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Best health insurance for OPT Students in USA

What are the health insurance options for STEM OPT students in the USA?

International students in the United States after completing their required academic coursework (some students choose to graduate, but others might not have formally graduated) but are still in their US international student F1 visa status will enter the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

As part of the OPT program, international students are temporarily employed in their major area of study and OPT is the work permit for them to work in their specialized field.

OPT student health insurance in the US

It works as employment authorization for F1 students. This is a transition period for F1 visa holding international students to become a full time employees, however, they are not eligible for the school health insurance as they are not enrolled in academic coursework, and they usually do not get health insurance from their employer given their current temporary nature of employment.

It is during this period that short-term insurance for opt students will cover any kind of medical assistance due to an unforeseen illness or injury.

At American student insurance, we help international students find the appropriate international student medical insurance. Similarly we have a comparison facility for best insurance for opt students. To give more insight and information on suitable plans for OPT holders, American Visitor Insurance has a compare OPT student health insurance utility.

There are some best health insurance for international students on opt. Students can also get an instant quote in this page by entering their age, start date(insurance effective start date) and the end date. This will provide the price information on the stem opt health insurance that are displayed for the input values entered.

Here, for each opt us student health insurance the maximum coverage and the deductible values can be varied to get the price for preferred coverage and deductible options. The "Know more" link will navigate the customer to the product page of the plan where all the details about that particular plan are available. The "Purchase now" button will navigate the customer to the insurance BUY page of the plan chosen where the customer can continue to fill out the application and purchase the US health insurance for OPT students.

Some more resourceful health insurance for opt international students information is available here where students can find the important student health insurance factors to consider before buying the popular student OPT health insurance and the reason for buying insurance while on the OPT status.

One of the best health insurance plans for opt students is the Atlas America Insurance plan offered by WorldTrips. Atlas America insurance plan by WorldTrips is health insurance for f1 opt students that one can have even after completing formal coursework and while on the OPT status.

Can opt students buy health insurance?

Yes, OPT students can buy health insurance. Since they are not typically eligible for school-sponsored health insurance or employer-provided coverage due to the temporary nature of their employment, OPT students can purchase short-term or specialized health insurance plans. OPT health insurance for students on American Visitor Insurance are designed to provide coverage for medical emergencies, illnesses, and injuries during their OPT period.

International Student Health Insurance 2025 highlights

Foreign student insurance benefits

What is the best insurance for OPT students in the USA?

What are the benefits of international health insurance for Students?

  • Available for F1/F2 and J1/J2 Visa holders and their dependents.
  • Might need minimum hours enrolled in institution.
  • Health insurance for f1 students, satisfy F1 visa insurance requirements.
  • Obamacare students insurance.
  • Good F1 student visa health insurance coverage available at affordable price.
  • Best student group insurance for 2 or more students.
  • Maternity and newborn care for covered pregnancy available.
Key Highlights of Visitors Care

How much does the best health insurance for OPT Students cost?

Plan name Medical Maximum Deductible OPT Students Cost*
Patriot America Plus $50,000 $250 Coverage for OPT students in USA $42
Atlas America $50,000 $250 Coverage for OPT and H1 visa holders $47
Student Secure Smart $200,000 $0 Excellent Student insurance for OPT holders $65
Diplomat America $50,000 $250 Coverage for OPT students in USA $67
Patriot Exchange Program $50,000 $250 Suitable for OPT holders till they qualify for domestic plans $70

* The average cost of OPT student health insurance for a 25 years opt student for one month.

Do international students need opt health insurance?

Yes, international students on OPT (Optional Practical Training) need health insurance. While they are no longer covered by their university's health plan after completing their coursework, they are required to have health insurance to protect against unexpected medical expenses. Since OPT students are often not eligible for employer-sponsored insurance during their temporary employment, purchasing a separate health insurance plan is essential to ensure they have medical coverage during their OPT period in the U.S.

Do I need health insurance during opt?

Yes, it is highly recommended that you have health insurance during your OPT (Optional Practical Training) period.

While on OPT, you are no longer enrolled in your university’s health insurance plan, and you may not have health insurance through your employer since many OPT jobs do not offer health benefits. Without insurance, you could be responsible for significant medical expenses in case of illness or injury.

Is it worth buying US OPT health insurance:

  • Medical emergencies: Accidents or unexpected health issues can occur, and having insurance will cover the cost of treatment, reducing your financial risk.
  • F1 visa compliance: Some health insurance plans are required to meet certain standards for F1 visa holders, especially if your university has specific requirements.
  • Affordable options: There are several affordable short-term plans available that provide necessary coverage for international students on OPT.

If you're on OPT, it is best to look into a specialized OPT health insurance plan that provides the right coverage for medical or emergency expenses while in USA.

OPT Student insurance, Health insurance for F1 OPT students - FAQ's

1. How much do F1 opt health insurance cost?

The OPT Student Health Insurance Plans cost varies depending on the age of the OPT student and the duration of coverage required. The older the student the higher will be the OPT medical insurance cost. The longer the duration of travel insurance required, the greater will be the cost of health insurance for students on opt.

Our cheap health insurance for OPT students quote comparison facility lists the opt student health insurance plans that satisfy your requirements comparing them based on price and benefit. Compare health insurance for OPT students on American Visitor Insurance to get free OPT medical insurance quotes and find the best f1 opt insurance online.

2. Why buy medical insurance when on the OPT status?

  • International Students with the F1 visa are eligible to get internship on a work permit for 36 months for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) students and 12 months for non STEM students.
  • Since these students are no longer taking courses in the university, they are not eligible for student insurance.
  • International students cannot buy domestic insurance plans as they are not US citizens or US permanent residents (Green card holders).
  • We offer insurance plans for OPT students which are both affordable and comprehensive in their coverage.

3. What type of medical insurance is recommended for OPT students?

Comprehensive F1 visa OPT student health insurance that includes medical emergencies, doctor visits and prescription medications is recommended. Compare the different F1 visa OPT insurance options on American Visitor Insurance and ensure that the plan meets your needs when you are on the OPT status.

4. What are important factors when selecting the best OPT health insurance plan?

Important factors to consider include the medical coverage limits, deductible and co-insurance amounts, benefits for different medical expenses, the PPO network availability, coverage for any pre-existing medical conditions, and any other specific features that you require.

5. When should F1 OPT students buy health insurance?

F1 OPT students should ideally buy OPT health insurance coverage before the start of their OPT period to ensure continuous protection as they transition from the F1 visa student insurance to the OPT status.

6. Is health insurance mandatory for F1 OPT students?

The US government does not make it mandatory for F1 OPT students to have health insurance. However given the extremely high cost of US health insurance, it is highly recommended that international students buy OPT health insurance as they start their working career in the US. The risks of not having the best OPT health insurance is simply too high.

Best OPT students health insurance faqs

OPT Student Medical Insurance Blogs and Articles

How can international students find the cheapest F1 student health insurance?

Student health insurance

Cheapest F1 student health insurance

Students when they travel outside their home country to study along with the university academic experience also get an opportunity to experience a new culture and to see different parts of the world and meet new people with varied backgrounds. We work with several US insurance providers that offer excellent student F1 health insurance.

We have developed an excellent compare F1 visa student travel insurance tool and have article and FAQ's with information for the best travel insurance for f1 students studying abroad. Our international student insurance plan comparison facilities lists the student travel insurance that satisfies the student requirements.

Students can find the cheapest health insurance for international students in USA as well as outside the USA. Other than the cost, we also display relevant coverage details of health insurance for international students on F1 visa studying in the USA.

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Which are the best insurance companies for international students in USA?

You can find reliable US insurance providers like International Medical Group(IMG), WorldTrips, GeoBlue insurance.

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