Page 26 - StudyTravel Magazine May/June 2022 Issue

insurAnCe

direCtion

Insurance providers across the globe
have been adjusting to cater to the
needs of international students since
the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Joshua Walton learns how they hope
to emerge from the pandemic with
confidence over the next year.

AssociAted

Photos: Dr-Walter

ompanies off er a range of insur- in exchange programmes they have were needed, notes Susanne. “How-
ance packages to provide cover waited for so long. With borders open- ever, the StudyInsured policy for
Cfor students across the globe, ing, student numbers have already outbound student group travel from
with many reporting that the reopen- increased though they seem to need Canada was updated to include trip
ing of borders could signal a return to more assistance for reassurance with cancellation and interruption cover-
pre-pandemic levels of business. travel preparation.” age for travel impacted by the World
Claudia Reichstein, Head of Covid-related border closures and Health Organization’s (WHO) declara-
International Programs at Dr-Walter restrictions caused an array of chal- tion of a pandemic.”
https://www.dr-walter.com in lenges for the insurance sector, with
Germany, notes, “The pandemic has many noting that fl exibility in uncer- “With borders opening,
added another layer of complexity to tain times was key to their business student numbers have
insurance cover and with that has strategy throughout the pandemic. already increased
come another learning opportunity for “Agility is the key word here,” com- though they seem to
us as well. With a complexity of local ments Claudia. “We need to be fl exible need more assistance
requirements in the countries, it and constantly adapt to customer for reassurance with
often is a challenge to needs by directing them to the prod- travel preparation”
take legal and local ucts suitable to their needs.”
provisions into Susanne Hendrickson, Director Myles Noble, Head of Insurer
account and of Sales at StudyInsured https:// Relationships and Broker Claims at
reach the client www.studyinsured.com, says, Uni-Care https://www.uni-care.org/
with the appro- “Maintaining fl exibility is certainly one in New Zealand, adds, “Whilst, for
priate insurance of the biggest challenges relating to obvious reasons, sales of new policies
solution.” insurance for international students, over the last two years has been
Anna Houben, whether faced by our company or minimal we have been encouraged by
Business Devel- our clients – for example, being the sound client retention we have
opment Manager fl exible enough to off er extensions enjoyed as many of our students
at Germany-based to students when their fl ights are chose to remain in New Zealand
provider CareMed Inter- cancelled or changed.” rather than return home during the
national Insurance https:// As StudyInsured policies for inter- pandemic. We are excited about the
www.caremed.biz, says, “As in all national students in Canada continued borders re-opening.”
areas of travel, there was a signifi - to include expenses for unforeseen He says the company has taken
cant drop in educational travel due to circumstances, including Covid-19, advantage of the last few
mobility restrictions. We notice now throughout the pandemic, no cover- years with small number of
that students are eager to participate age updates for emergency expenses international students entering

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