Do international students have to buy medical insurance?

Hello, each country and region has different requirements on whether to purchase medical insurance. Among them, the United Kingdom does not require the purchase of medical insurance. Countries for studying abroad that require the purchase of insurance: the United States, Australia, and Canada.

1. Study abroad countries that require the purchase of insurance: the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom does not require international students to purchase insurance. Failure to purchase insurance does not affect the application for university or visa processing. One of the British national welfare is free medical services. If international students live or study in the UK for more than 6 months, they can enjoy free services from the national health system.

Therefore, it is recommended that international students register with the school’s health center as soon as possible after arriving at the school. After registration, they will get a medical card. When you are sick, you can use your card to seek medical treatment. Medical treatment and prescriptions are free, but you still need to pay for the medicine yourself. If the condition is serious and you are admitted to the hospital, all subsequent expenses will be waived.

2. Countries for studying abroad that have mandatory purchase of insurance: the United States, Australia, and Canada

The United States has mandatory purchase of insurance for international students, and the law stipulates that international students must purchase medical insurance. You cannot register for school without purchasing health insurance. Generally, when registering at a university, the school will indicate the amount of medical insurance fees on the admission notice, indicating that the insurance premium is covered by the tuition and living expenses charged by the school. This means that international students automatically purchase medical insurance when they enroll.

But it should be noted that the medical insurance paid at this time has a certain scope and amount. Some diseases are not covered, so some expensive medical expenses will need to be borne by yourself. Then it is important to sign up for a basic health insurance. Basic health insurance usually covers consultation fees (or a certain percentage of consultation fees), hospitalization fees and surgical fees for serious illnesses.

The Australian government also has strict regulations on insurance for overseas students. All international students holding a student visa must purchase OSHC (Overseas Student Health Insurance) during their studies in Australia. This enables international students to receive the medical and hospitalization expenses they need to pay while studying in Australia. The cost of health insurance mainly depends on the length of study for international students, and extensions can be applied for after expiration.

Canadian schools also adopt a policy of compulsory purchase of insurance for international students. When international students register at the school, they will be required to purchase medical insurance. Some schools will also require international students to pay the medical insurance premium directly with the registration. Pay the fee together. Since medical insurance in Canada is the responsibility of each provincial government, international students in different provinces enjoy different medical insurance. For example, Saskatchewan is completely free, while Alberta requires a monthly fee of about 30 yuan.