International Student Health Insurance: Country Mandates & Visa Do's and Don'ts 

• The Mandate: Almost all universities require insurance for enrollment.

• The Strategy: You can help parents "Waive" the university plan by providing an Indian Student Travel Insurance policy that meets these 4 strict criteria:

  • Medical Limit: Usually min. $50,000 to $100,000.

  • Mental Health: Must cover psychiatric counseling (a common university requirement).

  • Maternity: Some universities require coverage for pregnancy even for single students.

  • Evacuation/Repatriation: Must be at least $50,000 for medical airlifting back to India.

USA: The Waiver Strategy

• Do: Check if your university allows a "Waiver" for Indian policies. Most do if they meet the $100k+ limit.

• Don't: Forget to check for Mental Health and Maternity cover. US universities are very strict about these two.

• Pro-Tip: Indian plans like Care Explore are often 60% cheaper than the university's SHIP plan.

Care Health: "Student Explore - Health Unlimited"

This is Care's flagship plan for the US and Canada. it is specifically marketed as being "Waiver-Friendly" 

• The Plan Name: Student Explore - Health Unlimited

• Why it meets USA Criteria:

  • Unlimited Sum Insured: Many US universities (like the University of Texas or UC system) now require "Unlimited" or very high medical maximums. 

  • ACA - Compliant Feature: It includes coverage for Mental Health, Maternity, and Cancer Screening, which are mandatory for most US "Hard Waivers".

  • Local Tie- Up: They partner with UnitedHealth Group (UHG) in the US, meaning the student gets a recognized ID card that US hospitals actually accept for cashless treatment.

Tata AIG: "Student Guard - Ultimate Plus"

Tata AIG's Student Guard is a legacy favorite, but for the USA, only the Ultimate Plus or Supreme variants usually pass the test.

• The Plan Name: Student Guard (Plan: Ultimate Plus or Supreme)

• Why it meets USA Criteria:

  • High Medical Cover: Offers up to $500,000 in medical expenses, satisfying the $100k federal minimum for J-1 visas and most F-1 university requirements.

  • Deductible Management: US universities often cap the deductible at $500. These Tata plans offer a $100 deductible option, which is well within the limit.

  • Repatriation & Evacuation: Provides $50,000 for evacuation and $25,000 for repatriation, which are the standard "Visa-Ready" benchmarks.

• The Mandate: Students must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa fee (approx. £776/year).

• The Strategy: Even after paying the IHS, the NHS has massive waiting times.

• For Students going to UK for studies: Private Student Travel Insurance as a "Premium Top-up" could be a wise choice. This allows the student to get private consultations, covers repatriation (which the NHS does not pay for), and protects their laptop/baggage and study interruption.

UK: The NHS vs. Private Gap

• Do: Pay your IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge); it's mandatory for the visa.

• Don't: Rely solely on the NHS. Waiting times for specialists can be months.

• Why buy Indian Insurance? It covers Repatriation and Study Interruption, which the UK government does not cover

• Ontario (Toronto/Ottawa): International students are NOT eligible for government health (OHIP). They must buy UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan). Most universities make this mandatory with no waiver allowed for private Indian plans.

• British Columbia (Vancouver): Students must apply for the public MSP (Medical Services Plan) after a 3-month waiting period.

• For Students going to Canada for studies: Opt for "Bridge Plan." Students need private Indian insurance for the first 90 days before their Canadian government cover kicks in, and for travel during semester breaks.

Canada: The Provincial Bridge

• Do: Buy a 90-day Bridge Plan from India. In provinces like Ontario, you aren't covered by government health immediately.

• Don't: Travel to the US for a weekend trip without checking if your student policy covers you outside Canada.

• The Mandate: Every student MUST have OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) from an Australian provider (like Bupa or Allianz) to get their visa.

• The Strategy: You cannot waive this with an Indian policy.

• For Students going to Australia for studies: Opt for "Travel-cum-Property" Indian plan. OSHC does not cover personal liability, baggage loss, or the "Sponsor Protection" (paying tuition if the parent in Indore faces an accident). Your plan acts as the "Safety Net" for everything the Australian plan ignores.

Approved Providers

You can only buy OSHC from these 6 government-authorized Australian insurers:

1. Allianz Care Australia
   (Often the preferred partner for universities).

2. Medibank Private.

3. Bupa Australia.

4. nib OSHC.

5. ahm OSHC.

6. CBHS International Health.

Do's

• DO Buy OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) from an Australian provider—it’s a visa requirement.

• DO: buy your policy before applying for the visa. Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) depends on it. 

• DO ensure the start date is at least 1-2 weeks before your course starts to cover your arrival. 

• DO include your spouse/children in a "Dual Family" or "Multi-Family" OSHC if they are traveling with you. 

Don't's 

• DON'T Think OSHC is enough. It won't pay for your Laptop theft, Baggage loss, or your Parent’s emergency flight to visit you. Buy a small Indian "Top-up" for these.

• DON'T let your policy lapse. A 1-day gap in OSHC can lead to Visa Cancellation. 

• DON'T expect OSHC to cover Dental, Optical, or Physio. These are "Extras" and cost more. 

• DON'T assume OSHC covers your Laptop or Baggage. It is health-only.