Insurance
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There are several types of insurance to consider, including health, emergency evacuation, travel, cancellation, personal property, and tuition insurance.
International Health Insurance
Most domestic health insurance policies don’t provide coverage outside your home country and may limit their coverage to a certain geographic area. RIT requires all students studying abroad to have international health insurance. Most students never have to use it, but it is good to have just in case. Students going abroad on an RIT study abroad program will be provided international health insurance.
Students will be covered by RIT's Travel Assistance Provider Chubb Educational Travel and will be emailed an insurance card and overview of the policy prior to leaving for your study abroad program. Chubb may provide assistance for finding local medical providers, coordination of illness/medical issues (including translation services if needed), coverage for medical care, doctor/hospital visits, and emergency evacuation due to accident, illness, or safety reasons.
Students attending affiliate study abroad programs will have international health insurance coverage through your provider. Ask your program provider for details on your insurance coverage.
Note: A few of RIT's affiliate providers do not provide international health insurance - Budapest Semester in Mathematics, School for Field Studies, Siena School for Liberal Arts, Sea Semester, SRISA. RIT students studying abroad through one of these providers will be covered by RIT's On Call insurance.
The resources below provide information on purchasing international health insurance if you are not covered under RIT’s policy, your affiliate study abroad provider, or just wish to have supplemental insurance. When shopping for international health insurance, costs vary depending on the amount of coverage you want (typically $100,000) and if you want a co-pay.
- RIT Student Accident & Sickness Insurance Program - RIT student insurance with international coverage
- International Student Identity Card - includes international health insurance for U.S. students
- HTH Worldwide - international medical insurance
- Cultural Insurance Services International - international medical insurance
Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Emergency evacuation insurance covers you if you need to be evacuated from a foreign country due to a natural disaster, political unrest, severe illness, or accident. All RIT global campus, faculty-led, and exchange programs provide you with emergency evacuation coverage through Chubb Educational Travel. Many affiliate study abroad programs also provide coverage as part of their program (ask your affiliate provider).
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not required but can provide peace of mind when traveling. Policies generally provide coverage due to flight delays, stolen property, unexpected medical expenses, and trip interruption (i.e. if you need to return to the U.S. because you have a death in the family or a sick relative). Always read your policy carefully (especially regarding trip interruption coverage). There may be specific requirements you need to meet to get costs reimbursed.
Cancel for Any Reason Insurance
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance goes further than typical travel insurance because it can help protect your investment in your study abroad program if you need to cancel for any reason, including your own hesitancy or fear of an obstacle like COVID-19.
If you are interested in a trip insurance policy that includes CFAR, we would encourage you to explore Travel Insured International through broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. RIT Education Abroad has met with the team at Travel Insured International and thinks this is a comprehensive policy that provides 75% reimbursement for CFAR claims. Purchasing Cancel for Any Reason insurance is time-sensitive; it must be done within 21 days of paying your initial non-refundable study abroad program deposit.
Tuition Insurance
Most tuition and program fees are non-refundable. Tuition insurance covers students who withdraw due to a covered reason, including illness, injury, psychological condition, or death of tuition payer. This insurance must be purchased before your first day of classes on your study abroad program. If exploring tuition insurance, make sure to ask if study abroad tuition is eligible.