Buying Travel Insurance Before Your First Semester
You don't have to figure this out alone, the team at Studentbuddy is here to support you every step of the way.
There's often a gap between when your travel begins and when your university's mandatory health insurance officially activates, travel insurance specifically covers this transition period and the journey itself.
What travel insurance typically covers
- Trip cancellation or interruption.
- Lost or delayed luggage.
- Emergency medical care during transit and the initial arrival period.
- Emergency medical evacuation, in serious cases.
Checking your coverage gap
Confirm the exact date your university's mandatory health insurance begins, and purchase travel insurance to cover any period before that date, including your actual flight days, don't assume coverage starts immediately upon arrival without checking.
Choosing an appropriate policy
Compare policies specifically designed for study-abroad travel rather than generic short-trip tourist insurance, since study-abroad-specific policies are often better suited to the slightly longer transition period and circumstances involved.
Keep your policy documents accessible
Save your travel insurance policy number and emergency contact information somewhere easily accessible during travel, not just in your checked luggage, in case you need it during your journey itself.
Get help choosing the right travel insurance for your journey.
Talk to a Study Abroad Advisor →FAQs
Is travel insurance different from my university's mandatory health insurance?
Yes, travel insurance covers your journey and any gap before your university coverage begins, while the mandatory plan covers you once enrolled.
How do I know when my university's insurance actually starts?
Check directly with your university's health services or international office, don't assume it begins immediately upon arrival without confirming.
Should I buy generic tourist travel insurance or a study-abroad-specific policy?
Study-abroad-specific policies are often better suited to your circumstances and the transition period involved.
Where should I keep my travel insurance documents?
Somewhere easily accessible during travel, such as a carry-on or digital copy, not only in checked luggage.
