Friday, July 12, 2013

Is your Student Covered for Accidents, Illnesses, and More?

Beach Trekking.When students travel abroad, they leave the safety of not only their family and community, but also their health insurance network. Contracting a flu virus, getting into a traffic accident, stepping on something sharp - these are just a few of the risks that can cost a traveler a lot of money, but it isn't just about money. When a traveling student is hospitalized or in danger, their family back home wants information and they want to know their child is protected.
Some study abroad programs have a standard insurance program and some require the traveler and their family to sort it out on their own. We'd like to offer parents and young travelers a resource to help with those decisions. First, let's explain what a young traveler needs.

5 Reasons Why Young Travelers Need Travel Insurance

Here are some of the reasons young travelers need travel insurance:
  • They don't have unlimited access to money and likely neither do you.
  • They're just learning how things work and they may need some help.
  • They may be in a bad situation and need to escape.
  • They may have to travel home for an emergency.
  • They sometimes do stupid things.
In each of the above cases, the right travel insurance plan could help your student:
  • If they're sick or hospitalized, they'll have medical coverage and you'll have someone to give you updates on their condition. With some plans, you will also have the coverage to travel to be at their side.
  • If they miss a flight or get delayed somewhere unfamiliar, they'll have a toll-free number to call for advice.
  • If they need a medical evacuation or the political situation where they are traveling goes bad, they may qualify for an evacuation.
  • If their passport is lost or stolen, they'll have help resolving the issue and keeping their identity safe.
  • If someone gets sick or dies back home, they can return to help with the emergency and even come back to complete their program.
While all travelers face some risks on their trips, younger travelers are just not as capable of handling travel disasters and emergencies. In many cases, a travel insurance plan could be the difference between getting your child home safely or not.

Before you Study Abroad - Verify your International Coverage

It's important for youth and their parents and guardians to understand that some standard insurance programs offered or even included with study programs lack the following important coverage:
  • overseas medical treatment for young people with pre-existing medical conditions
  • trip interruptions if the young travelers has to return home due to an emergency (illness or death in the family, for example)
  • theft of a young traveler's passport or identification (identity theft is on the rise for younger people)
  • emergency evacuation coverage for both medical and non-medical reasons
Not every young traveler is the same and each needs international coverage that meets their needs and addresses the risks of their travel abroad.
About the Author: Damian Tysdal is the founder ofTravelInsuranceReview.net, and he believes travel insurance should be easier to understand. See more from Damian on Google+

ClearCause recommends that students studying abroad and needing insurance look into StuCard. StuCard is an internationally recognized travel insurance and discount card available exclusively for students and educators. Travel Guard, one of the largest travel insurance providers in the world, underwrites StuCard’s travel insurance. StuCard includes travel insurance coverage, 24/7 travel assistance and thousands of discounts good for 365 days. Partners of StuCard with discounts for students include Target, eBags, Hertz, Barnes & Noble, Dell, Sports Authority, Philips, Ramada and more. Purchase StuCard here.


No comments:

Post a Comment