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Student Affairs Webinar | Evaluating Student Health Insurance Policies for Study Abroad
On February 26th from 10 - 11 a.m. (CST) Stephanie Rock, Associate Dean of Students at IES Abroad and Emily Davis, Account Executive at Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) discussed tools for evaluating international student health and evacuation insurance policies for students studying abroad.
Insurance is not the first thing students may think about while planning for study abroad, but it is one of the first concerns parents and schools have when an incident occurs. Appropriate insurance plans can make the difference between a health incident being a minor setback or a major problem for students abroad. While the majority of students may go abroad without experiencing a major health incident, a natural disaster, or an unstable political situation, it is critical to be prepared and have adequate insurance in the event something unexpected occurs.
Criteria to evaluate insurance plans is discussed in the context of actual cases. Common exclusions in study abroad insurance policies such as pre-existing conditions will also be discussed.

Stephanie Rock
Associate Dean of Students at IES Abroad
Stephanie has more than 18 years of experience working with Student Affairs on campus and in study abroad. She joined the Dean of Students Office at IES Abroad in Chicago in 2007 and manages matters related to health, safety and student welfare. Prior to joining IES Abroad, Stephanie worked in Residence Life at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also worked in Residence Life at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio while pursuing her degrees. She earned her Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and has Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Spanish with a minor in Latin American Studies, also from Miami University. Stephanie studied abroad for a semester in Mérida, Venezuela while pursuing her undergraduate degrees and gained a passion for study abroad from that experience. She has presented at The Forum on International Education, ACPA, and NASPA on topics related to student development and crisis management.

Emily Davis
Account Executive at Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI)
In her role at CISI, Emily works with underwriters and assistance partners to develop customized travel health insurance policies. Prior to joining CISI, Emily worked at Aon Affinity Insurance Services as the lead presenter of informational seminars to graduate students. She also launched an internship program for Oakland University, developed cross-cultural programs for Chicago-based Educational Endeavors, and served as the Director of Account Services and Compliance at Chicago-based experiential education design firm, Global Learning Models. She enjoys working with schools and third party providers to assess risk, implement insurance plans, and support travelers throughout all phases of the study abroad experience.