Health & Safety

 

MEDICAL INSURANCE

ASA’s student medical insurance benefits and emergency support are second to none in the international education field. The following benefits are included in every ASA program, at no additional cost. We include insurance with every program because it provides an added level of security and support beyond what your U.S. medical insurance plan will cover.

The following are some of the benefits our comprehensive medical insurance provides:

  • Up to $250,000 coverage for Medical Expenses per Covered Accident or Sickness, with no deductible

  • Charges due to a pre-existing condition are covered up to a maximum of $10,000

  • Coverage of public or private providers

  • Telemedicine doctor visits are available for non-emergency illnesses/injuries through the Doctor Please group of providers

  • Emergency Medical Reunion, which provides a budget of up to $13,500 for an individual selected by the student to visit them if they are hospitalized for more than 24 consecutive hours or are the victim of a felonious assault

  • Up to $100,000 coverage for Security Evacuations

  • Up to $100,000 coverage for Emergency Medical Evacuation

  • Up to $100,000 coverage for repatriation/return of mortal remains

  • Trip Interruption Benefit, which provides a budget of up to $2,500 for a plane ticket home in the event the student’s trip is interrupted due to the death or unforeseen serious illness/injury of an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent or sibling)

  • Up to $2,000 coverage for Quarantine Benefit: CISI will pay expenses incurred up to $2,000 if the Insured Person is subject to a Quarantine for any contagious disease that prevents traveling. Symptoms of the disease causing the Quarantine must first be manifested after the start of the Trip and the Quarantine must cause an interruption or delay in the Insured Person’s Trip for which suitable accommodations are not otherwise available. Benefits will end on the earlier of: (a) 14 days after the Quarantine is issued; or (b) the date the Quarantine expires. Covered expenses include the following: 1. Reasonable expenses incurred for lodging and meals; 2. Cost of a one-way economy airfare ticket to either the Insured Person’s Home Country or to re-join the Trip; and 3. Non-refundable travel arrangements. Quarantine is only covered if mandated by a doctor and the doctor prescribes quarantine.

  • Above coverage is valid worldwide (except for in the United States), so if students travel outside their host country during the official ASA program dates, they are still covered by our plan.

  • Above coverage is valid for the 2023-2024 academic year (students departing June 15, 2023 through June 14, 2024).

Insurance Documents for Download

Medical Insurance Coverage Outside the Program Dates

CISI coverage cannot be extended beyond the official ASA program dates. If you will remain abroad after your ASA program end date, we strongly recommend that you independently purchase your own international medical insurance to cover you for any days you're abroad after your program end date. Coverage may be purchased through culturalinsurance.com, insuremytrip.com, travelguard.com, geo-blue.com, or a provider of international medical insurance of your choosing. Note that coverage purchased independently, whether through CISI or another provider, may differ from ASA’s policy coverage and terms.

COVID-19

Learn about the latest Covid-19 protocols and advisories abroad by clicking here.

MENTAL & emotional HEALTH 

Embarking on a study abroad program can affect students emotionally, causing anxiety and emotional discomfort for students with or without a history of mental health concerns. Some stressors include:

  • Being in an unfamiliar environment where you don’t speak the language

  • Being away from your normal support system while adjusting to a new environment

  • Not sleeping in your own bed or eating the same food you’re used to

  • The stress of travel and jet lag can cause heightened temporary anxiety

 As a result of these stressors, it’s normal to experience some challenging feelings, such as:

  • Feeling disconnected, isolated, lonely, or out of place

  • Feeling anxious, depressed, or even panicked

  • Homesickness or FOMO

Students with a history of anxiety, depression, other mental health conditions may find their symptoms are exacerbated by studying abroad. If you suffer from anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns, these are the steps you can take to help ensure a successful study abroad experience:

  • Contact your therapist or other mental health professional as soon as possible to discuss your study abroad plans and strategies for coping, so that you’re prepared with tools you can turn to if you find yourself struggling while abroad. Your therapist can help you formulate a plan and strategies. For example, this may include increasing your medication during the first few weeks of your program or scheduling extra therapy sessions leading up to your departure. If your therapist offers Skype or Facetime sessions, we strongly recommend you schedule some sessions during your first few weeks abroad, and throughout your program if you and your therapist feel that would be helpful. Maintaining contact with your therapist can give you added stability and support which can make your transition easier. Or, ASA can assist you in locating a mental health professional on site and the cost will be covered by your international medical insurance.

  • If you take any medications, talk to your prescriber as soon as possible to ensure you can bring enough medication with you to last your entire program. Not all medications are available outside the U.S., so it’s strongly recommended to bring enough to last the full duration of your program. If you find that you can’t bring enough medication, please contact ASA as soon as possible so we can help you find out if your medication is available abroad.

Self-care can help you maintain mental and physical wellness while abroad. Our YouTube channel has videos about mental health and self-care, and our Pre-Departure Handbook (found here) also has tips. (These are helpful travel tips, not professional advice. Seek professional advice as necessary.)

Finally, students can always reach out to ASA’s site staff in their location for support during their program!

“MINDHAMOK” COACHING & WELLNESS SUBSCRIPTION

ASA includes a paid subscription to mindhamok, our mental health services partner, for every semester and summer program participant. mindhamok is a 24-7 service designed to support study abroad students’ mental, physical and social wellbeing throughout their journey - both when it’s good and not so good. mindhamok’s curated online and live resources give ASA students the tools to succeed throughout their term abroad and on to the rest of their lives. ASA students can use mindhamok to:

  • Request an appointment with a coach/counselor

  • Live chat with a coach/counselor about concerns such as roommate issues, relationships, etc.

  • Discuss homesickness, culture shock, or adjustment concerns

  • Access online Gen Z-centered content to help them understand common study abroad topics, such as: culture shock; how to maintain physical wellbeing while overseas; equity, diversity and inclusion as a study abroad student; networking events; how to switch off and enjoy experiences without social media; relationships while abroad; safe socializing; and a host of other important topics.

Prior to departure, students must attend a mandatory mindhamok orientation which outlines their services and provides students with opportunities to ask questions about health and safety, culture questions, or anything on their minds. Once abroad, students meet and work with ASA Site Directors, trained student services professionals, who complement the mindhamok pre-departure meeting with an in-person, city-specific orientation outlining in-country safety, emergency contacts and resources, culture, transportation, accommodation and utilities use, academic regulations and differences, as well as hospital and pharmacy locations in their city. ASA Site Directors are available to provide in-person support for many things students may encounter while overseas and may refer students to mindhamok for additional support as necessary.

ASA and mindhamok understand the challenges that study abroad students face and are here to address many of the wellbeing needs they might have. We both take a preventive and proactive approach to mental health and student engagement. Together, we give students tools to grow personally and academically, to encourage them to get the most out of their time abroad.

“SAFETURE” SAFETY-ENHANCING MOBILE APP

ASA includes a paid license to the SAFETURE app for every semester and summer program participant. This app enhances user safety by using world-leading GPS location and communication technology to send users real-time warnings and advisories about disasters and other threats to their safety, based on their location. Insofar as the user’s phone settings are configured to allow it and the user has a working data or WiFi connection, SAFETURE will send Push Notifications with up-to-the-minute safety advisories based on the user’s physical location. This could include notifications about severe weather or natural disasters, strikes, demonstrations, incidents, major traffic disruptions, and other safety threats that students should avoid. The SAFETURE app also assists ASA employees to monitor and support the safety of ASA participants who download and register the app onto their phone, by using advanced SOS and emergency signaling capabilities to help locate and assist users during an emergency.

SAFETURE also uses advanced SOS and emergency signaling capabilities that can be crucial for locating and assisting users during an emergency. The app has an “SOS” button that users can press at any time if they are in trouble and need help. When the SOS button is hit, the app will connect the user to local emergency services wherever they are in the world (e.g. the local “911”), and ASA will receive a text letting us know they need help and giving us their physical location.

Shortly before departure, students will receive an email instructing them to download and register this app to the phone that they plan to bring on their trip. Note: Within the SAFETURE app interface, the Privacy settings allow you to enable or disable “Exact Position” of GPS location. Participants will be strongly advised to enable “Exact Position”, as well as adjust their phone’s Settings to allow SAFETURE to access Location Services “always.” This will enhance students’ ability to receive safety alerts based on their location and ASA’s ability to support students if they have an emergency. To maximize the benefits of SAFETURE and facilitate communication with ASA throughout the program, students must maintain a cell phone with a paid, working data and calling plan throughout their program. We remind students that a WiFi connection may not be available or accessible to you at all times during your Program or while traveling!


ON-SITE SUPPORT & 24-HOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT

ASA has local staff in each program location who are there to support students throughout their stay. We also maintain a 24-hour emergency phone number that students can contact at any time, as well as an emergency action plan that provides our staff with step-by-step instructions on how to handle various types of emergencies.

In case of emergency, please call our 24 hour emergency line at: 857-366-6821

Academic Studies Abroad
72 River Park St. — Suite 104
Needham Heights, MA 02494
Tel: 888-845-4272 / 617-327-9388
Fax: 617-327-9390

Email: hello@academicstudies.com