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The University of Minnesota
(all campuses) offers mandatory international health insurance for
education abroad opportunities provided through Cultural Insurance
Services International (CISI). Most students on University of Minnesota
sponsored and cosponsored programs, custom programs offered by colleges
and departments, outside programs, WIV (work, internship, volunteer)
opportunities, directed and/or independent study, etc. are covered
by this policy. The cost of this insurance is most often included
in the program fee or arrangements can be made by the student to
purchase the insurance individually at the Learning Abroad Center/Study
Abroad Office on their respective campus.
Students requiring the insurance and not participating on a program offered by a University of Minnesota office that includes the international insurance can complete an application form with the Release and Waiver and take it to the Learning Abroad Center (230 Heller Hall) or can complete the form in the office and make payment arrangements in person. Refer to Preparing for Education Abroad Opportunities for further details.
For all students covered by the University's CISI policy and for most other students participating on University sponsored learning abroad opportunities, you will receive a detailed policy description defining all items covered and not covered along with an insurance card prior to your departure. For a few programs (generally, those which include country specific national insurance), you will receive the information on-site.
Check here for some questions to consider.
The CISI Health Insurance Policy 2008-2009
The following are basic items included in the CISI health insurance policy (a copy of the insurance card will be provided to each individual insured):
- Accidental medical/sickness expense: up to $200,000 per incident (unlimited number of incidents)
- No deductible
- Mental and nervous Benefit: Inpatients are covered 100% to $5,000 maximum; Outpatients are covered 100% to $1,500 maximum
- Prescription drugs: Paid at 100%
- Pre-existing conditions: Up to $1,500
- Emergency 24-hour telephone assistance
- Medical/travel/technical assistance services
- Maternity covered
- Emergency family reunion benefit: Paid coach airfare for family members; hotel and meal expenses are paid up to $150/day or $5,000 maximum
- Medical evacuation/Repatriation: Up to $100,000
- Political evacuation: Up to $100,000
- Returns of Mortal Remains: Up to $50,000
- Accidental death & dismemberment. Accidental Death: Beneficiary will receive $15,000 (disappearance will be paid as an accidental death if the body is not found at the end of one year). Dismemberment is covered on a prescribed schedule.
- Home country coverage: Up to $10,000; 30-day Extension of benefits coverage for injuries which began while covered overseas
- Will guarantee payment and pay claims directly to foreign hospitals when it is an option
24/7 toll-free emergency Assistance Company is AIG Assist:
Your ID number is GLB 9111646. Toll-free number is 1.800.472.0906. When calling collect (from outside the US): (01.713) 267.2525. Email: customerservice3@aig.com.
In order to minimize the need for on-site medical and dental expenses, we strongly encourage you to see a doctor and dentist prior to departure. Since most insurance plans require that you pay up front and be reimbursed later, we also advise that you budget some money for medical situations while in-country. Although the University of Minnesota's international policy through CISI will pay the foreign hospital directly if possible, for non-major medical situations you will need to pay at the time of service and then get reimbursed later (reimbursement forms are included with the policy). As with most insurance complanies, CISI will need time to investigate the claim before paying it.
A few programs offered through the Learning Abroad Center include country specific national insurance or require another form of insurance which has been determined to be comparable to the University's CISI insurance. In most cases, the insurance will be included in the program fee, and you will not be covered by the University's CISI policy. You will be informed in your program specific information about the individual program insurance coverage. However, if the program insurance policy does not include repatriation/medivac, the Learning Abroad Center will add coverage from CISI to cover these specific items.
Check with the Student Health Services office on your respective campus if you have any questions, or if you wish to retain University student health insurance during your time abroad. While abroad you should carry your CISI insurance policy number and medical information concerning allergies, medications, blood type, immunization history, eyeglasses, or other prescriptions. A good place to keep this information is with a copy of your passport.
Keep in mind that the international health insurance coverage begins only when you leave the US, and ends immediately upon your return to the US. For coverage in the US, you must purchase or maintain a separate plan. We recommend that you consider retaining your US health insurance, including hospitalization, even while overseas. This will cover you both before you leave and after you return from your program, and should you have an accident or illness overseas that requires long term care, you will have insurance upon your return to cover these expenses. You may find it difficult to purchase a health plan if you return with what the insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition. Keep in mind that if you have special insurance needs, or if you plan any personal travel before, during or after the program, you are responsible for the coverage.
To file a claim, you must download and complete a Claims Form (pdf) and send it with all receipts for the claim to the address indicated.
If you will spend extra time overseas before or after your program, we strongly encourage you to purchase adequate insurance to cover that time (CISI will allow students to purchase up to 30 days of insurance beyond the dates of the University of Minnesota coverage). You can contact CISI directly.
Last modified on June 9, 2008 |