Studying abroad: What insurance should you get before you leave?

Studying abroad is often one of the first major adventures of student life. An Erasmus program in Spain, a university in Belgium or France, a degree program in the Netherlands, a semester in Canada… There are many options for students living in Luxembourg.

Between finding housing, enrolling in university, buying transportation tickets, and handling administrative procedures, one question is easy to overlook: what insurance do you need to study abroad?

Health insurance, liability insurance, housing insurance, laptop insurance, travel insurance, or even emergency assistance: the coverage you need depends largely on your destination country and the length of your stay. Here are the key points to check before you leave.

Health insurance: the first step before studying abroad

For a student residing in Luxembourg who is officially enrolled at a university abroad, the first step is to verify their enrollment with a Luxembourg health insurance provider.

Depending on their situation, the student may be covered under one of their parents’ or their spouse’s policy, or may be enrolled individually. This coverage allows them to receive healthcare coverage in the country where they are studying as well as in Luxembourg.

Under the Luxembourg social security system, a stay abroad to pursue studies is considered a temporary stay. However, the procedures and terms of coverage vary depending on the country in which the student is studying. Before departure, it is therefore recommended to consult the official information from the CNS regarding studying abroad.

Studying in the European Union, the EEA (European Economic Area), or Switzerland

For a student enrolled in Luxembourg who is pursuing studies in a European Union country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is essential.

Before departure, it is therefore important to check its validity date. If necessary, a temporary replacement certificate can be requested from your social security provider.

The EHIC provides access to medically necessary care during your stay from providers contracted by the social security system of the country where you are studying. Coverage is provided in accordance with local laws and rates.

The CNS also recommends, as a precaution, that you register with the social security institution in the country where you are studying.

It is important to keep in mind that the EHIC is not travel insurance or supplemental health insurance: certain costs may still be the student’s responsibility.

Certain specific rules may also apply, particularly depending on the student’s nationality. It is therefore recommended to verify your situation with your health insurance provider before departure.

Studying in a country that has a social security agreement with Luxembourg

Luxembourg has entered into bilateral social security agreements with several countries, including certain non-EU countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Cape Verde, Tunisia, and Morocco, among others.

Depending on the destination, a document certifying eligibility for health benefits may be required. This document must be requested well in advance from the student’s Luxembourg social security fund so that the student can receive coverage in accordance with the applicable provisions in the country in question.

Since requirements may vary from one destination to another, it is best to consult the CNS’s up-to-date information before departure rather than assuming that the same documents are valid in all countries.

What about studying in a country not covered by an agreement?

For studies in a country that is not covered by either European regulations or an agreement with Luxembourg, students must generally pay their medical expenses locally and then submit the paid, itemized invoices to their Luxembourg health insurance provider.

Reimbursement is then made according to Luxembourg’s conditions, rates, and schedules, provided that the treatment in question is covered in Luxembourg.

This distinction is important. In some countries, particularly those where medical care is especially expensive, the amounts billed may be significantly higher than the reimbursements provided for in Luxembourg. Supplementary insurance may therefore prove particularly useful in limiting out-of-pocket expenses.

What about students traveling to the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom has been a special case since its withdrawal from the European Union. Thanks to the trade and cooperation agreement concluded with the European Union, a student insured in Luxembourg can continue to use their EHIC there for medically necessary care during their temporary stay.

However, certain scheduled procedures are not covered under this arrangement. It is therefore advisable to check the applicable conditions before departure.

Student housing insurance: Check the rules of your host country

Whether it’s a studio apartment, a dorm room, or a shared apartment, finding housing is often one of the first steps in studying abroad.

However, requirements for home insurance vary from country to country. The landlord or university housing office may also require certain coverage in the lease agreement.

Before signing, it is therefore important to carefully verify the specific insurance requirements and determine whether any existing coverage in Luxembourg remains valid.

You should pay particular attention to damage that may be caused to the residence, water damage, fire, theft, and the occupant’s liability.

A simple case of water damage in a student apartment, for example, can cause damage to several neighbors’ homes. Appropriate insurance protects you against the financial consequences of this type of incident, within the limits and under the conditions specified in the policy.

Civil Liability: protection you shouldn’t overlook

A student may also unintentionally cause harm to another person: breaking an item that belongs to someone else, accidentally injuring a third party, or damaging property that does not belong to them.

This is where personal liability coverage comes into play.

Before an extended stay abroad, it is advisable to check whether the student remains covered under the family policy and, above all, whether this coverage is valid in the country where they are studying and for the entire duration of their stay.

At Foyer, personal liability coverage can be included in the mozaïk insurance plan. Depending on the terms of the policy, it covers accidental damages for which the insured may be held liable in their personal life.

Computers, smartphones, tablets: Don’t forget your portable devices

It’s hard to imagine college life today without a laptop. Add a smartphone, a tablet, headphones, or even a camera, and the value of the equipment you take abroad can quickly add up.

However, student life involves a lot of moving around: the library, public transportation, campus, coffee shops, student housing, or weekend trips.

So the question isn’t just whether the contents of your residence are insured. You also need to check what happens if a computer or smartphone is damaged or stolen outside your home.

Foyer’s mozaïk home insurance, for example, offers a “Portable items” coverage designed for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and cameras. Depending on the coverage you’ve selected, it may provide protection in the event of a drop, breakage, or theft.

Before you leave, be sure to keep the receipts for your devices and note down your smartphone’s IMEI number. In the event of theft, this information can make the claims process easier.

Travel, luggage, and assistance: Studying abroad also means a lot of travel

A semester or academic year abroad is generally not limited to a round-trip journey between Luxembourg and the host country.

Visiting family during breaks, spending a weekend in another city, going on a university trip, or exploring a neighboring country: there are many opportunities to travel.

Travel insurance can therefore remain useful even when you’re not simply going on vacation.

In particular, it’s important to check the coverage in the event of lost or stolen luggage, trip cancellation or changes, medical issues abroad, or the need for repatriation.

In Foyer’s mozaïk plan, the Travel module can cover—depending on the terms of the contract—the loss, damage, or theft of luggage; certain situations involving trip cancellation or changes; assistance and repatriation; as well as certain medical expenses abroad after coverage by Social Security and any supplemental health insurance.

This complementary nature is important: social security coverage and travel insurance do not address exactly the same needs.

Studying away from Luxembourg: Don’t forget about everyday accidents

College sports, biking, cooking, or everyday activities… An accident can happen even when no third party is at fault.

In such cases, it may be wise to review the coverage for bodily injury resulting from a personal accident.

At Foyer, the “Life Accident” module of mozaïk provides coverage based on the financial, emotional, and cosmetic harm suffered and may also provide access, subject to the terms and conditions, to various assistance services.

This protection differs from civil liability insurance: the latter applies when an insured person causes harm to a third party, whereas personal accident coverage is designed to protect the insured person themselves in the situations specified in their policy.

Insurance checklist before leaving to study abroad

A few weeks before departure, take the time to check the following:

• Verify your enrollment with a Luxembourg health insurance provider and the validity of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if applicable;

• Contact the CNS and the social security agency in the country where you will be studying to find out what formalities need to be completed;

• Check the insurance requirements for your housing or university residence;

• Verify your liability insurance coverage and its geographic scope;

• Check the coverage applicable to your computer, smartphone, and other personal belongings you’re taking with you;

• Review your coverage for assistance, travel, supplemental medical expenses, and repatriation;

• Save key contracts, invoices, and contact information in digital format in case of an emergency.

For certain destinations linked to Luxembourg by a bilateral agreement, certain procedures must be completed in advance. It is therefore advisable to consult the information provided by the CNS well in advance of departure to ensure you have the necessary documents.

Coverage tailored to the student’s country and situation

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all insurance policy for all students going abroad. An Erasmus semester in Belgium, an academic year in Quebec, or several years of study in a non-participating country can involve very different procedures and needs.

The key, therefore, is to take stock before departure of any existing coverage—particularly that provided through your parents’ policies—and then identify any potential gaps.

Health insurance, housing, liability coverage, electronic devices, accident coverage, and travel assistance: a few checks beforehand can help you avoid discovering a gap or limitation in coverage just when you need it most.

Before packing your bags, it’s a good idea to consult the official information from the CNS on studying abroad, then check with your insurer to confirm which coverages remain valid for the entire duration of your stay and in the country where you’ll be living.