Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it raises an essential question: how can you benefit from international student health insurance that’s truly adapted to your destination? Between high medical costs, visa requirements and local specificities, choosing an international student insurance policy is not something you can improvise.
Whether you’re going to the USA, China or Brazil, having good health cover for your studies abroad is essential to avoid sometimes very high medical costs.
During a webinar organized with Skema Business School, Santexpat experts shared their advice on understanding the issues, comparing offers and choosing insurance to study abroad with peace of mind.
Why isn’t French Social Security enough?
It’s the classic mistake: thinking that our trusty Carte Vitale will follow us everywhere. In reality, outside Europe, Social Security reimburses very little, and often only on the basis of French rates.
“Health insurance is both compulsory, but it’s also a subject you need to anticipate so you know what to do as soon as something happens,” explains Raphaël Le Bars.
In countries like the United States, a simple consultation can cost $150, and a day in hospital several thousand dollars. Without appropriate insurance, the bill can quickly become a nightmare for students and their parents.
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Case study: The cost of an unexpected hospital stay in the U.S.
Imagine an exchange student in the U.S. hospitalized with emergency appendicitis. Without overseas student health insurance, the bill can quickly run into the tens of thousands of dollars, including hospitalization costs, medical examinations and surgery. In some cases, the total cost can even increase depending on the length of hospital stay and post-operative care required. Conversely, with a good international student insurance policy, these costs are generally covered directly or reimbursed at actual cost, avoiding the need for substantial advance payments and, above all, a heavy financial burden for the student and his or her family.
The 3 recommended solutions for students
To make life easier for students, Santexpat has selected three major partners, offering cover that far exceeds the minimum required by the school (€100,000 of cover):
- AVA (from €29/month): The economical and efficient solution.
- Assur Travel (from €33/month): The best value for money champion for international travelers.
- April (from €41/month): The European leader, ideal for those looking for premium service.
The “1st Euro” insurance concept
Forget about traditional mutual insurances that come “on top”. This is insurance from the 1st euro.
“It’s private insurance alone that reimburses the full cost of healthcare abroad”, explains the Santexpat expert.
Hospitalization vs. Routine care: How it works
The webinar highlighted a crucial distinction in the management of your healthcare costs. So that you’re never caught off guard, here are the concrete details of these two situations:
Emergencies (Hospitalization) : Tiers-Payant intégral
If you are hospitalized for more than 24 hours (or in the event of a life-threatening emergency), you are covered under the “direct assumption of responsibility” scheme.
- Zero out-of-pocket expenses: Unlike the French system, where you may have to pay a fixed daily fee, international student insurance activates the “tiers-payant” system. You don’t need to take out your bank card, even for bills amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.
- Procedure: Simply present your insurance card (digital or physical) on admission. If the hospital is not covered by a convention, you (or someone close to you) contact the 24-hour assistance service. The latter issues a Prise En Charge (PEC) guaranteeing the hospital direct payment of the bill.
- Expert advice: “Call your assistance provider before any hospitalization (if possible) so that you can be directed to the best establishments in the area,” explains Raphaël Le Bars.
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Routine care (doctor, pharmacy, tests) : Reimbursement of actual expenses
For a simple sore throat, a consultation with a specialist or the purchase of medication, reimbursement is based on the invoice.
- Advance payment and digitization: You pay for the consultation on the spot. The right thing to do? Always ask for an invoice or receipt.
- The magic of the app: No more sending paper mail across oceans. You take a photo of your bill via the dedicated smartphone app.
- Record transfer times: Thanks to this 100% digital process, transfers are usually initiated within 5 working days.
- Garantie “Frais Réels”: Unlike Social Security, which reimburses on the basis of French tariffs (often derisory compared with American or Chinese prices), your private insurance covers you for actual costs, i.e. the exact amount you have paid.
Did you know? Most of these contracts also include 24/7 medical teleconsultation. If you have a doubt on a Sunday evening in Brazil, or in the middle of the night in China, you can consult a French-speaking doctor free of charge via your app, before even visiting a clinic.
Expert tip: Don’t limit yourself to just one country!
Many students take advantage of their semester to travel to neighboring countries. For example, if you’re studying in China and planning a vacation in Thailand.
Raphaël Le Bars’ advice: “I suggest you choose the ‘Asia’ zone rather than just China. The rate is the same and you’ll be covered everywhere in the zone.” This rule also applies to South America around Brazil.
Essential criteria for choosing student health insurance abroad
There are a number of essential criteria to consider when choosing a health insurance policy for students abroad, to ensure optimum coverage during your studies. It’s important to check the reimbursement ceiling, ideally high (at least €500,000 to €1 million), especially for destinations like the United States or Canada, where medical costs are very high.
You should also make sure that yourinternational student insurance covers these countries at actual cost, and includes effective cover for hospitalization. Repatriation cover is another key point, often indispensable in the event of a serious problem. Added to this are reimbursement times, which must be fast and digitalized, as well as the quality of the healthcare network and 24/7 assistance, guaranteeing support in the event of an emergency. Last but not least, medical teleconsultation is a real advantage for rapid access to a doctor, wherever you are in the world.
Checklist for a successful subscription for Skema students
To ensure that your visa and enrolment at Skema are in order, here are the steps to follow:
- Use the dedicated link : Go to your Skema student portal to access negotiated rates.
- Paperless: Subscription is 100% digital.
- Immediate attestation: As soon as your payment has been validated, you’ll receive your attestation in French and English (essential for your visa!).
- The smartphone app: Download it and log in before you leave. In case of emergency, you won’t have time to search for your login and password in your email.
Need personalized advice?
Studying abroad is a unique experience, but it requires rigorous preparation. Good international health insurance is not an option: it’s your safety net. Take the time to compare offers and anticipate your coverage before you leave.
Each situation is unique (ongoing treatments, specific destinations). The Santexpat team remains available via WhatsApp (+33 7 57 93 35 47) to answer all your questions, even once you’re on site.
In short: anticipate, compare and, above all, digitalize your documents.
