For families with young children, where there is no parent available around the clock for care, hiring an au pair is a great idea. Au pairs are governed by U.S. law, and au pairs are required to have au pair insurance that satisfies certain criteria. Other than that, all au pairs typically need are a good family as a host, and of course, a stipend.

One of the common misconceptions about au pairing is that they are simply foreign nannies. Au pairs are generally not professional caregivers. They are typically young students who want to live in and experience another culture, while saving up for their education. So, they will definitely need more help and guidance than a nanny.

Since they are not from the U.S., it is almost always impossible to meet au pairs before hiring them; however, you can talk to them. Also, the au pair program is strictly regulated, and things such as the minimum wages and benefits are fixed by law.

While the expenses for an au pair may be lower than that of a live-in nanny, it also means more involvement from your side, as you’ll need to teach her the ropes. Another expense to keep in mind is insurance for au pairs. Typically, the insurance for au pairs is a low-cost one, which includes medical care, emergency evacuation to the home country, and repatriation of remains benefits.

When many US visitors who are seniors are asked about visitors insurance, their worry is simply that pre-existing conditions are generally not covered. However, there are a few things to consider before rejecting the idea totally.

First, there are a few plans that offer limited coverage for pre-existing conditions. For example, there are plans that offer $5,000 for hospitalization resulting from heart attacks or strokes. Another plan provides US citizens traveling outside their country coverage of upto $15,000 for the sudden occurrence of a pre-existing condition.

And then, there is the question of how each plan defines visitors insurance pre-existing conditions. Usually, any medical condition that the plan holder has been diagnosed with, or is taking medication for is considered a pre-existing condition. An important term, the look-back period, also helps determine what exactly is covered.

The look-back period is the period just before the plan start date that the insurance company checks, to determine whether a condition for which a claim is made is pre-existing. For visitors insurance, it is generally six months. If there was an absence of any symptom or treatment during the look-back period, the condition is not pre-existing, according to the  insurance company. So, you see, there is more than one reason to visit your son in the US, and also to purchase that visitors health insurance plan!

International student health insurance is a much-debated topic. While it is important to be insured against the fallout of illnesses for a student, it is also the time for scrimping, and students are loath to spend money on health insurance, which they might see as an unnecessary expense. This is especially true of international students, whose finances suddenly seem to shrink due to the vagaries of currency exchange.

Add to this the confusion and adjustment issues in a new country, and it is indeed a stressful time for the international student. Most of them just sign up for the college-sponsored international student insurance plan without examining other options. That is unfortunate, as they might have saved some dollars if they had waited and looked elsewhere.

Before signing on to a health insurance plan, students can check for any requirements that the college has for outside health insurance. After taking a look at the details of the plan offered by the school/college, a student can always check online for plans that satisfy the criteria. When time and clarity are of the essence, students can use comparison sites to examine the pros and cons of each student health insurance plan offered.

Once a student decides to purchase a plan, some schools require the insurer to fax them the details of the student’s insurance. After all formalities are complete, the student can enjoy the protection of the international student health insurance, and focus on the task at hand: studying!

So you and your friend are going to study in the U.S.—you, as an exchange student and she, as an international student. Not all visas are equal, and as a J1 visa holder, you need to have J1 visa health insurance that conforms to the rules laid down by the U.S. government. Your friend, meanwhile, will need to purchase international student health insurance.

As a J1 student, your insurance must provide for at least $50,000 in medical benefits per accident or illness, and cover repatriation of remains up to $7,500. The plan must also provide for emergency medical evacuation to the student’s home country, for at least $10,000. There are a few other requirements as well.

To apply for and receive a J1 visa, several colleges help out with their office of international students. In general, visas are issued at the U.S. consulate if the consular officer is convinced that the applicant will return to the home country after completion of the period of study. It is important to convey that message as briefly as possible, with additional documentation, if necessary.

Visas for international students are regulated to a large extent, and most questions can be answered even before arrival by the school/college administrative/international office. Remember that your J1 visa insurance needs to kick in as soon as possible, and several plans that satisfy the government criteria are available online as well.