Job Discussion Forums

[collme]

Hi Everyone!

I have some serious newbie questions here. I am a U.S. resident and will be leaving in about 4 months to receive my CELTA in Ireland. (I'm taking the part-time, 3 month long program) Does this mean that I need to apply for a student visa, or are you even permitted a student visa while taking the CELTA program? If not, does this mean that I'm just merely a tourist in Ireland for 90 days and only need my passport as a means through customs?

..okay and here is my most important question: What are you supposed to do about health insurance while receiving your CELTA or even as a teacher once you find a job abroad? I will be quitting my job here in California to take the CELTA program in Ireland, thus my benefits will also be gone. I know that Ireland has an excellent health care system, however, that applies to residents. Am I supposed to look into getting individual, private, international health insurance? I'm just super confused and somewhat worried about this, thus if anyone could offer up some sound advice, I'd truly appreciate it!

Thank you!

[collme]

No one's going to help me out here at all?

[tedkarma]

[collme]

Do you mind if I ask what health insurance you use? What about Travel Insurance.... is that the same?

[tedkarma]

That webpage says who I use (KW Batten) and has an email address for their contact person. Batten, these days - I think - requires you to be a UK citizen, but didn't require that when I signed up years ago. Things change though - send them an email and ask about eligibility.

I don't need travel insurance, my medical coverage is global - with the exception of not being covered in the USA or Canada (though I can buy an inexpensive rider if I want to be covered for 90 days or less during a vacation) - but I only only get back to the States every couple years and then only for a couple weeks at a time. Travel insurance for plane tickets and carrying about expensive toys - I don't buy, and have never needed.

Depending on where you live, you don't need the million dollar insurance that you would in the States. I don't want to post my personal details about my medical coverage, but a rough guess for here is that services tend to be 1/10 to 1/3 the price of the States, depending on the service - but a good safe overall guide for here might be 1/5). That will vary depending on where you chose to live/work and you do need to pay attention to it. Most policies will allow you to change the amount of your coverage as needed.

[denise]

I can't give you any specific links to good insurance providers, but I think my TEFL course (not CELTA and not in beautiful Ireland...) required its teacher-trainees to have insurance, and I went out and purchased my own and had to give them proof of it. I just got a one-month policy and then hoped that I'd get a decent job...

I think I've been luckier than tedkarma in terms of school/national insurance. I've had decent coverage--certainly much better than I could hope for in the US--everywhere I've worked. But then, I've never had any major illnesses or hospitalizations, so maybe I haven't really put my policies to the test properly.

d

[tedkarma]

[collme]

Hmm.. well the CELTA program/school that I'll be attending never mentioned anything about requiring insurance, but I suppose I'll look into getting a 4 month policy or something just for my own sake. I just don't know where to look (as a U.S. citizen).

A friend of mine who traveled through Europe for 5 months said travel insurance as a crock... Hmm..

Do you think it'd be worth asking the CELTA school in Dublin about travel/health insurance, or no?

[tedkarma]

The insurance requirement is probably a function of the country that you go to - not the course you attend.

A good TEFL/CELTA school should have suggestions about local health insurance.