Insurance for International student

[invader]

A friend who is going to University in the States is having a dilemma about which insurance company to choose while she is living there.

It wouldn't make sense to go all out and go with a plan or company with full coverage since she is a Canadian citizen and has health care benefits here.

What i'm asking is if anyone has a friend or knows someone going to school in the States and a citizen of Canada, what do they do for life insurance?

For those wondering, some quotes are around $300-400 USD per semester (3 month semester) It can get quite pricey.

[taylor192]

Most students are < 30y and don't bother with life insurance... unless you meant medical coverage.

If you mean medical coverage, its expensive in the US, her price is actually cheap.

[Mancini]

Assuming you're referring to medical coverage and not life insurance...

If she maintains her provincial coverage then she can purchase out-of country travel insurance from a Canadian company. If she doesn't maintain her provincial coverage then they will likely have expatriate coverage that is similar in scope. She would need to purchase this coverage while in Canada and cannot purchase it while she is already down there.

Both of these options will be much cheaper than a health plan in the USA. The down side; they aren't health plans. They only cover emergency accident/sickness. And they don't cover ongoing treatment. Once the insured is medically able to return to Canada (whether or not they intend to return) the out-of-country coverage for that medical problem ceases. They also don't cover any pre-existing conditions that she already has before she leaves.

It would also be worth checking with a Canadian extended health carrier, such as Pacific Blue Cross, to see if they offer any options.

[invader]

Maybe you can give a more specific answer or advice?

She will be attending University in Oregon for 3 years that requires health insurance.

She is able to return to BC