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Lehigh University

Student International Services and Insurance Program

Lehigh University recognizes the importance of students having resources available to them while traveling abroad on a university-sanctioned program.  As a parent and guardian, you may ask yourself: What would happen if my student became ill, or were involved in an accident, or a security related incident in a foreign country?  How would my student deal with an emergency where language is a problem and adequate standards of medical care cannot be guaranteed?  What if my student were in a foreign country where the political situation was unstable or quickly deteriorating? To meet some of these challenges when abroad, Lehigh provides an integrated International Services and Insurance Program.

Services—International SOS (Graduate and Undergraduate)

Lehigh has contracted with the premier international services provider, International SOS (ISOS), who will be there for your student when emergency medical, personal, travel, legal, and security assistance services are needed when traveling overseas on a university-sanctioned program.  One phone call connects your student to the ISOS Network of multi-lingual staff trained to help resolve these issues.  Services range from telephone advice and referrals to full-scale medical evacuations by private air ambulance.  The ISOS Network of critical care and aero medical specialists operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from ISOS Alarm Centers around the world.

Additionally, ISOS's global security network is designed to assist in managing the complex issues of people, information, communications, and transportation during a threatening emergency situation.  Membership in ISOS is a valuable protection against unexpected difficulties that can arise when you are away from home.  Since its founding in 1974, ISOS has performed thousands of evacuations and repatriations.  Through the years SOS has also developed the expertise necessary to provide service in remote areas of the world. Please go to the International SOS website for more information: https://www.internationalsos.com. Please click on the following link to access Lehigh’s membership page. https://www.internationalsos.com/members_home/login/clientAccess.cfm?CustNo=11BYSG000004

Insurance—University Health Plans (Students enrolled through the Study Abroad Office and/or the Iacocca International Internship Program only)

Lehigh University has worked with its insurance broker, University Health Plans, to establish a unique insurance program with Cigna Global and Lloyd’s for students abroad on Lehigh-sanctioned programs, which works in concert with International SOS. This mandatory insurance program for students enrolled through the Study Abroad Office and/or the Iacocca International Internship Program only​ is primary in all cases, and because of the special relationship between International SOS and the Plan Administrators, emergency management and health care decision-making is simplified for students and their guardians. Click here to see the Schedule of Benefits.

Students not enrolled through the Study Abroad Office and/or the Iacocca International Internship Program are REQUIRED to provide their own health insurance while abroad.