Health and Accident Insurance for Group Leaders and Participants
UNM requires that all faculty, staff, students or others participating in official university programs that travel abroad be covered by adequate health insurance. Our office is required to verify that all participants are sufficiently covered. The insurance must include the following:
- A minimum of $50,000 for health and accident coverage
- A minimum of $7,500 coverage for medical evacuation
- A minimum of $10,000 coverage for repatriation of remains
Most standard health insurance policies in the U.S. cover the first item, but most do not include medical evacuation or repatriation. You can contact your insurance company and find out what kinds of coverage you have.
UNM employees are covered by their own medical insurance, and also by liability, life insurance, and Worker's Compensation while traveling on UNM business anywhere in the world. However, we strongly recommend that UNM employees purchase supplemental travel insurance to guarantee the medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. See some of the options listed below.
Every UNM student or other participant in your international program must prove that they have sufficient travel insurance coverage.
- UNM students who are covered by the UNM student health insurance Plans A or B (including most teaching and graduate assistants) do have sufficient coverage for international travel, including medical evacuation and repatriation. These students just have to verify that they have coverage during the period of international travel and provide us with their “patient number.”
- Students who are not covered by the student health insurance policy, and all other trip participants, must verify that they have insurance that meets the minimums stated above. They can do this by presenting us with a copy of their policy that shows the benefit amounts.
- If participants do not have sufficient coverage, they must purchase a supplemental travel policy. Below are listed some of the options for travel insurance coverage.
UNM TRAVAMED Insurance
For short trips this is the best travel insurance coverage available. The cost is $4.00 per day for participants under 70 years of age, slightly higher for over 70. The service is comprehensive and very reliable. This is the policy we recommend for all short-term international trips for both staff and participants. For details and application forms, see http://risk.unm.edu/insurance.htm . Participants need to verify that they have purchased the insurance and send us the identification number from the insurance card.
HTH U.S. Study Abroad Health Plan
For international trips longer than 10 days, this plan is more cost effective and equally good. The cost is $33 per month for participants under 30 years of age, slightly higher for older participants. Information and an electronic application are available at: www.hthstudents.com . Participants need to verify purchase and give us the certificate number or forward a copy of the E-mail insurance confirmation they receive to oips@unm.edu
BETA (Basic Emergency Travel Assistance)
This is a policy option for participants who believe they have sufficient international health and accident coverage, but do not have medical evacuation and repatriation. This company offers s a policy for $12 per year that provides minimal medical evacuation and repatriation, but no other coverage. Details and application are available at: www.betins.com . Participants must verify purchase and give us the policy number. Warning, although this is the cheapest alternative, it also provides the least coverage. Remember that medical expenses can be enormous and that you will be responsible for those expenses if you are injured or become ill while traveling.
Other Options
There are a number of other companies that offer study abroad insurance. OIPS can provide participants with a list of companies that have acceptable policies. If participants choose any other options, they must provide OIPS with a copy of the policy coverage and verification or purchase.