International Health Insurance

GeoBlue is the international health insurance provider for Vanderbilt.
It is a robust, comprehensive, and low-cost international health insurance plan for all Vanderbilt community members and is available to any Vanderbilt traveler, including faculty and staff traveling outside of the United States on Vanderbilt University business.

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GeoBlue Overview

Vanderbilt’s international health insurance plan with GeoBlue is more comprehensive than most plans and includes coverage for mandatory evacuation, preexisting conditions, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Unlike many international insurance plans, it also covers injuries that involve substance use. Very few US health insurance plans offer coverage overseas at this level.

GeoBlue does not cover any services within the United States, so travelers must maintain their stateside insurance. Faculty and staff may purchase coverage for their dependents accompanying them on Vanderbilt University travel.

GeoBlue Coverage Details and Resources:

Study Abroad Students

Students studying abroad on a Vanderbilt-approved program, including Maymester courses, will automatically be enrolled in GeoBlue for the duration of their abroad program (between the posted start and end dates of the program) and do not need to take any action. All other travelers will need to enroll themselves.

 

Individual and Group Travel

Individual students as well as student-led and faculty-led groups are required to enroll themselves or their group in GeoBlue for the duration of their travel. You will not be automatically enrolled by Global Safety and Health. 

Faculty and staff are welcome to enroll and GeoBlue is a reimbursable expense.

How to Enroll In GeoBlue

  • Step 1: How to Purchase
    • You will purchase GeoBlue as part of Vanderbilt’s group plan.
    • Go to the GeoBlue enrollment web page, then enter the Group Access Code KXP-37915 in the box provided and submit.
    • You will be guided through the process of signing up for coverage. The minimum enrollment time is two weeks.
  • Step 2: Receive Medical Insurance ID Card
    • Eligible participants receive their Medical Insurance ID card from GeoBlue, they should visit geobluestudents.com and, using the certificate number on the front of the card, sign in to the site for comprehensive information and services relating to this plan.
    • Participants can track claims, search for doctors, view plan information, download claim forms and read health and security information.
    • Detailed information on eligibility requirements, period of coverage, and details of coverage can be found in the Description of Coverage.
  • Step 3: Participate in GeoBlue's Pre-departure Program
    • Before travel, consider participating in GeoBlue's Pre-Departure Program which provides important pre-trip health guidance and answers to questions based on each traveler's specific health needs. Their pre-departure program offers: 
    • Consultations with clinicians before you depart to help you understand what to expect in your new host country
    • Assistance with planning healthcare needs in your new host country
    • Guidance to quality healthcare professionals to avoid any disruption of care
  • What to Do If You Need Help

    The GeoBlue Member Guide has information on how to find a provider, submit claims, request payment and more. If you need help, you can contact Vanderbilt Incident Response for Travel: In an emergency, dial +1 615-322-2745 and tell the Public Safety dispatcher that you are calling for VIRT. In a non-emergency situation, email virt@vanderbilt.edu.

  • Group Enrollment Instructions

    Faculty, Staff. and Student leaders of groups travelling internationally are strongly encouraged to complete a GeoBlue group enrollment prior to travel. 

    This ensures all students travelling as part of the group meet VU's international insurance requirement for students. 

    To complete a GeoBlue group enrollment, enter the required information into the orange collumns of the GeoBlue Group Enrollment template, then submit it to the Global Safety and Health team along with the COA or POET the generated invoice should be billed to. 

Health & Safety Tips

All international travelers at Vanderbilt should make the following three health- and safety-related preparations before leaving Vanderbilt:

  1. Ensure you have coverage from Vanderbilt’s international health insurance;
  2. Arrange for a travel health consultation with a medical provider;
  3. Register your travel with Vanderbilt’s travel assistance partner. Faculty, staff, and students making flight arrangements through the university’s travel agency are automatically registered with Vanderbilt's Travel Assistance Partner.

It is also highly recommended that you register with the embassy of your host country. US citizens will register with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Students, including graduate and professional students, who are traveling abroad independently are required to record their travel with VTRAC and purchase their international health insurance with GeoBlue (Students studying abroad through Vanderbilt Study Abroad are automatically registered.)

Travel Health Consultation

Vanderbilt travelers should seek out a travel health consultation. Students, faculty and staff have low-cost options available on campus. Individuals are also free to use their own clinicians.

To allow any vaccinations time to take effect, travel consultation appointments should be made at least 4-6 weeks in advance before departure date. Some vaccines may require a series of shots, so it is important to allow enough time.

We also recommend reading the Centers for Disease Control’s information and guidelines for the country you plan to study or visit. Search for a destination at the CDC website.

  • Students

    The Vanderbilt Student Health Center provides students with Travel Consultation appointments to ensure that students understand health risks of their travel destination, as well as provide a physical and helping students construct a care plan for managing health away from home. This appointment is also a good opportunity to discuss medication plans, such as whether medications are available overseas, if they can be carried with you, what their equivalents in other countries might be, and so on.

    Due to the high rate of study abroad at Vanderbilt, students should plan to book their appointment at Student Health as soon as possible. There is an influx of appointments toward the middle and latter part of each semester.

  • Staff and Faculty

    Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic provides pre-travel consultations for faculty and staff. These visits help travelers prepare a customized health care plan by providing destination-specific vaccinations and prescription medications, a medical travel kit, and health and safety advice. Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic services are at no cost to Vanderbilt faculty and staff traveling on Vanderbilt business.

    For those not traveling on Vanderbilt business, equivalent services are available through the Vanderbilt Travel Clinic.