Being a student has its fair share of traveling. From breaks, vacations, traveling to and from campus, to even studying abroad. Whether you’re road-tripping to the west coast, studying abroad in Spain, or enjoying the beaches of Southeast Asia, knowing the ins and outs of student insurance can help make your trip a safe one!
There are a few different kinds of insurance you should consider when traveling during school, both in and out of the country: Auto, Health, Renters, and Travel.
Car Insurance
Car insurance can easily get overlooked when planning a long trip. It’s often something that you know little about since your parents most likely added you to their plan in the past, but as a student, you require getting your own.
Federal law requires drivers have car insurance, and it is essential that you have the right amount of coverage when traveling. Ensuring that you are protected while driving long distances if you get into an accident or need any roadside assistance is a must.
Student Discounts
When you are looking for a policy that fits your needs, you will want to inquire about any discounts they may offer. You may have heard about a good student discount that can take anywhere from 10 to 15% off your premium; however, you will need to reach out to your provider to find out exactly what they offer. In addition to just being enrolled as a student, they may provide some additional discounts such as earning good grades or making the Dean’s List.
Learn more about the ins and out of car insurance for students in our ultimate guide.
Renters Insurance Protects Your Belongings
Many believe that renters insurance only applies to the things that are located in your residence, but that isn’t the whole truth. Renters insurance can cover theft and damage while traveling as well. Whether you are heading back to campus from a break or studying in another country, your personal belongings are protected with GradGuard Renters Insurance.
Unfortunately, while traveling in other countries, theft of needed items such as phones, laptops, and backpack are not uncommon. With worldwide property coverage, all of your belongings, including rented property, can be protected from covered perils no matter where you are!
And with our lowest deductible option being $100, you can quickly get your items replaced upon your return home.
Student Medical Insurance
Traveling within the United States may not present as many complications, but reviewing any health insurance information before traveling is wise. It’s also important to make sure you have your insurance card on you.
If traveling abroad, your health insurance may not work. Fortunately, there are options that are created specifically for study abroad programs. Your school or study program may offer health insurance, or you can find your own, like what is available from International Student Insurance.
You should also discuss your travel plans with your primary physician. Within your doctor’s visit, be sure you are medically prepared and have at least the following:
- Any medication you may need while away from home
- Immunizations required for your destination and any layovers you may have
- Sufficient prescriptions for the entirety of your trip
When traveling, don’t forget any vaccination documentation, such as Covid-19, if applicable, that you may need when visiting other countries.
Protect Your Trip
When it comes to long and costly trips, a lot of time and money is invested. Having a backup plan if something were to happen before or during your trip is essential, especially if there are long delays or you have to end it early for an emergency.
Travel insurance can help protect you from reimbursement restrictions, unexpected medical costs, and more if something goes wrong. Most airline and cruise companies have stringent policies on trip cancellation, and many only offer credit within a specific timeframe as reimbursement. Travel insurance can help with these costs and can reimburse you with cash.
Added medical benefits
Travel insurance also provides protection for medical events and unexpected medical expenses. If you’re traveling in a foreign country, for instance, and you seriously injure yourself without coverage, hospitals may charge you a great deal more for treatment than you would get at home. Travel insurance can provide evacuation in these circumstances to get you back home to receive treatment there.
Protect your baggage
Another common dilemma that travelers often run into is problems with baggage. Baggage can be lost, damaged, or stolen when the airport makes a mistake.
Protect your identity
Another problem you might run into while traveling is identity theft. Identity theft is a growing problem that is unfortunately prevalent among travelers. Some travel insurance plans offer Travel Assistance services such as ID theft recovery to help you figure out the next step if your identity has been stolen.
While travel insurance will help you should you run into an undesirable situation—illness, disaster, theft, or lost luggage, it’s best to be aware of the dangers of going abroad and preparing for them. You can take preventative measures to ensure that you will have a great, problem-free vacation.
Firstly, make sure your belongings are secure when taking public transportation, and don’t let them out of your sight. When flying on a plane, take a carry on if you can. If you need to check your baggage, make sure it is clearly labeled with your name, phone number, and address so it can be returned if it is lost. If you’re traveling in a foreign country, always be aware of your surroundings to avoid getting into a challenging situation. Lastly, you maybe looking forward to trying different and exotic foods overseas. However, it’s always best to do your research to find the best restaurants to make sure you don’t get sick.