Insurance Abroad
Note:
Starting July 1, the processing of travelers' mandatory global medical and security assistance insurance will be handled by the Office of Risk Management. The information provided on these websites pertains to travel with a departure date on or after 7/1/2026.
University Policy 1070 requires all travelers on international university-supported travel be enrolled in the university's designated global medical & security insurance. The designated global travel insurance provider is Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The CISI plan provides emergency medical coverage and evacuation, security evacuation, and repatriation services.
To reduce administrative burden, the Office of Risk Management has partnered with the Global Education Office's Global Safety Office. The revised processes aim to fulfill several policy and procedure requirements in one process--including registering in GEO's Global Travel Registry and enrolling in the required insurance. More information on how this impacts specific populations can be found below.
What You Need to Know
Information broken down by traveler population. Most faculty and staff travel can be categorized as department-funded travel unless they are leading a Virginia Tech study abroad program or non-credit program.
Global Safety & Risk Management Office
The Global Education Office's Global Safety & Risk Management provides resources and assistance to global travelers, including:
- Pre-departure safety orientation, resources, and training.
- Monitoring emerging and ongoing global situations.
- Providing 24/7 emergency support and incident response.
- Management of the university's Global Travel Registry.
- Facilitation of the university's review of high-risk travel through the Global Travel Oversight Committee (GTOC).
- Coordination with other university oversight offices, including the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance, Environmental Health & Safety, and the Office of Risk Management.
General FAQs
Any individual on university-supported travel as defined by Policy 1070 is eligible for the university's global medical & security insurance. The following are NOT ELIGIBLE for the university’s global medical & security insurance:
- University employees, students, or guests on personal travel
- Registered Student Organizations
- Participants and leaders of alumni trips through the Alumni Association.
Policy 1070 outlines that “the following individuals are REQUIRED to be registered with GEO and purchase the university’s designated global emergency medical and assistance services insurance, regardless of any alternative coverage they may have:
- All university employees on university-supported travel.
- All guests on university-supported travel.
- All members of university-supported group travel.
- All members of a non-university group if one or more participants are supported by university funding.
- Any dependents traveling with a university-supported group.
- Note: “Dependents accompanying individual university-supported travelers (i.e., not on university-supported travel)” are encouraged but not required to purchase the university’s designated global medical & security insurance.
- Students traveling on any other type of university-supported travel (for credit or not for credit) are also required to purchase the designated international emergency medical and security assistance insurance from the university-approved vendor. Alternatively, such students may obtain a waiver from the Office of Risk Management to decline the contracted insurance by demonstrating that they are covered by an insurance policy comparable to the university’s international emergency medical and assistance services policy.”
- For further information on how university-supported travel is defined, or who is required to purchase the insurance, please refer to Policy 1070.
The university's global medical & security insurance includes comprehensive medical coverage, evacuation coverage, coverage for return of mortal remains, coverage for mental health, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and security coverage which will provide support in cases of widespread political issues or natural disasters. It also provides 24/7 assistance finding providers, etc.
The global medical & security insurance is not travel insurance and does not cover canceled flights or lost personal belongings.
Detailed information on the coverages provided can be found on the Coverage Information website.
Dependents are sometimes required to enroll in the university’s global medical & security insurance.
- Required to enroll: dependents traveling with a university-supported group.
- Required to enroll: guests on university-supported travel.
- Strongly encouraged to enroll: dependents accompanying individual university-supported travelers (i.e., not a group).
Dependent coverage must be purchased directly from CISI after the VT-affiliated traveler has been registered in the GTR (i.e., Emburse trip pre-approval has already been submitted) and enrolled in CISI. A paper form can be submitted to CISI to initiate the dependent/guest enrollment process; contact insuranceabroad@vt.edu for more information. Rates and more information can be found on the Coverage Information website.
- Create an account on the CISI portal.
- Submit the claim form and supporting documentation (receipts, medical records).
- Check claim status online.
Certain countries require letters confirming coverage that meets or exceeds a federal requirement. A letter is provided in the initial CISI enrollment email, so the earlier trips are submitted and approved either Emburse or My Study Abroad, the sooner you will receive the automatic coverage verification letter. If a letter is needed earlier in the trip planning process, contact insuranceabroad@vt.edu.
No. The university's global medical & security insurance allows for nominal personal deviations of a few days at the start or end of travel, but this insurance cannot be used for a personal trip.
Contact CISI at 1-800-303-8120 or go to mycisi.com and click on ‘Extend my Insurance Plan.' This can also be done through the CISI Portal once an account has been created. Through the CISI Portal, travelers can:
- Reprint documents
- Locate a provider
- Obtain claim information
- Find travel resources, including information related to travel planning, immunizations, health care abroad, personal security, culture, and weather.
- Purchase additional coverage for personal travel before or after the university-supported program.
Follow the directions provided by the Global Safety Office if you have an emergency while abroad. Report the incident using the Hokies Abroad - Incident Reporting Form.
From an insurance perspective, medical benefits frequently function on a reimbursement basis. Travelers that need assistance identifying a medical facility with a direct payment agreement with CISI or that need a Guarantee of Payment should contact AXA Assistance at 312-935-1703 or medassist-usa@axa-assistance.us.
Contact GEO’s Global Safety Office. Refundability of premiums is variable as established by the Office of Risk Management's Insurance Abroad Procedures.
Detailed information on the insurance program, including coverages and cost, can be found on the Insurance Abroad Coverage Information website. Additional questions can be directed to the Office of Risk Management at insuranceabroad@vt.edu.