Faculty, Staff and Employees
Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) provides medical and travel insurance coverage for faculty and staff traveling abroad on university business. Major features of the program include basic medical insurance and emergency medical and security evacuation.
Faculty and staff travelers (on university business) incur no cost for the program’s premium, coverage and services. Optional coverage is available at the traveler's expense for accompanying spouse/domestic partner or dependents by completing the spouse/partner and/or dependent coverage application (.doc).
To be covered, you must register your travel in advance through the University’s ProTrav system. Enrollment will occur automatically approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
This program does not apply to personal international travel.
Students
The University of Iowa mandates international health insurance for all UI students traveling abroad for educational purposes — studying abroad, interning, conducting research, performing a rotation, presenting at a conference, or any other educationally-related activity abroad.* This “blanket” insurance coverage is provided through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The Iowa Regents Universities policy number for travel is GLM N04965085. The cost is currently $1.33 per day, and there is a 7-day minimum coverage period. Travel within the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii is not eligible for coverage. Travel to U.S. territories and protectorates is considered "abroad" and eligible for insurance coverage.
Main Policy Features
| Medical Expense | $500,000 per accident or sickness |
| Pre-existing Conditions Coverage | $100,000 |
| Mental & Nervous Illness (per lifetime) | $20,000 inpatient; $10,000 outpatient |
| Prescription Drugs (in/outpatient) | 100% of eligible expenses |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation | 100% of covered expenses ($250,000 maximum) |
| Security Evacuation (natural disaster/political unrest) | $100,000 |
| Repatriation of Remains | 100% of covered expenses ($250,000 maximum) |
| 24-7 Assistance Services from CISI/AXA Team Assist | Call +1-312-935-1703 (outside US) Call 1-855-327-1411 (within US) e-mail medassist-usa@axa-assistance.us |
| *The Regents health insurance is, however, not intended for personal travel (i.e., vacation) outside of the dates when students are traveling for a University of Iowa purpose. Students who choose to include personal travel immediately before or after their University of Iowa related travel may - and are strongly encouraged to - purchase a separate coverage plan directly from the insurance provider. Please see the section entitled Extension of Coverage for Personal Travel, below, for further instructions. | |
Policy Brochure and Claim Form
- Iowa Regents CISI Insurance Policy Details and Claim Form (for travelers departing on/after March 1, 2024)
- Iowa Regents CISI Insurance Policy Details and Claim Form (for departures prior to March 1, 2024)
Student travelers may contact CISI/AXA Team Assist for details should a need arise to request assistance, confirm benefit provisions or file a claim (contact information above.)
Registration & Billing Process
For UI students participating in UI Study Abroad credit-bearing programs: The cost of the insurance is typically billed to you as a separate charge on your U-bill. Check with your UI Study Abroad advisor for details. Enrollment in the insurance will happen automatically and coverage dates will correspond to your study program dates. Note that your charge for insurance may post to your u-bill several months after your study abroad program fee posts.
For UI students traveling abroad for a University of Iowa purpose other than a UI Study Abroad program: All students in this category, including graduate and professional students, must complete a Student Travel Abroad Registration Form. This is required even if a trip was created for you in ProTrav by any campus department, to ensure essential information is gathered to help you in the event of an emergency abroad. Once you submit your Travel Abroad Registration Form and accompanying documents, your university travel plans will be added to the UI Travel Registry and you will be enrolled in the Iowa Regents CISI insurance policy for the period of time indicated on your registration form.
Note that personal vacation dates are not covered. See "Extension of Coverage for Personal Travel" below for further details about coverage for personal vacation travel days. The cost of international insurance for university-related travel will be charged to your U-bill, typically within two monthly billing cycles after your enrollment. Depending on the purpose of your travel abroad, additional forms or procedures may be required. If you are not participating in a program administered by UI Study Abroad, check the Travel Registration section for additional guidance.
Domestic Health Insurance Plans
CISI travel insurance provides primary health insurance while you’re abroad. Domestic insurance plans can be very difficult to use overseas and typically do not cover things like medical evacuations — hence the need for an international coverage plan. While your domestic plan will not be considered primary during international travel, do not let your domestic insurance coverage lapse while you are out of the country since any medical condition which might develop while abroad could be considered a “pre-existing condition” when you seek care after your return to the U.S.
Double Coverage
We recognize that in some cases students will end up with double coverage while they’re abroad. Since benefits and coverage limits can vary, the University of Iowa requires enrollment in the Iowa Regents Universities international insurance policy for students traveling under the auspices of the University. This provides a standard, predictable level of coverage and support that can be accessed in a medical or security emergency. A student participating in an external non-University of Iowa program may be required by the program provider to enroll in a separate insurance policy that the provider will consider primary coverage while abroad. The Iowa Regents CISI policy will still remain in effect and will not be waived under any circumstances. On rare occasions, an external program provider may waive their policy coverage if they consider the Iowa Regents Universities CISI policy to be sufficient. Please note that comparing the provisions of two policies rarely leads to the unilateral conclusion that one is "stronger" than the other in all areas, so double coverage is often the norm for students studying abroad on external programs.
Purchase of Coverage for Personal Travel
Your Iowa Regents CISI insurance coverage dates will correspond to the study abroad dates of your program. If you will participate in two programs or sessions abroad, we strongly encourage you to contact CISI to seek a separate coverage policy for the interim period.
Students who choose to travel independently immediately before or after their study abroad program may also purchase a separate coverage plan directly from CISI through the CISI student portal. The online portal works especially well for setting up coverage for an extended stay abroad after your program ends. If you are trying to set up separate coverage for the time you will spend abroad immediately before your program starts, the timing may mean that your enrollment in the Iowa Regents CISI policy has not been fully processed yet. If that is the case, then the online CISI portal won't be available to you yet, but you can still call CISI directly (800-303-8120) for help setting up a separate coverage plan for the days you are abroad prior to your program start. If you call CISI to set the extension up, make sure to let CISI know that you will be enrolled in the Iowa Regents University Policy: GLM N04965085.
Travel abroad exclusively for personal reasons is not covered under the Iowa Regents CISI policy. Students traveling abroad for personal reasons are encouraged to purchase independent travel risk insurance. Travel risk insurance for personal travel can be pursued online, or with the assistance of a travel agency. Destinations Unlimited is an example of a local travel agency that may be able to assist with personal travel plans unrelated to your enrollment at UI.
If you have questions about insurance coverage or enrollment that are not addressed above, please contact us.