When students travel abroad to further their education, they battle not just culture shock, they are also not prepared for the high rate of medical care, especially in the United States. international student health insurance plans offer options that are especially geared toward the low-cost, low-risk student group.

Having proof of insurance is a prerequisite for enrollment in most U.S. colleges and universities. For international students (F1 visas) and their dependents (F2 visas), low-cost international student health insurance plans with a range of deductibles are available. The plans are also valid for students who have enrolled in study abroad programs in countries other than the United States.

From a list of benefits and plans, you can choose the one that works best for you. You can choose deductibles from a range of $0 to $2500, and choose to be covered for a period as short as five days and as long as three years. Most plans allow you to renew the plan as long as you are a student.

You can also purchase coverage for your dependents along with your insurance. You and your dependent will be covered for physician consultation, inpatient and outpatient treatment, including prescription drugs. Emergency medical evacuation is also covered in most study abroad insurance plans, as are pre-existing illnesses and pregnancy.

A Compare feature offered by agencies, the administrator of these international student health insurance plans, makes the choice easier. With this feature, applicants can view the benefits of different plans and make an informed choice.

Sometimes, universities and colleges specify some prerequisite benefits for a student health insurance plan. If a student sends across a list of these specifications, agencies can also match the requirements to available student health insurance plans. If a student is an adventurous sports enthusiast, then he/she can also purchase extra hazardous sports coverage.

You can use the Internet, fax, or mail to purchase the student health insurance plan. You can pay using your credit card or check, money orders or wire transfer. If you are a student, you probably don’t have much spare money, and the cashless settlement option of student insurance plans is a big attraction.

Your international student insurance plans are underwritten by companies such as Nationwide, Lloyd’s and AIG, which are rated high by the most trusted name in insurance ratings, A.M. Best Company.