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If you are an international student traveling to the United States for studies, one aspect of American life might shock you more than others. Not the lifestyle or the culture, but the cost of medical treatment! You will be required to carry international student health insurance, which is available through several plans to suit your budget.

You must have insurance before you start classes at a university or college. Designed especially for students on F1 visas and their dependents on F2 visas, international student insurance plans are low-cost and offer a range of deductibles. You can also use the insurance as study abroad insurance in another country.

The student can choose a plan most suited to his/her needs. There is a range of deductibles from zero to $2500, and plans can be purchased for periods ranging from 5 days to 3 years. Unless a change in situation renders the student ineligible, the plans are generally renewable until the student remains in college.

Coverage for dependents can be purchased if done along with coverage for the student. Most plans cover visits to the physician, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and medical evacuation, in case of emergency. Many of the study abroad insurance plans also cover pregnancy and pre-existing conditions.

To make the decision of choosing an insurance plan as hassle- and confusion-free as possible, companies which administers these international student health insurance plans, offers the facility to compare different plans.

Sometimes, universities and colleges specify some prerequisite benefits for a student health insurance plan. If a student sends across a list of these specifications, agencies can also match the requirements to available student health insurance plans. If a student is an adventurous sports enthusiast, then he/she can also purchase extra hazardous sports coverage.

To better facilitate the process, the plan can be purchased by the method that suits the applicant best – online, fax, or mail. Payment can be made using money orders, checks, credit cards, or wire transfer. For cash-strapped international students, the cashless or direct claims settlement options of international student health insurance plans are a big plus.

International student insurance plans are underwritten by reputed companies such as Nationwide, Lloyds, and AIG. These companies are rated highly by A.M. Best Company, which is regarded as the most accurate source for insurance company ratings.