Important Resources

• If you need to make an emergency call when you're abroad, don't call 911 as you would in the United States; that number might not work overseas. Each country has its own equivalent. Prepare yourself in advance by checking the 911 equivalents abroad and saving the number in your phone.
• You should also make note of U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad so you know where to go if you need a replacement passport, travel visa, or other support.
• International Health Insurance: It is mandatory for all students studying abroad to have international health insurance for the time they are abroad. The Office of Global Education enrolls students studying abroad in the GeoBlue Student Member plan for the dates they are abroad. Students will be billed for the cost of the international health insurance plan to their KSU Student Account.
• Students will receive a GeoBlue ID card they can use to access healthcare services abroad. An app is also available from the Apple or Google Play stores for students to access their plan via their smartphone. Services offered online and via the app include finding a doctor or facility, scheduling appointments, translating medications, telehealth appointments, and more.
• To call GeoBlue’s 24/7 emergency line from outside of the USA, call +1-610-254-8771.
• Students participating in Education Abroad programs through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) will be enrolled in a health insurance plan through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), not GeoBlue.
• The U.S. Department of State Emergency Resources are another useful reference to turn to in the event of a crisis while abroad.
• All students who participate in a Kent State-sponsored education abroad program will have access to AlertTraveler, a system that provides important and timely alerts via email, SMS, and/or app regarding your program location and GPS location. In the event of an emergency, students can directly contact in-country emergency services through the app and on-call staff at Kent State. The app also provides functionality for completing check-ins during emergency situations, such as a natural disaster, where students can quickly indicate that they are safe or are in need of assistance. Access to AlertTraveler is given within 60 days of departure through your application portal. 

True Emergencies vs. Perceived Emergencies

Take a deep breath and think for a moment: how serious is your situation?

True emergencies are rare and involve things such as a serious illness or natural disaster. A true emergency means that there is an immediate threat to someone’s health and/or safety. True emergencies will require coordination between you, the Office of Global Education, GeoBlue or CISI Insurance, and possibly governmental agencies.

Perceived emergencies are occurrences such as a lost passport or a missed flight. While these can still be serious issues, they typically do not need to involve the Office of Global Education, and can usually be solved by the student or the faculty leader.