IMG Student Health Advantage Insurance
IMG Student Health Advantage is a comprehensive international student medical insurance plan from International Medical Group, built for international students, scholars, and exchange visitors studying outside their home country.It meets F1 and J1 visa insurance requirements, and covers mental health, organized sports, and pre-existing conditions - with plans renewable up to 5 years. Choose between two plan levels below based on your coverage needs and budget.
What Is Student Health Advantage Insurance?
IMG Student Health Advantage is international student medical insurance from IMG (International Medical Group), designed for international students, scholars, and groups of five or more enrolled in long-term educational or cultural exchange programs outside their home country. The plan is annually renewable and structured to satisfy F1 and J1 visa health insurance requirements, making IMG Student Health Advantage insurance one of the most searched options for students studying abroad who need coverage their school and visa sponsor will accept.
Because eligibility is based on visa status and program enrollment rather than nationality alone, the plan works equally well for a first-year undergraduate arriving on an F1 visa, a J1 exchange visitor teaching or researching for a semester, or a scholar bringing a spouse and children along for the duration of the program. Coverage can start with as little as one month and be renewed in monthly or annual increments for up to five years, so it fits both a single-semester exchange and a full multi-year degree program without requiring the student to switch plans mid-way through their studies.
Student Health Advantage provides two sub plans designed to meet various needs of international students and scholars.
- Student health Advantage Standard: $500,000 medical maximum
- Student Health Advantage Platinum: $1,000,000 medical maximum, plus maternity/newborn coverage and a shorter pre-existing condition waiting period
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Student Health Advantage Standard vs. Platinum
Both plans cover organized sports, emergency evacuation, and pre-existing conditions after a waiting period - the difference is your plan maximum, deductible, and maternity coverage.
- Policy Maximum: $500,000
- Deductible: $250 per injury/sickness
- Dependent Maximum: $100,000
- Per Injury/Sickness: Student $300K · Dependent $100K
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Covered after 12-month waiting period
- Maternity / Newborn: Not covered
- Student Health Center: $5 copay, no deductible
- PPO Network: United Healthcare Network
- Policy Maximum: $1,000,000
- Deductible: $100 (in-PPO US) · $150 (out-PPO US) · $25 outside US
- Dependent Maximum: $100,000
- Per Injury/Sickness : Student $500K · Dependent $100K
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Covered after 6-month waiting period
- Maternity / Newborn : $5,000 max · newborn care first 31 days
- Student Health Center $5 copay, no deductible
- PPO Network: United Healthcare Network
Student Health Advantage Group and Platinum Group plans offer the same benefits with group pricing for schools, exchange programs, and organizations. Get a group quote →
Who Is Eligible for Student Health Advantage?
Student Health Advantage is built for F1/F2, J1/J2, M1/M2, and A1/A2 visa holders - and their dependents - studying or teaching outside their home country.
- Active participant, spouse, or child residing outside their primary country of residence for a temporary period
- If destination is the United States, must hold F1/F2, J1/J2, M1/M2, or A1/A2 visa status
- At least 31 days old, and not yet 65 years old
- Physically and legally residing in the destination country with intent to stay at least 30 days
- Not hospitalized, disabled, pregnant, or HIV+ on the plan's effective date
How Much Does Student Health Advantage Insurance Cost Per Month?
Student Health Advantage cost for students ranges from roughly $95 to $766 per month studying in the USA, and $73 to $353 per month studying outside the USA, depending on age, plan maximum, and deductible. Both monthly and annual payment options are available.
Rates shown are illustrative individual monthly premiums and vary by exact age, state of residence, deductible selection, and effective date.
What Does Student Health Advantage Insurance Cover?
From campus clinics to emergency evacuation, here's what makes this one of the most complete international student medical insurance plans on the market.
Inpatient care up to $10K and outpatient visits, supporting student mental health beyond the campus health center.
Covers intercollegiate, interscholastic, intramural, and club sports up to $5,000 per injury or illness.
Platinum plan covers up to $5,000 for maternity and newborn routine care during the first 31 days of life.
Standard covers acute onset after 12 months; Platinum reduces the wait to just 6 months of continuous coverage.
Up to $500,000 for approved, medically necessary evacuation to a treatment facility or repatriation home.
Just a $5 copay per visit for treatment at your school's affiliated student health center — no deductible.
IMG Student Insurance for Sports: What's Covered
If you're playing for your school, Student Health Advantage is built to cover you. As competitive sports insurance, the plan pays up to $5,000 per injury or illness for intercollegiate, interscholastic, intramural, and club sports - so a torn ligament at intramural soccer or a concussion at club rugby practice is treated the same as any other covered injury. Students competing in higher-risk or extreme activities outside of organized school sports (skiing off-piste, whitewater rafting, skydiving) should add the optional Adventure Sports Rider, since those activities fall outside the standard sports benefit.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Student Health Advantage Insurance
Advantages
6 benefitsMeets F1/J1/M1 visa insurance requirements for most U.S. schools
Covers organized, intercollegiate, and club sports
Pre-existing condition coverage after a defined waiting period
Access to the large UnitedHealthcare provider network
Low $5 copay at affiliated student health centers
Renewable for up to 5 years without a break in coverage
Disadvantages
6 limitsStandard plan does not include maternity coverage
Pre-existing conditions still require a waiting period before coverage begins/p>
Not available to residents of, or travelers to, Belarus, Russia, Iran, or Ukraine
Mental/nervous outpatient benefit is capped relatively low ($50/day, $500 max)
Pre-certification is required for major procedures or claims are cut by 50%
Adventure/extreme sports need a separate optional rider
What Are the Optional Benefits of Student Health Advantage Insurance?
Available up to age 65. Covers activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, paragliding, and skiing/snowboarding off-piste when performed under recognized safety guidelines.
1. Ages 0–49: $50,000 max per injury/illness
2. Ages 50–59: $30,000 max per injury/illness
3. Ages 60–64: $15,000 max per injury/illness
Device Protection ensures peace of mind by covering your cell phone against unexpected mishaps while traveling.
Whether you're staying connected with loved ones, using maps, or capturing memories, your phone is essential - and this coverage helps you stay digitally connected even if something goes wrong.
Student Health Advantage Standard vs Platinum: Benefits Comparison
Compare coinsurance, out-of-pocket costs, emergency benefits, prescription coverage, telehealth services, and other key features available under both Student Health Advantage plans.
| Benefit | Student Health Advantage Standard | Student Health Advantage Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Coinsurance (in-network US) | Plan pays 90% | Plan pays 90% |
| Coinsurance (out-of-network US) | Plan pays 80% | Plan pays 80% |
| Coinsurance (international) | Plan pays 100% | Plan pays 100% |
| Out-of-pocket maximum (in-network) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Emergency room (illness) | $250 ER deductible per visit | $250 ER deductible per visit |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment | $25,000 principal sum | $25,000 principal sum |
| Terrorism coverage | $50,000 maximum | $50,000 maximum |
| Emergency reunion | $50,000 lifetime maximum | $50,000 lifetime maximum |
| Political evacuation & repatriation | $10,000 lifetime maximum | $10,000 lifetime maximum |
| Emergency/traumatic dental treatment | $500 (accident) / $350 (pain relief) | $500 (accident) / $350 (pain relief) |
| Teladoc telehealth consultation | 100% covered in U.S. (group plans) | 100% covered in U.S. (group plans) |
| Prescription drug maximum | $250,000 (student) / $100,000 (dependent) | $250,000 (student) / $100,000 (dependent) |
| Identity theft assistance | Included | Included |
What Is a PPO Network in Student Health Advantage Platinum Insurance?
A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) network is a group of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that have agreed to pre-negotiated, lower rates for insured students - using one typically means lower out-of-pocket costs and, in many cases, direct billing instead of paying upfront.
Inside the United States, Student Health Advantage Platinum uses the UnitedHealthcare Options PPO network - one of the largest healthcare networks in the country, giving students access to:
How Do I File a Claim With Student Health Advantage Platinum Insurance?
To file a claim with Student Health Advantage Platinum Insurance, follow these steps:
Plan Details of Student Health Advantage Student Insurance
The following expenses must always be pre-certified in the U.S. only:
- Certain treatment and supplies including hospital admission, inpatient or outpatient surgery, and other procedures as noted in the certificate wording must be pre certified for medical necessity, which means the insured person or their attending physician must communicate with an IMG representative at the number listed on the IMG ID card prior to admission to a hospital, before receiving certain treatments and supplies or performance of a surgery.
- In case of an emergency admission, the precertification must be made within 48 hours of the admission, or as soon as reasonably possible.
- If a hospital admission or a surgery is not pre certified, eligible claims and expenses will be reduced by 50 percent.
- It is important to note that precertification is only a determination of medical necessity, not an assurance of coverage, verification of benefits, or a guarantee of payment. All medical expenses eligible for reimbursement must be medically necessary and will be paid or reimbursed at usual, reasonable, and customary rates.
- Routine physicals, inoculations, or other examinations or tests conducted when there is no objective indications or impairments in normal health;
- Please refer to the certificate wording for full details of the precertification requirements.
- The insured can begin the process of precertification by logging on to MyIMG Login To MyIMG - International Medical Group imglobal.com or the Client Resources section of imglobal.com. Look for the precertification option and submit the required information.
- Please note that this online service will only initiate the process for treatment and supplies outlined in the contract, and it should not be used to request precertification for emergency admissions, procedures or evacuations.
- Coverage and benefits are subject to the deductible and coinsurance, and all terms of the Certificate of Insurance and Master Policy
- Coverage under this plan is secondary to any other coverage
- Coverage and benefits are for medically necessary, usual, reasonable, and customary charges only
- Charges must be administered or ordered by a physician
- Charges must be incurred during the period of coverage or benefit period
- Claims must be presented to IMG for payment within ninety (90) days from the date the claim was incurred.
IMG Student Health Advantage Insurance - FAQs
Why Buy Student Health Advantage Platinum Through American Visitor Insurance?
- Side-by-side plan comparison - compare Student Health Advantage Standard and Platinum benefits, coverage limits, and pricing against other IMG student plans in one place, instead of digging through separate brochures.
- Coverage across time zones - support staff on both the US East and West Coasts mean help is available well outside standard business hours.
- Hands-on enrollment help - if a question comes up mid-application (visa type, dependent eligibility, deductible choice, Standard vs. Platinum), an agent can walk you through it in real time.
- Claims support when you actually need it - the same team that helped you enroll can guide you through filing a claim, so you're not left to interpret IMG's claim form alone.
- No markup - premiums are set by the carrier, so buying through American Visitor Insurance costs the same as buying direct, with the added benefit of a human to call.
- Licensed & Trusted Platform - American Visitor Insurance is a licensed US-based insurance platform (NJ License #1181604).