International Insurance

Traveling Outside the U.S.

All students traveling abroad in connection with their University of Minnesota studies are required to receive international travel, health, and security insurance approved by the University’s Risk Management Office. The same coverage is required for faculty and staff who do not carry medical benefits through the University of Minnesota. Faculty and staff leading students abroad also must be covered by the approved insurance policy. Note: This insurance is not available for personal or non-University travel. Learn about things to consider when purchasing this type of insurance.

Coordinate Campuses: The processes below are for the Twin Cities campus. If you are on another campus, please contact the appropriate office regarding the insurance application process: Crookston, Duluth, Morris, or Rochester.

Who Must Apply?

University-issued international insurance, with coverage by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), is mandatory for the following:

Students

  • All students participating in credit bearing programs (e.g., study abroad, internships abroad for credit)
  • All students participating in sponsored or co-sponsored non-credit bearing experiential programs (e.g., work, intern, research, volunteer, conference, workshop, athletics, and University Campus Life Programs abroad)
  • All students traveling as part of a group with other UMN students, faculty or staff
  • All students approved for travel by the International Travel Risk Assessment and Advisory Committee (ITRAAC)
  • All recent graduates – for up to one term after graduation – participating in University of Minnesota sponsored or co-sponsored credit and non-credit programs

Faculty and Staff

  • All University of Minnesota faculty and staff traveling abroad with students
  • Note that some departments/units may have internal policies to require CISI coverage, so check with your department or unit.

Opting Out

The following categories of faculty, staff and/or students may opt-out of mandatory purchasing of CISI per Office of General Counsel and Office of Risk Management under the following conditions (note that these participants can still purchase CISI insurance, but it is not required):

Qualified individuals who choose to opt-out are still required to complete the insurance application process.

Students

  • A graduate student who is not traveling with faculty, staff, and other students and who has the MedEx assistance plan as part of a graduate assistantship
  • A graduate student who is not traveling with faculty, staff and other students and who is covered under the U of M’s Academic Health Center U.S. health insurance plan, which includes the MedEx assistance plan:
    • Division of Dental Hygiene
    • Medical School and Graduate Medical Education
    • Physical Therapy Program
    • Program in Clinical Laboratory Science
    • Program of Mortuary Science
    • Program in Occupational Therapy
    • School of Dentistry
    • School of Nursing
    • School of Pharmacy
    • School of Public Health
    • Veterinary Medicine
  • Registered Student Organization (RSO) activities abroad because unlike University Campus Life Programs, RSOs have no direct relationship to the University.

Faculty and Staff

  • All staff and faculty who have U.S. health insurance through the University of Minnesota and are covered by the MedEx assistance plan and not traveling with any students.

Personal Travel

CISI coverage through the University of Minnesota is not available to students for non-University related travel (e.g., travel while on leave of absence, family or personal vacations). The University does recommend that students purchase insurance for personal travel.

Student Application Process

If you are going abroad through the Learning Abroad Center, you do not have to complete this process. They will provide you with the required insurance.

Complete and print out the following documents and return to the GPS Alliance. Please allow four weeks for processing, if possible.

  1. Completed International Insurance Application.
    • If you are qualified and have decided to opt-out of coverage (see "Who Must Apply?" tab), you must also submit a copy of your current health insurance card.
  2. Completed Release and Waiver form.
  3. If applying for dependent/spouse insurance, the application and payment must be sent directly to CISI.

Note: The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, and the U.S. minor outlying islands will be treated as international locations for the purposes of CISI insurance.

Extending Your Coverage

If you will spend extra time overseas before or after your program, you are strongly encouraged to purchase adequate insurance to cover that time. CISI will allow insured individuals to purchase up to 30 days of insurance beyond the dates of the University of Minnesota coverage. You will be able to add this coverage through CISI after you receive your insurance card.

Faculty and Staff Application Process

University of Minnesota faculty and staff can purchase CISI insurance within the University's mandatory travel registration system. There is no longer a need to complete separate paperwork. If you wish to purchase CISI insurance, follow the steps below:

  1. Log in to the Travel Registry system.
  2. After completing the two required questionnaires (1-Demographics and 2-Purpose and Contact Information), click on 3-Purchase CISI (optional).
  3. Select Yes and click Next.
  4. Enter the University of Minnesota EFS number that will pay for the insurance and the contact information of financial staff for the EFS account.
  5. To cover dependent(s) or a spouse/domestic partner, download and complete the paper application and send with payment directly to CISI.

Note: All faculty and staff must register travel regardless of insurance decisions or needs.

Extending Your Coverage

If you will spend extra time overseas before or after your University business, you are strongly encouraged to purchase adequate insurance to cover that time. CISI will allow insured individuals to purchase up to 30 days of insurance beyond the dates of the University of Minnesota coverage. You will be able to add this coverage through CISI after you receive your insurance card.

Note: The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, and the U.S. minor outlying islands will be treated as international locations for the purposes of CISI insurance.

Policy Details

University of Minnesota CISI Travel, Health, and Security Coverage

The following are items are included, for $28.50/month, in the 2011-12 plan:

  • Emergency 24-hour telephone assistance
  • Medical/travel/technical assistance services
  • Accidental medical/sickness expense
  • No deductible
  • Mental and nervous benefit: $20,000 inpatient and $10,000 outpatients
  • Prescription drugs: paid at 100%
  • Pre-existing conditions: up to $100,000
  • Emergency family reunion benefit and return ticket benefit
  • Medical evacuation/repatriation
  • Political and security evacuation
  • Return of mortal remains
  • Accidental death and dismemberment
  • Program fee refund: up to $5,000 of allowable expenses in allowable cases
  • 90 day, $10,000 Home country extension of benefits coverage for injuries that began while covered overseas
  • Guaranteed payment directly to foreign hospitals when it is an option

Contacting CISI

A copy of the insurance card and policy will be provided to each individual insured. Your ID number for the 2011-12 plan is GLM N0483530A. The toll-free, 24/7 assistance number is 1-877-577-9504. When calling collect (from outside the U.S.), call (01-240) 330-1520 or email OPS@europassistance-usa.com.

To file a claim, you must download and complete a Claims Form and send it with all receipts to the address indicated on the form.