An increasing number of students are taking a semester abroad as part of their studies. A semester abroad is not only a good thing to have on your CV and for your future career. During this intensive time abroad, students make international contacts, improve their language skills and develop themselves further – reason enough to take the plunge. How to start your stress-free stay abroad with the right preparation and what you should look out for in your insurance cover.
Travel insurance for students– All-round protection during the semester abroad
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What should I not forget for my stay abroad?
Most students still use the EU-funded ERASMUS programme to take part in a three to twelve-month semester abroad at a European university or college. The prerequisite for this: You have been studying at a higher education institution in Austria for at least one year and are an EU citizen. Once you have applied for the ERASMUS programme at your university and have been accepted for your desired university abroad, the actual preparation phase begins. You enrol for courses at the partner university, look for a suitable student residence and book your arrival and departure. Once you have prepared your stay abroad up to this point, you should also take care of your insurance cover.
Am I covered by health insurance in another EU country?
Are you planning a semester abroad at a European university and wondering how you are insured abroad in the EU? If you go there to see a doctor or need medical help, you can first show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on the back of your e-card. With the card, you can get medical help abroad in the EU according to the rules of the respective country. What does that mean? Each EU country has different rules on the rate at which a particular medical treatment is covered. If the percentage differs from the regulation in Austria, it is possible that you will have to pay part of the treatment costs yourself. With a travel budget that is perhaps already tight, this is particularly annoying. With private international health insurance, you can ensure that you do not have to pay for medical treatment.
How do I insure myself for an international stay?
If you are heading overseas for a semester abroad, e.g. to Asia, Canada or the USA, comprehensive travel protection is all the more important. This is because your European Health Insurance Card does not apply outside the EU. As medical treatments in international destination countries are often many times more expensive than in Austria, international health insurance protects you from high costs in case of emergency. Important: Always check all included services. In the best case, international health insurance covers the costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment in full.
Compulsory insurance for semesters abroad in the USA
If you are planning a semester abroad in the United States of America, you will need a student visa for the USA. This is usually the so-called F-1 visa – and, in some cases, the J-1 visa – for academic students. The special feature: Holders of the J-1 visa are required to take out international health insurance for the duration of their stay abroad. However, US universities often require students with an F-1 visa to have health insurance. Therefore, many US universities offer insurance packages for international students. Good to know: If you take out international health insurance in your home country, you often pay less.
What benefits should my insurance cover include?
If you already have travel insurance, accident insurance or liability insurance, we recommend that you check their term. In some cases, you only protect them for a limited period of time. Insurance cover for your entire stay abroad is essential.
Also, check whether a medically reasonable return transport is covered by your travel insurance. This ensures that you are transferred to a home hospital at your request so that you can recover in familiar surroundings. If your insurance only covers medically necessary return transport, you will only travel back if you cannot be adequately treated in the foreign hospital.
A semester abroad with health insurance for young people
If you are planning a semester abroad in the EU or overseas, we recommend our health insurance for young people. This protects you for a maximum stay abroad of 364 days. You benefit from a discounted rate until your 29th birthday.
As part of an international health insurance policy, we cover the costs for, among other things:
- Outpatient and inpatient medical treatment (in the Carefree plan up to € 300,000)
- Pain relieving dental treatments
- Medications and dressing material
- Massages and physiotherapy
- Prescribed medical aids
- A medically reasonable return transport of the patient
For longer stays abroad, we recommend a supplementary package to your international health insurance policy. It completes your insurance cover with travel accident, travel liability and travel assistance insurance. Whether you opt for a supplementary package depends not only on your health and financial requirements but also, of course, on your need for security.
If you lose your debit- or credit card during your semester abroad, for example, we will help you block your cards within the travel assistance insurance policy. If you lose your travel documents, we will help you get a replacement. Our accident protection covers all costs resulting from accidents that are not covered by an international health insurance policy.