International student health insurance

International student health insurance you can count on

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 agent 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:

• Mental health benefits. Studying abroad can be enriching, but it’s good to know your student health insurance takes mental health seriously if things get tough. As of 2022, William Russell’s international health insurance plans come with ten mental health consultations, plus provisions for mental health medicines and counselling (depending on the plan).
• Reassurance in a crisis. When an overseas student needs emergency medical care, reassurance isn’t always easy to come by. With international health insurance from William Russell, you get emergency medical evacuation cover. If you’re far from advanced hospitals, this can be a lifeline.
• Dental cover. Depending on the plan, our insurance can help students cover the cost of routine doctor visits and other regular appointments, including trips to the dentist.

Knowing your healthcare needs are taken care of can help you enjoy your student time overseas to the full. Here are the main benefits that our plans give you:

What is the best type of health insurance for international students?

There are three main types of health insurance for international students to choose from – public cover, private domestic insurance and global medical insurance. 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.

Our Zone 1 plans are the most generous – these cover healthcare in every country except the USA. Still, if you’re an American student, some benefits are available at home during college breaks. Read more about where healthcare is covered here.

What do you cover with your international student health insurance?

Our plans are flexible and personalised, so coverage is bespoke to you and your needs. 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:

• Full cover for cancer care and treatment on all of our plans
• Hospital accommodation and cover for in-patient or day-patient treatments carried out by a medical doctor in a registered hospital
• Dental cover and maternity care
• Emergency medical evacuation if treatment isn’t available locally

In general, you can expect to be covered for being admitted to hospital and serious issues such as cancer and mental health. Most plans don’t cover pre-existing health conditions, so check before you decide on a plan.

Example premiums

Example monthly premium based on a 22-year-old man from Germany living in the United Kingdom, with a US$250 per annum excess and Zone 1 cover. These examples do not include the current New Member 15% discount.

See our full plan description here – and if you need anything explained, feel free to contact us.

How to choose the right international student health insurance

Here are some of our top tips:

1. Make sure the plan covers the country where you live. Insurance companies sometimes limit your cover in certain countries. Make sure you’ll be fully covered where you are studying and also for any other countries you intend to visit.
2. Pick the right plan. Health insurance gives you access to private healthcare. Your health plan sets the rules and limits of your access. That’s why it’s important to find a health plan with the benefits you need.
3. Personalise your plan. Most insurance companies allow you to personalise your health plan. You’ll have options to increase your cover for certain benefits, such as dental cover and doctor visits. William Russell also gives you options to save money on your premium.
4. Pick an excess. After choosing your plan, the excess you select is the most important factor affecting your premium. Most of our members choose a US$250 per annum excess, but larger excesses give a bigger discount on your premium. For new members, we offer excesses up to $10,000 per annum.