Global Michigan

Exploring U-M’s Opportunities Around the World

 

While Abroad FAQs

Health and Safety Issues

What mental health resources are available to me while I'm abroad?
For mental well-being support, there are several resources at your disposal: 

GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance resources, including: 

U-M resources, including

Your host program or host institution may also provide mental health resources or services.

How do I submit a GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance claim?
The “Submitting a Claim” page of your U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance Member Guide (accessible at https://uhs.umich.edu//tai/#info in the “How to purchase/sign in” section under the appropriate purpose for travel) outlines several ways to submit a claim:

  • eClaims: You can quickly and conveniently submit claims electronically, through the app, or through the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com. Scanned paper documents are delivered directly to our Claims Department, and your eClaims are saved in the Claims section of the Member Hub. Choose “Claims” in the GeoBlue app or visit the “File an eClaim” section of the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com. Log in using your username and password with the information from your insurance ID card.
  • Email or fax: To submit a claim via email or fax, a printable claim form, and detailed instructions are available in the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com. Visit the “How to File a Claim” section of the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com and click “How do you file a claim with GeoBlue?” to download the appropriate claim form.
  • Postal mail: If you prefer to submit a claim via postal mail, a printable claim form and detailed instructions are available in the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com. Visit the “How to File a Claim” section of the Member Hub on www.geobluestudents.com and click “How do you file a claim with GeoBlue?” to download the appropriate claim form. For claims incurred outside the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, send to: GeoBlue, Attn: Claims Department, P.O. Box 1748, Southeastern, PA 19399-1748, USA.

To check the status of your claim, contact GeoBlue for assistance:

I was not able to board my flight or enter the destination country because I did not complete all the entry requirements. What should I do?
Some requirements must be met at your port of entry, while others may be required prior to boarding your destination-bound flight (see “What do I need to do to be able to enter or exit my destination” in the FAQs for Travel Planning section for relevant information). These requirements may include having a passport, visa if needed, and meeting other relevant health requirements (vaccines such as COVID-19 or Yellow Fever). Additionally, entry requirements can change at any time. If you are denied entry because you are unable to fulfill entry requirements, you must determine which requirements still need to be met and complete them. Neither U-M nor the U.S. government has any influence over this process. If completing the entry requirements takes time, such as obtaining a specific legal document from a specific source, the traveler may have to postpone travel until able to meet the entry requirements of the host country. In this instance, steps may include:

  1. Contact the airline to see if the flight can be canceled or changed.
  2. Contact any housing accommodations (hotels, AirBnB, apartments, etc.) to see if the housing can be canceled or the dates can be changed.
  3. Contact any need-to-know people involved with your travel (e.g., study abroad program or internship advisors, anyone else who may be expecting you abroad, U-M contacts, etc.). 
  4. Make arrangements if you are unable to attend in-person activities abroad, such as class or an internship, to see what alternatives, if any, can be made.

I was exposed to COVID-19 while abroad. What should I do?
Follow your host destination’s regulations, protocols, and guidance for exposure. The Department of State’s COVID-19 Country Specific Information pages offers a starting point to learn about these. General guidance can be found on the CDC’s What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19 and COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know webpages. 

If your roommate tested positive, inform relevant program and/or housing contacts, who may be able to provide you with an overview of protocols and options. If you test positive for COVID-19 following exposure, refer to the relevant FAQ below.

I tested positive for COVID-19 while abroad and am not traveling anytime soon. What should I do?
  • Follow your host destination’s regulations, protocols, and guidance for testing positive. The Department of State’s COVID-19 Country Specific Information pages offers a starting point to learn about these. General guidance can be found on U-M Health Response and the CDC’s COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know webpage.
  • Inform relevant program and housing contacts, who may be able to provide you with an overview of options and protocols. Isolation may or not be necessary depending on local public health guidelines. Several factors may determine what kind of support is available (e.g., whether you are living in dorms, program-affiliated housing, or a self-chosen apartment, whether you are studying directly with a university or with a study abroad provider, etc.).
  • Use the GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance if medical assistance is necessary. For students on UMRT, the GeoBlue student plan includes a Post-Departure Trip Interruption benefit that may cover some associated costs.
  • Contact U-M through emergency or non-emergency channels depending on the situation. Details are on the U-M Emergency Contact page on Global Michigan.

I tested positive for COVID-19 abroad and plan to fly to the U.S. in the next 10 days. What should I do?
Though most countries have removed or reduced their exit requirements related to COVID-19, some countries still require travelers to have a negative COVID-19 test to exit their country. Follow your host destination’s regulations, protocols, and guidance for testing positive. The Department of State’s COVID-19 Country Specific Information pages offer a starting point to learn about these. General guidance can be found on U-M Health Response and the CDC’s COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know webpage.

Follow the CDC’s “Before You Travel to the U.S.” guidance on their International Travel to and from the United States during COVID-19 webpage, including “do not travel as long as you test positive.” Following these guidelines is expected under the University of Michigan Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Use the GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance if medical assistance is necessary. For students on UMRT, the GeoBlue student plan includes a Post-Departure Trip Interruption benefit that may cover some costs associated with transportation and/or lodging and incidentals.

Additional logistical steps to take may include:

  • Contact the airline to see if the flight can be canceled or changed.
  • Inform relevant program and housing contacts, who may be able to provide you with an overview of options and protocols regarding isolation and obtaining food or other daily necessities. Several factors may determine what kind of support is available (e.g., whether you are living in dorms, program-affiliated housing, or a self-chosen apartment, whether you are studying directly with a university or with a study abroad provider, etc.).
  • Contact U-M through emergency or non-emergency channels, depending on the situation. Details are on the U-M Emergency Contact page on Global Michigan.
  • Make arrangements with classes, work, or other in-person obligations that you may miss back in the U.S. (or your final destination).

Once your immediate health and logistical needs are taken care of, you will need to plan to meet the exit requirements of your departure country. These requirements supersede any destination’s entry requirements (which also need to be followed). To determine exit requirements of your host country, you can:

  • Inquire with the person abroad who is providing support, such as the local university contact or study abroad provider contact.
  • Visit your location’s COVID-19 Country Specific Information page, which provides an overview of exit requirements and may link to the host country’s exit requirement websites. Otherwise, you may need to search for your country’s exit requirements online. Exit requirements may involve obtaining medical documentation that you have recently had COVID-19 and have recovered since those who have recently had COVID-19 will most likely not pass a negative COVID-19 test.

Contact your U-M contact, who may be able to assist and walk you through the next steps. 

Do I need to take a COVID-19 test before returning to the U.S.?
For U.S.-bound travelers, the CDC no longer requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding your return flight. (NOTE: However, non-U.S. citizens / non-U.S. immigrants are required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding their U.S.-bound flight.) Instead, the CDC recommends the following:

  • Consider getting tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel.
  • Don’t travel if your result is positive.

Though the CDC no longer requires a negative COVID-19 test to return to the United States, some countries or airlines may still require testing to leave the country. For complete CDC COVID-19 travel regulations and recommendations, visit the CDC’s International Travel to and from the U.S. During COVID-19 webpage.

Please contact umich-itoc@umich.edu if you have additional questions about your destination or if you would like additional resources.

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    U-M ranked 5th in the nation in the number of U.S. students studying abroad for the 2019-2020 academic year

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