Does an exchange student need health insurance?

There are usually university plans available to all students, but they don’t always have the best coverage.  You might try and see if your home country will issue you some kind of health insurance plan which is accepted by the university.  There are a number of insurance companies who specialize in international health policies, including this one:  www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student_secure_international.

For high school students, often you can be included in your host family’s insurance plan and simply pay them the difference (if there is any).  Some insurance plans automatically include those living under their roof, for whom they accept responsibility.  Again, most exchange students, regardless of age, must have proof of insurance before they can enter the foreign exchange programs/schools.