Insurance for Global Travelers

International SOS is UW’s international emergency assistance provider. ISOS provides 24/7 medical, mental health, and security support for UW travelers overseas. ISOS is who you call when you need help with a medical or security emergency. They can help identify a medical provider, make an appointment, and manage the billing process in collaboration with Cigna.

If you need help:

1. For serious, time-sensitive emergencies, call the local “911” equivalent.
2. Contact ISOS by phone at +1 215 942 8226 or use the chat function in your Assistance app.

Please note that ISOS may inform UW Global Travel Health and Safety about requests for assistance. UW Global Travel Health and Safety is here to be an additional support and liaison between ISOS, impacted UW travelers, and UW.

Learn More About International SOS

All official UW travelers are enrolled in the Cigna Global Health Benefits’ Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA) plan. This plan provides coverage for unexpected illnesses and injuries that may happen while abroad. This plan also includes coverage for severe situations that require evacuation such as a natural disaster or security event.

This coverage does not extend to any expenses incurred while you are in the United States pre/post-travel. You are advised to maintain your U.S. health insurance while you are abroad.

As of January 1, 2025 this coverage includes dependents, traveling with a UW faculty, staff, or student while on UW official travel. Dependents do not need to enroll or register their travel separately.

It is important to know what is not covered in your insurance plan.

• Medication for pre-existing conditions. Please plan to bring enough medication with you for your entire time abroad.
• Loss arising from participation in professional sports, scuba diving, hang gliding, parachuting, skydiving, or bungee jumping. If you plan to engage in these activities abroad, please contact your UW Study Abroad adviser.
• Elective medical care includes dental care, routine physical exams, and routine eye exams.
• Immunizations.

Review Your Benefits at a Glance

Insurance Waiver* | noun

The intentional and voluntary surrender of a right, claim, or privilege; the decision to opt out of UW international insurance because of proof of equal and adequate coverage, thus waiving the UW insurance requirement, enrollment, and cost.

Do I qualify for an insurance waiver?

If I am traveling to my home country: NO.

We understand that most countries have universal healthcare or insurance coverage for its citizens. However, most national healthcare plans do not include security evacuation coverage or access to 24/7 emergency assistance. Your UW international insurance provides coverage in the event of an evacuation, such as from political instability or a natural disaster, in addition to giving you access to International SOS. Returning to a home country where you have health insurance will only be considered for a waiver if you have documentation that proves you have equal and equivalent coverage – meaning that your in-country insurance policy would cover security and safety events like evacuations.

If I have domestic US insurance, including GAIP and ISHIP: NO.

Most US insurance plans do not have international coverage. Domestic insurance plans, such as those through Cigna, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, or Kaiser, will not be sufficient to opt out of UW travel insurance. Save yourself the extra steps and do not apply for an insurance waiver; it will not be approved.

If I have a required, country-specific insurance plan for my visa: NO.

Country-specific insurance plans do not include benefits for repatriation or evacuation back to your home country and they often have considerably lower coverage limits. We commonly see situations of students needing to enroll in UW insurance and German/Schengen-specific plans (i.e. with no evacuation and a 30,000-euro benefit limit). These plans are not eligible for a waiver.

If I am participating in a partner program, already have travel insurance, or overseas military insurance: MAYBE (but unlikely).

Be aware that most travel insurances do not meet UW standards. UW international emergency insurance for students is extremely comprehensive; to qualify for an insurance waiver, you must prove equal and adequate international insurance coverage. TRICARE Prime, CISI (such as through a partner University) or GeoBlue Premium Insurance Coverage would be examples of insurance waiver submissions that could potentially be approved. Students going on a Wildlands program are required to have both UW and Wildlands insurance.

Compare your insurance plan with UW Student Abroad Insurance.