damage is covered and what proof of ownership you need.
• Keep receipts and serial numbers in a folder in your email or cloud storage.
• This is general education, not insurance advice. Compare policies carefully and ask a licensed adviser if unsure.