Health and Safety

This plan is provided by Cultural Insurance Services International and underwritten by Ace American Insurance Company for details, Click Here.

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All GSU students studying abroad are enrolled in the USG’s mandatory study abroad insurance by Study Abroad Programs staff.  Please find more information regarding this insurance and coverage here.  Students will receive a copy of their insurance card before travel.

If students pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses while abroad, they should file a claim with the insurance when they return to the United States. Filing the claim can be done using this form:  https://www.culturalinsurance.com/pdf/claim_form.pdf 

The US Department of State has travel advisories for all countries, as well as information regarding the situation in each country.  COVID-19 is one of the key factors included in the advisories.  Please read the information regarding your destination country here. 

The US Centers for Disease Control shares travel recommendations and requirements by country and for re-entry into the United States for COVID-19 as well as information about other health-related travel concerns and immunization requirements and recommendations abroad.  Please see more information  here. 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Study Abroad Programs recommends that GSU study abroad participants and Program Directors enroll in STEP here. 

Students must submit a completed Health Clearance Form to the study abroad application system in advance of departure.  Students may schedule an appointment at the Student Health Clinic to have their health clearance form completed and to ask information regarding immunization recommendations and requirements for international travel.  

Please review GSU’s International Travel Policy here.

Please find a list of US Embassies and Consulates abroad here:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/list-of-posts.html 

All GSU students applying to study abroad will be asked to fill out a Health Clearance Form as part of their application process.  This form will be completed by a US-based licensed physician.   

All students studying abroad from GSU will participate in a pre-departure meeting with Study Abroad Programs and/or their Program Director.  In these meetings, Study Abroad Programs staff will share recommendations for health and safety in international travel in general, and Program Directors will share health and safety information specific to the program’s itinerary.   

Students on faculty-led programs will receive an emergency pocket brochure specific to their study abroad program with key information regarding health and safety in their destination countries (s) from their program director.  

If you are registered with the Access and Accommodations Center and/or have special needs for your study abroad program, please email Laura Boudon, Director of Study Abroad Programs, at [email protected] and  inform the Access and Accommodations Center regarding your needs.    

Please call for local (in-country) emergency medical assistance first, if needed.  You can find the emergency phone number in the country you are visiting here:  https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/911-by-country 

Please call the GSU Study Abroad Emergency Phone at 470-825-3986 in case of emergency abroad 24/7. 

Office of Overseas Citizens Services in US: (202)-647-5225 

To contact ACE Team Assist in a medical emergency, or for 24/7 pre-departure, medical, travel and legal assistance:

Toll-free in the U.S.: (855) 327-1411 

Outside of the U.S. (Call Collect): (312) 935-1703

Email: [email protected]

Questions you will be asked when opening a case:

1. GSU’s policy number (listed on the insurance card received prior to departure)
2. Caller’s/Participant’s first and last name
3. Date(s) of birth for the participant(s) experiencing the emergency
4. Contact details
5. Type of service requested
6. Brief Summary of Request/Incident
7. Location where assistance is requested

More information from CISI insurance on emergencies can be found here: https://www.culturalinsurance.com/contact_emergency.asp 

Study Abroad Programs contacts GSU students and program directors if and when there is an incident abroad to provide available support and resources. 

Office of Overseas Citizens Services in US: (202)-647-5225