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Students must have sufficient health and accident insurance for the entire time they are away, including any personal travel abroad before or after the program, and coverage outside of their country of study. Students must also have insurance coverage in their home country, so that if they return to their home country before the end of the program for any reason, they will have medical insurance coverage.
Students going abroad can enroll in the Smith student health insurance plan offered by Gallagher Koster which covers students abroad and in the US. Students studying abroad (except on a Smith JYA program and international students) can waive the Gallagher Koster plan (just as they are able to do when studying in Northampton) in favor of another policy, including any policy offered by the study abroad program, as long as the policy provides adequate coverage in both the US and abroad.
Students studying on a Smith JYA program in Florence, Geneva, Hamburg or Paris are required to enroll in the Smith College health insurance plan offered by Gallagher Koster.
International Students must also enroll in the Gallagher Koster plan. When considering insurance policies, ask these questions:
- Will the plan cover hospitalization for accidents and illness for the entire period abroad?
- Is there a deductible? How much?
- Is there a dollar limit to the amount of coverage provided?
- What are the procedures for filing a claim for medical expenses abroad? Is it necessary to pay upfront and then get reimbursed?
- When does the plan begin and end?
- What proof of international medical coverage is provided?
- Will this policy provide coverage in the U.S. for the insured semester/year if the student decides, for medical or other reasons, to return to the U.S. before the end of the program? (It is vital to have coverage valid in the US throughout the period of study abroad.)
If your or your family’s insurance company does not provide coverage overseas, you will need to find a suitable provider for your time abroad. Providers include iNext, HTH Worldwide, Gallagher Koster and International SOS. At www.insuremytrip.com, you can compare a variety of insurance providers.
Regardless of which plan a student chooses, she should contact the insurance company to ensure that coverage will be provided abroad, and make sure that she understands the nature of the coverage, including how to submit claims and contact the insurer from outside the US.
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Wellness Abroad
Health Insurance
Travel Accident
Coverage Smith's TB Policy
Smith's Travel
Warning Policy
U.S. State
Department
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