Health & Safety
Insurance Coverage
Through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), KIIS provides all participating students and faculty with comprehensive medical insurance ($250,000 max*, $0 deductible) while abroad on KIIS programs. *exception Pre-Existing conditions, $100,000 max; Mental Health in-patient, $10,000 max. For full coverage details, review the policy below.
To see the full KIIS-CISI Insurance Policy, download the PDF.
- Security Evacuation Protection: provides evacuation services in the event of threats of political, security and natural disaster in the host country (the benefit pays for the evacuation of KIIS participants from the host country to return to the U.S.).
- Emergency Medical Evacuation Benefit: returns KIIS participants to the U.S. should they suffer a Medical Emergency which requires evacuation during the course of their KIIS program.
- Emergency Medical Reunion Benefit: ($5,000 max) covers the airfare, on-site hotel and meals of an immediate family member to travel to be with the KIIS participant if the participant is hospitalized abroad for 3 nights or more.
- Trip Cancellation Benefit: ($5,000 max) if the scheduled travel must be canceled due to a Medical Emergency or death of the KIIS participant or an immediate family member occurring within 30 days prior to the KIIS program (the benefit pays to reimburse non-refundable expenses already paid).
- Trip Cancellation – Terrorism Benefit: ($5,000 max) if the scheduled travel must be canceled as a result of Terrorism occurring within the 45 days prior to the KIIS program (the benefit pays to reimburse non-refundable expenses already paid).
- Trip Interruption Benefit: ($2,500 max) offers to return KIIS participants to the U.S. (and back to the KIIS program if desired) in the event a relative (parents, children, siblings, grandparents) passes away or becomes gravely ill.
- Trip Delay: reimburses up to $200 a day for hotel and meals if a KIIS participant’s flight is delayed by 8 or more hours.
- Repatriation of Remains: The KIIS-CISI policy pays 100% of the cost for repatriation of remains.
To process your reimbursement, you must include itemized medical bills/receipts and a doctor’s diagnosis. Please carefully read and follow the instructions on the CISI Claim Form and submit your claim form and photocopies of your bills directly to CISI.
Prior to departure, KIIS enrolls student and faculty participants in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The STEP program is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. The information provided allows the Department of State to better assist KIIS participants in the event of an emergency abroad.
For non-U.S. citizens, KIIS enrolls you in the U.S. Department of State’s STEP along with the other KIIS participants. You also should check with your home country to register for their equivalent of STEP service.
Your KIIS-CISI insurance is valid only for the official dates of your KIIS program. If you are traveling before or after your KIIS program dates, we recommend you contact your personal/family insurance company (or another insurance provider) to ask about international insurance coverage for the dates of your extended travel before or after the KIIS program.
You may wish to purchase your own Property/Personal Insurance or other types of Trip Cancellation Insurance as these are not included in the KIIS policy. Travelex or Travelguard are some common providers. Note: KIIS is not affiliated with nor receives any compensation from these providers.
KIIS reserves the right to cancel any of its programs due to war, political unrest, terrorism, natural disaster, low enrollment, unforeseen circumstances, or a travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department.
“I was initially a bit nervous of going to a new country, but having done so, I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is one thing to see recognizable structures in pictures such as the Eiffel Tower or elaborately decorated cathedrals, but there is truly no substitution for seeing them in person. Getting to immerse yourself in a new unfamiliar place is a big part of the college learning experience. Go out there, explore!”
– John, Paris-Munich Winter