Find out more about William Russell
The field is empty.
When you’re a student learning far from home, health insurance can give you peace of mind and protection against the unexpected. William Russell’s international health insurance helps provide medical access for students across the globe.
William Cooper
Marketing Director
International student health insurance is a type of health insurance specifically designed for students who are studying abroad.
The key purpose of international student health insurance is to provide students with cover when they need to access high quality private healthcare when they are living away from their home country.
With a range of great features to choose from, such as medical evacuation cover, there’s reassurance for parents too.
Some international students find they need health insurance to enter their destination country or enrol on their academic courses. In Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and several countries in Europe, embassies have the right to require health insurance for entry.
International students in China, for instance, are required to have a private medical insurance plan by the Ministry of Education of China – and might find they need to take out their institution’s preferred policy.
An international student in Canada might find the requirements vary between provinces and institutions – in some places, the provincial cover is available, but in others, private or interim insurance is necessary. For international students in Australia, a certain type of insurance – Overseas Student Health Cover – is usually required.
In the UK, international students are advised by the UK Council for International Student Affairs to take out medical insurance for illness-related costs, such as having a relative come to stay if you fell ill.
None of us knows what might be around the corner, so having the right insurance in place can help students avoid hefty bills.
There are three main types of health insurance for international students to choose from:
Some students may find a particular kind of cover is mandatory, but if not, the best type depends on your preferences.
Compared to private domestic insurance, the major benefit of international health insurance is you can be covered in almost every country. For those studying abroad, this means there’s support at home during university breaks and for changeable study abroad placements on schemes such as the Erasmus Programme.
For example, if you decide to take a gap year in Cambodia and Vietnam after your studies, our international health insurance can provide cover for this too – it’s flexible enough to move with you.
Whether you’re an international student in the UK, Europe, Australia or somewhere else, our health insurance lines are open for round-the-clock support.
As a family business, we put service first – you’ll usually speak to the same friendly member of our team each time you call. For a medical check-up or emergency treatment, our international health insurance provides overseas care for students in dozens of countries. It covers you for a wide range of medical needs, including:
Our plans are flexible and personalised, so coverage is bespoke to you and your needs. Our Zone 1 plans are the most generous – these cover healthcare in every country except the USA.
*Dependant on which plan you choose
The range of illnesses covered is extensive and, depending on your level of cover, you could access a variety of treatments for conditions including transplants, kidney dialysis and more:
Most insurance providers don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions or related conditions, so check before you decide on a provider.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what is and what isn’t covered in each of our health plans for international students:
Bronze
SilverLite
Silver
Gold
Note: Certain benefits in this table specify a waiting period. You must be covered by the same plan for the full duration of the specified waiting period before you can claim for that benefit. No benefit is payable for any treatment costs incurred during the waiting period.
*Cover is limited to post-hospital care.
The cost of an international student’s health insurance depends on several factors, including the type of policy you buy, its provisions and the part of the world you’ll be studying in.
The cost of health insurance for international students in Australia, for instance, might be different to places where there are fewer cover rules for international students. The cost of medical treatment can also vary across the world, so this can make a difference too. If you’re an international student from a country such as the UK, health insurance might be new territory—getting a quote early could help you plan for any additional fees.
Example monthly premium based on a 22-year-old student from Germany living in the France, with a US$250 per annum excess and Zone 1.
Bronze plan
SilverLite plan
Silver plan
See our full plan description here – and if you need anything explained, feel free to contact us.
Here are some of our top tips:
You can call our 24/7 emergency medical helpline
You’re free to choose which hospital you visit for treatment
We have a worldwide network of hospitals and doctors to call upon
For over three decades, William Russell has specialised in providing international student health insurance around the globe.
Get the plan to suit your student lifestyle, with a choice of premium and lower-cost options.
Our product teams keep an eye on global healthcare, looking out for breakthroughs in medical science and monitoring trends.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about international student health insurance. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, or would like to speak to our award-winning customer service team, please call us on +44 1276 486 477.
It is in some destinations, so make sure you check. Before you travel, it’s also a good idea to research the public healthcare. Look at the quality and availability of medical care, for both illness and accidents, and what the eligibility criteria are for accessing it. For extra coverage and peace of mind, you may decide to arrange expat health insurance for you and your family.
Our plans are divided into 6 zones:
Zone 1
Worldwide cover, with restricted cover in the USA.
Zone 2
Provides cover in most countries. But in countries where the cost of private health insurance is high, this is subject to certain limits. There is no cover in the USA.
Zone 3
Special coverage zone for residents in Indonesia only, with restricted cover where private healthcare is expensive but no cover in the USA.
Zone 4
Full cover in Africa & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA.
Zone 5
Full cover in Africa (except South Africa) & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA.
Zone 6
Worldwide cover, excluding the USA, with restricted cover in certain countries and regions. Only available for residents in Indonesia.
Zone 7
Full cover in South East Asia (except Thailand and Singapore), and no cover elsewhere.
The Silver plan is a popular choice amongst our members without partners or families, you have:
We have a range of tools and options to keep your premium low, so you can put together the right health plan for you whether you’re purchasing a plan yourself or with your parents help.
For international students to get access to medical care, including a check-up, the first step is to ensure you are adequately insured. Some insurance policies will cover medical check-ups, while others won’t. You’ll then likely need to register with a local health centre such as a GP surgery, but it’s worth noting that some healthcare systems offer medical check-ups only to those with a certain age or medical history.
You can also contact your insurer to find nearby private providers – it’s best to do this early since there may be waiting periods for preventative healthcare.
All William Russell plans come with some cover for for emergency dental treatment following an accident, and you may be able to add more depending on what plan you choose.
Please note that waiting periods apply.
Yes, it can do. Health plans from William Russell are international, so your cover doesn’t need to stop if you travel abroad or return home temporarily, provided this is within your cover zone.
If you return home permanently, we can offer cover in your home country. Please note the cover is not available to you if the USA, Iran, Libya, North Korea, South Sudan, Syria or Yemen is or becomes your country of residence, irrespective of your nationality.
Medicare, a state-funded health coverage system used in countries such as Canada and Australia, is sometimes available to international students. In Australia, most international students are not covered by Medicare – and even if they are, rules dictate the need for extra insurance.
In Canada, access to Medicare varies by province – in British Columbia, for instance, all international students must pay a monthly fee to join the Medical Services plan and aren’t entitled to support paying this.
The best way to find out what level of state support, if any, is available is to contact your university or college.
All the benefits on this webpage are per member per policy year, unless we state otherwise. We show the benefit limits in US dollars, but we can also denominate your policy in pounds sterling or Euros. You won’t find complete information for our plans on this webpage, nor the full T&Cs, limitations, and exclusions that would apply if you purchase a health insurance policy. You can find complete information in the plan agreement, which we suggest you read together with this webpage. We work hard to ensure the information we provide on this webpage is accurate and up-to-date, but inaccuracies are possible. We rectify errors as soon as we become aware of them. The T&Cs that apply to your policy are those found in your plan agreement.
At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance.
Joe Holden Global Relationship Manager
If you’re ready to see prices for health insurance, click on ‘Get a Quote’ below to head on over to our online quote tool.
We’ll ask you a few details (your age, your location), and then we’ll show you prices—it only takes a few minutes!
A couple of days after you’ve received you quote, Joe will email or call you to find out how we can help you further. Joe won’t bug you, and you can opt out at any time.
It’s filled with handy information and tips for expats.
We were one of the first insurance providers to cover people living abroad, and we’ve earned a reputation for our wonderful customer service.
The insurer behind our policies is part of the Allianz group
We’re proud of our award-winning service and our members rate it highly
You will get your own dedicated adviser when you join
If you’re not happy with your health insurance policy or the service we provide, and you haven’t yet made a claim, then we’ll refund the premium you’ve paid—no questions asked.
More results…
