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Health and Accident Insurance

Participants in Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, and Quarter Abroad programs will be covered by two types of health/accident insurance: 

  1. Blanket medical insurance, in most cases provided by GeoBlue, and 
  2. UC accident/incident benefit plan, commonly known as UC Traveler Insurance (Chubb), which is provided to all students and staff participating in UC programs. 

For some programs, medical insurance is provided through onsite partners, rather than GeoBlue, and the partners will provide you with information on the coverage. USA Study programs and Virtual Internship programs will not be covered by GeoBlue Insurance. Students going on USA Study programs or participating in a Virtual Internship program can use UC Davis SHIP or their personal insurance.

Students participating in UCEAP and those granted study abroad leave status for Independent Programs also have access to Chubb coverage. Medical insurance information for UCEAP participants is available in the UCEAP Guide to Study Abroad (which can be found in the pre-departure section of the student's UCEAP portal). 

Students participating in Independent Programs are responsible for securing medical insurance on their own. If you are relying on a private medical insurance plan, check the coverage for foreign travel. You may want to consider purchasing insurance that is specifically intended for travel, whether by GeoBlue or other reputable providers. Students participating in Independent Programs should also consider whether or not insurance is included through their program provider.

Note that certain high risk activities—including but not limited to:  moped/motorcycle driving, horseback riding, skin/scuba diving, skiing, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving, hang gliding, amateur racing, and piloting of aircraft or riding in any aircraft (except as a passenger on a regularly scheduled airline or charter flight)—are NOT covered by GeoBlue or UC Traveler. Please review and consider the exclusions of any insurance, as well as any you may obtain privately

  • GeoBlue Travel Health Insurance

  • GeoBlue Global Health Insurance is provided to Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, and Quarter Abroad participants by UC Davis Study Abroad to ensure quality overseas health coverage for participants. Some Quarter Abroad students are covered by insurance plans provided by on-site partners. The GeoBlue plan will help you manage existing and unanticipated health conditions while you are abroad. It includes coverage for office visits, hospital care, surgery, and prescription medication. Coverage highlights (PDF).

    You will be provided with an insurance card via email for GeoBlue that you should print and carry with you at all times while you are abroad. Before you travel, set-up your GeoBlue account and download the GeoBlue app, which can help you search for physicians, schedule appointments on short notice and translate medical terms.

    UC Davis policy dictates that GeoBlue coverage cannot be used as a basis for cancelling your Davis SHIP coverage while you are abroad. If you are considering cancelling your private, non- Davis SHIP insurance coverage while you are abroad, you should plan carefully to insure that you have coverage in place when you return, since GeoBlue coverage applies only when you are abroad (not through the beginning of the next quarter, as Davis SHIP does).

    While many U.S. medical insurance plans include coverage for overseas travel (check with your provider about additional coverage), UC Davis Study Abroad provides coverage from GeoBlue because it has been designed specifically with travelers in mind. GeoBlue has established a network of English-speaking, Western-trained physicians in over 180 countries. You are also covered for care from physicians outside of their network, and GeoBlue may be able to pay directly for your expenses so that you do not have to pay out-of-pocket. A list of physicians can be found for most destinations by logging into the GeoBlue website with your GeoBlue certificate number on your GeoBlue card.

    If you are in an emergency, always seek the nearest available help. You are not required to contact GeoBlue before receiving treatment, but if the situation allows it, it can be helpful. For example, if you are planning to see a physician or seek services from a facility not within the GeoBlue network and you communicate with GeoBlue prior to your appointment, GeoBlue may be able to pay for the services directly. Otherwise you may have to pay up front and then get reimbursed by submitting a claim form. Details are provided via your GeoBlue account and your Program Specific Guide provided by UC Davis Study Abroad. 

    One of the advantages of GeoBlue’s extensive physician network is that you can plan ahead for existing conditions. Before leaving the U.S., you can use GeoBlue’s online database to identify specialists in the location you are visiting, so that you know who to contact if complications arise while you are abroad. This applies to physical and mental conditions. GeoBlue does not cover preventative health care, so get your annual check-up before you leave the U.S. If you would like assistance in locating a particular medical specialist (including mental health counselors) before your program begins or before you finalize your program choice, please contact your Program Coordinator.
  • UC Traveler Insurance Coverage

  • The University of California provides catastrophic coverage to students and staff participating in UC programs through UC Traveler insurance (Chubb - AXA Global Travel Assistance Program). The UC-sponsored coverage is to be used for catastrophic events such as, but not limited to, loss associated with death, dismemberment, paralysis, and total disability. This policy also includes emergency extraction insurance and benefits for lost baggage, trip cancellation, and laptop damage/replacement. Coverage information is available in the online Benefits Summary (PDF). You will also receive an email asking you to set up a personal profile through WorldCue, an optional service that allows you to save copies of your passport and travel details.

    UC Davis Study Abroad will directly register Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internship, and Quarter Abroad students for insurance coverage. You will be provided with an Emergency Card with the insurance and other information prior to your program. Print this card and carry it with you at all times when you travel.

    UCEAP will directly enroll UCEAP participants in a travel insurance policy that is different than the UC Traveler Insurance Coverage for other off-campus programs. The policy number, contact information, benefits and exclusions, and claims process can be found in the Insurance section of the UCEAP Health and Safety page.

    Independent Program participants should register themselves on the website for UC Traveler Insurance Coverage. 
  • Extended Overseas Travel Coverage

  • For any program, if you are engaging in personal travel beyond the program dates, you may want to consider options for extended travel insurance.

    • UC Traveler insurance includes coverage before and after program dates for 7 days (total) of personal deviation for foreign travel or 3 days for domestic travel. If you wish to extend UC Traveler coverage, go to the Risk Services website, scroll down to Personal Travel, and click on “UC Personal Travel Program” to read a full description of the coverage, access the brochure and/or enroll.
    • GeoBlue coverage typically begins a day before and ends a day after program start and end dates. If you need coverage for additional dates, you will need to purchase a separate Voyager policy through GeoBlue.
    • The Mandatory UCEAP Insurance Plan coverage begins several days before the official start of the program and ends several days after the official end of the program begin coverage. UCEAP participants can apply for up to three months of extended medical insurance coverage. Consult the UCEAP Insurance Brochure for details.
    • Most private U.S. insurance plans include coverage for foreign travel, although it will not necessarily include the benefits of plans designed specifically for travel.

     

  • Gap Coverage for Domestic Insurance

  • Short-term health insurance or “gap” coverage is typically relevant in situations in which your Davis SHIP or private domestic insurance is not active for a period when you are in the U.S. prior to or after your study abroad program. UC Davis does not recommend any specific providers for gap coverage, which is available from a number of private companies. 

  • Trip Cancellation Coverage

  • The trip cancellation benefit provided by UC Traveler insurance has a limit of $2000 in total (not per incident or item). It covers airfare and prepaid housing, but not course fees. It only applies if the cancellation is due to great injury or death, not in the case of emergencies such as financial distress. While there is some coverage through UC Traveler, you may wish to look into a private plan for a more extensive trip cancellation coverage. It does not cover Covid-19 pandemic-related cancellations.