While conducting your study abroad research, you will no doubt discover that nearly all programs will require your student to have a good medical insurance plan before departing for his or her destination. Plus, if your child has medical, as well as other types of insurance, you can breathe a little easier knowing that he or she will be cared for in the event of illness or injury while abroad.

While the hope is that nothing bad will happen, there is always a fear. So make sure you're prepared. First, determine what your current medical insurance does and does not cover, including the preexisting conditions policy. You can also ask your program sponsor for advice on which overseas insurance plans are the best. Your student should also get a checkup with a local doctor and discuss study abroad. Your family doctor may be able to shed some light on some precautions to take.

Odds are that the program your child has chosen does not offer study abroad insurance. However, some programs do offer a plan, the coverage of which you should scrutinize and check for limitations. You may want to buy travel insurance in addition to the insurance provided by the program.

Types of Insurance
You will want your child to have several types of insurance while studying abroad. Major medical insurance coverage varies from country to country, and covers all medical costs for illness and injury. Emergency evacuation insurance covers any transportation to the nearest medical care facility, whether by ambulance, helicopter or air.

The U.S. Department of State can help you and your student find an attorney in the host country, but it will not foot the bill, which is why you will want your student to have legal assistance/liability insurance. Your student will be covered in the event that he or she is found responsible for any damages, and the insurance covers getting an attorney.

Other types of insurance you will want your student to have while studying abroad include lost baggage and property coverage, motor vehicle coverage and kidnapping and terrorism coverage. Repatriation of remains, as well as accidental death and dismemberment coverage are also types of insurance to secure for your student. This is where "better safe than sorry" comes into play. While these types of insurance deal with worst-case scenarios you would rather not even consider, they are still vital for your student to have while overseas.

Policies and Plans
Certain insurance policy components should be taken into consideration when choosing a plan. Check out the policies on 24-hour emergency assistance, preexisting conditions, as well as high-risk activities such as contact and extreme sports. The study abroad insurance you purchase for your student is not likely to continue once he or she returns to the United States. Thus, it is wise to continue your child's U.S. medical coverage while he or she is gone in case he or she returns home with an illness or injury.

You should also investigate the study abroad insurance's policies on advance payment and reimbursement. Many travel insurance policies establish that you must get prior approval before any treatment is initiated, and that you must pay in advance. If you pay in advance of treatment, you are to submit a claim for later reimbursement.

The Global Student Health Insurance Plan is one of the most popular study abroad insurance plans. It is known for high-quality benefits and can be bought for one month to one year of coverage. The plan has a $250,000 policy maximum and comes with options for 80 percent or 100 percent medical coverage. Deductibles for injury or illness are usually $100, with $50 deductibles at student health centers.

The Global Student Health plan will include:

• High medical coverage
• Prescription medication
• Maternity coverage
• Mental health coverage
• Sports coverage
• Terrorism coverage
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Repatriation of remains

The plan will also cover up to a certain amount of the travel expenses of a family member who travels to be at the bedside of a sick student abroad. To qualify for Global Student Health coverage, your student must attend college full-time, which does not include online classes. Students must also be residents of the United States.

Additionally, as discussed in the Travel Documents article, International Student Identity Card (ISIC) offers basic medical benefits, covering up to $2,000 in medical expenses and up to $5,000 in emergency evacuation fees. Students will also get worldwide assistance in the form of a toll-free, 24/7 emergency number to call for help with lost passports and legal issues, and operators speak 24 languages. The card also offers bankruptcy protection of up to $2,000 if your student's airline goes bankrupt. As a special bonus, students also receive an ISE Global phone card with free talk time and a $5 bonus for the first time they recharge the card.

A variety of options exist, and can help to put your mind at ease while your child is away. Check with your student's school, doctor and study abroad program to find out what type of insurance plan is right for you.