U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance through GeoBlue (BCBS Global) provides health insurance coverage for U-M travelers abroad for reasonable expenses such as physician office visits, hospital visits, mental health services, telehealth services, prescribed medications overseas, emergency evacuation, Post-Departure Trip Interruption (PDTI), and more. Please note that this is not trip/travel insurance.
You may enroll via the University Health & Counseling insurance webpage.
Students from all U-M campuses who travel abroad on University of Michigan Related Travel (UMRT) must have U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance per U-M SPG 601.31: International Travel Policy. UMRT may include (but is not limited to) study, research, internships, service, conferences, presentations, teaching, performances, or athletic competitions. Enrolling in GeoBlue is still required even if you have alternative health insurance plans (e.g. personal domestic insurance plans, third-party provider insurance plans, etc.).
Student insurance is currently managed by GeoBlue (BCBS Global) (Education Abroad Plan). Current U-M students (including up to 6 months after graduation and those traveling in between semesters) at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint campuses are eligible for this plan. Some students will need to purchase travel abroad health insurance individually. For other students, the sending program / department / unit may decide to purchase travel abroad health insurance for them on their behalf. Always verify prior to departure.
Faculty and staff traveling internationally for U-M related travel are automatically covered under the University’s blanket travel abroad health insurance policy with GeoBlue (BCBS Global)’s Business Traveler Plan. Leisure activities prior to and after your university-related trip are also automatically covered. Your spouse / domestic partner and dependents under the age of 26 traveling with you are automatically covered under this plan. Names of these individuals should be listed in your U-M travel registration.
You do not need to purchase the insurance plan. However, you must register your travel in the U-M Travel Registry.
For personal/leisure travel abroad, all U-M students (up to 6 months after graduation), faculty, staff, and Michigan Medicine employees are eligible to individually purchase GeoBlue (BCBS Global)’s Personal/Leisure Plan. Plans may be purchased for your spouse / domestic partner and dependents under the age of 26 traveling with you.
Although not required for non-UM related travel / personal reasons, it is highly recommended to enroll and purchase the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Personal/Leisure Plan because of the coverage and benefits when traveling outside the U.S.. If purchasing, travelers must purchase GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Personal/Leisure Plan before departing the U.S..
Note: those with U-M Emeritus/Emerita titles and U-M temporary employees are not eligible. GeoBlue (BCBS Global) does offer out of the box insurance options for non-UM travelers. Rates / coverage depend on what options are selected. Use the “Get a Quote” function for details.
If you are planning on extending your travel on U-M related travel for personal or leisure travel, your extended stay may or may not be covered depending on what plan you have.
Current U-M faculty / U-M staff / Michigan Medicine employees on the Business Traveler Plan: You are covered under the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Business Traveler Plan for both University-business travel and leisure activities directly prior to and after your University-related trip. You do not need to enroll in the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Personal/Leisure Plan separately.
Current students on UMRT: If you purchased the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Education Abroad Plan yourself, then you can extend its coverage to cover leisure activities directly prior to and after your University-related trip. If your unit enrolled you into the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Education Abroad Plan on your behalf for specific program dates, then you will need to purchase the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Personal/Leisure Plan separately.
If you are on U-M related travel abroad, you must enroll in GeoBlue (BCBS Global). For the purposes of U-M SPG 601.31: International Travel Policy, U.S. territories (including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United States Minor Outlying Islands) are included in the Travel Abroad definition because travelers on UMRT in U.S. Territories are covered by the U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance and its associated political and natural evacuation insurance.
For any medical services, you will need to pay out of pocked and then file a claim for reimbursement through GeoBlue (BCBS Global).
After enrolling in GeoBlue (BCBS Global), complete these steps so that you are prepared in the event of a medical incident abroad:
Explore GeoBlue (BCBS Global)’s Pre-Departure Program: provides consultations for planning healthcare needs in your host destination. Complete the questionnaire and request follow-up from a clinician. (This can be completed before enrolling in GeoBlue/BCBS Global.) See the video below for additional details.
Link to GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Pre-Departure Program Overview (Video)
What is the Post-Departure Trip Interruption Benefit?
GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Study Abroad plan (students) includes a post-departure trip interruption benefit. Post-departure trip interruption coverage provides a benefit to you if your trip is interrupted or must be discontinued for any of the following reasons:
❏ Due to a covered illness or injury that is disabling and causes a reasonable person to delay, cancel, or interrupt their trip. This benefit will reimburse for additional transportation expenses needed to reach the scheduled end point of your trip or to travel from where your trip was interrupted to where you can rejoin your trip.
❏ Due to a diagnosis with or a positive test for an infectious disease that delays your return to your home destination because of restrictions placed on travel from a possible exposure or quarantine, and as a result, you are unable to use your previously booked return travel to your home location. This benefit will reimburse you for returning home from your current location outside the U.S.
What is the coverage amount?
For the instances outlined, the benefit will pay up to the maximum amount of $2,500 per coverage year for the cost of a one-way economy class airfare ticket to reach your destination. The amounts paid will not exceed the cost of economy airfare by the most direct route on the next available carrier. Suppose you must quarantine or delay your return to meet exit/entry requirements while covered under this health insurance policy. In that case, you will be reimbursed for reasonable lodging and meal expenses incurred due to the quarantine*. The benefit will pay up to the maximum of $3,750 per coverage year and is limited to $250 per day for a maximum of 15 days per calendar year.
*GeoBlue reimburses qualified quarantine costs when the host government mandates quarantine outside of your housing. The lodging benefit does not apply if your current housing meets your host country’s quarantine or self-isolation rules. Coverage details are outlined in the GeoBlue Student Member Guide 2024/25.
What steps do you need to take advantage of this benefit and submit a claim?
❏ Ensure verification from a medical facility or medical professional demonstrates that you received a positive test for an infectious disease. This positive test must delay your return to your home destination due to restrictions placed on travel due to a possible exposure or quarantine. As a result, you cannot use your previously booked return travel to your home location.
❏ Pay outright for the expense(s) (i.e., change flight fees, reasonable meals, and hotel/accommodations), keep the receipt for proof of payment, and file a claim via the Member Hub to be reimbursed. If you are unsure if the expense is covered, please call GeoBlue’s global service center to verify and begin the claims process as stated. For full benefits and exclusions, please reference the certificate of insurance on the Member Hub.
Members will need to submit the claim form along with the following documentation for reimbursement:
❏ Doctor’s note
❏ Documentation showing positive test results
❏ Itemized invoice/receipts
❏ Proof of payment
Note: This benefit is only available to those on the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) U-M Study Abroad Plan. Any U-M student traveling for education or co-curricular purposes is eligible for the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) U-M Study Abroad Plan.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this benefit, please contact GeoBlue (BCBS Global). GeoBlue (BCBS Global)’s International Service Center is available 24/7/365 at +1-844-268-2686 (if calling from inside the U.S.) or +1-610-263-2847 (if calling from outside the U.S.).
U-M faculty and staff may enroll a roster of students and non-UM participants on UMRT into the GeoBlue (BCBS Global Solutions) Study Abroad Plan on their behalf.
To receive GeoBlue (BCBS Global) administrator access and to submit a roster, follow these steps:
For additional details, you may review the GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Admin Guide (available upon request).
U-M faculty and staff may enroll a roster of students and non-UM participants on UMRT into the GeoBlue (BCBS Global Solutions) Study Abroad Plan on their behalf.
For current GeoBlue (BCBS Global Solutions) Administrators:
For enrollment issues, contact the U-M Campus Insurance team at [email protected].
