International Student Insurance

What International Student Insurance is

International Student Insurance, which calls itself ISI, is an insurance agency that sells other companies' plans rather than an insurer. Its About page says, "InternationalStudentInsurance.com is owned and operated by Envisage International Corporation," and "Envisage International Corporation holds Florida resident agency license number L051464 and National Producer Number 8904504." The site's footer gives an address at 224 First Street, Neptune Beach, Florida. Envisage runs two platforms, "EnvisageGlobalInsurance.com and InternationalStudentInsurance.com," and the J-1 page sends visa sponsors looking for group cover to "our sister website, Envisage Global Insurance."

On carriers, the About page says, "We work with only A-rated insurance carriers, including TMHCC, Lloyd's of London, and HTH Worldwide." It does not say which carrier stands behind which plan. The legal text adds that most conditions and eligibility requirements "are built-in to the online applications provided by our insurance carriers," so the policy a student buys belongs to the carrier behind that plan, sold through ISI. The page also describes "licensed, trained agents" who, it says, "take a consultative approach."

ISI dates itself to 2001: "Since 2001, we have been dedicated to building long-lasting partnerships with students, schools, insurers, and organizations worldwide," and "More than 2 million students have trusted us." The homepage adds "3,000+ US schools with ISI insurance plans protecting students." These are ISI's own figures.

The plans on the F-1 page

The F-1 page shows four plan cards, each with its own headline terms:

• Student Secure: "Ideal for international students, scholars, and those on OPT," "4 plan levels to choose from," "Mental health, maternity, and pre-existing condition coverage available," "UnitedHealthcare PPO Network," "Renewable up to 4 years," "Starts at $35/month."
• ISI Protect: "Budget friendly international student insurance," "4 plan levels to choose from," the same mental health, maternity and pre-existing wording, "UnitedHealthcare PPO Network & Prime Therapeutics Rx Network," "Telemedicine through Teladoc," "Plans start at $30/month."
• ISI Advantage: "Ideal for international students, scholars, OPT and their dependents," "2 plan levels to choose from," "Mental health, maternity, school sports, and pre-existing condition coverage," "UnitedHealthcare PPO Network," "Plans start at $99/month."
• Patriot Exchange: "Ideal option for students or scholars and their families," "Select your plan's coverage and deductible," "Mental health and pre-existing conditions coverage," "Limited high school, college sports, and adventure sports rider," "UnitedHealthcare PPO Network," "Plans start at $59.20/month."

The J-1 page adds ranges for two of these. Student Secure offers "$200,000 to $5,000,000 max" and "As low as $0 deductible," with "coverage available up to 4 years for OPT students" and monthly payment options. Patriot Exchange offers "$50,000 to $500,000 max" and "As low as $0 deductible," and is described as "designed specifically for full-time international students, scholars and study abroad students around the world." Both list doctor visits and hospitalization plus emergency medical evacuation. The About page also names Atlas Travel among "Our most popular options," and the homepage quotes OPT plans "starting as low as $29/month."

The site's wording on pre-existing conditions is "coverage available," not a stated rule. No waiting period or look-back is given for any plan on these pages.

Visa rules as the site states them

The F-1 page says, "International students on an F1 visa do not have any government related health insurance requirements to meet when studying in the USA," and tells F-1 holders to follow the rules their school sets. It describes three school approaches: a mandatory group plan, a group plan "with the Option to Waive," and no requirement at all. The page is candid about the trade-off: mandatory school plans are "more expensive (with the costs automatically factored into your tuition), but tend to provide very comprehensive coverage," while a school with a waiver option lets a student opt out "assuming the student proves they have purchased comparable, alternative coverage." For schools with no requirement, the page points to Student Secure and says "F1 visa holders automatically qualify for coverage." It offers a school requirements database and says ISI will help complete waiver forms. The same page notes that F-1 students "can arrive in the US up to 30 days before their classes begin" and must leave "within 60 days after their program has been completed."

The J-1 page lists what it says the Department of State requires for J-1 visitors and J-2 dependents: "Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness," "Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000," medical evacuation to the home country "in the amount of $50,000," and "A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness." It marks Student Secure "Good for J1 visa holders" and Patriot Exchange "Good for J1 and J2 visa holders." It defines J-2 dependents as a spouse or "unmarried children under 21," and says it is "the program sponsors who are required to verify" that J visa holders keep compliant cover. The site's legal text adds that "Not all insurance products described in this website are available to all people in all US States or other countries at all times."

Standalone emergency evacuation

ISI also sells an evacuation-only plan, described as "a standalone plan designed to supplement existing health insurance that may lack these specific travel benefits," covering "travelers, international students, and J-visa holders." Cover is "Worldwide, outside of your home country." The plan card lists emergency medical evacuation at $50,000 and "Local Burial and Cremation" at $5,000, and says "Pricing starts from just $5.40 a month." The quote form says the start date "cannot be more than 6 months from today" and the end date "cannot be more than 12 months from the date coverage begins."

Buying and service

The quote tool asks for destination country, a traveler type ("F1/M1 Student," "J1 Student or Scholar," "OPT," "K-12/High School," "Study Abroad," "Dependent (non-student)," "Traveler (non-student)"), school and age, then emails a quote. The site lists claim forms, cancellations and a login in its footer, and says its team, whose members "speak multiple languages," answers "by phone, email, or live chat." A 2019 blog post explains deductibles, copays and coinsurance and says Atlas Travel and Patriot Travel then allowed a $0 deductible choice; it is dated and general rather than a current plan term.

Who it suits

Going by its own pages, ISI fits an F-1, M-1, J-1, OPT or high school student, or a dependent, who wants to compare several carriers' student plans in one place with an agent available, including plans that the site marks as suitable for J-1 and J-2 holders. Buyers who need a named carrier and exact limits for a specific plan get those from the plan's documents and quote, since the site names its carriers only as a group.