ISO Insurance

What ISO Insurance does

ISO Insurance is a private insurance manager founded in 1958 that designs and distributes health insurance in the United States for international students, exchange visitors, Optional Practical Training participants, international high-school students, visa-dependent family members, workers, and visitors. The company reports serving more than one million international students and scholars since inception and maintaining relationships with thousands of U.S. educational institutions.

Its portfolio includes Silver, Gold, Compass PPO, ISO Secure, and Platinum plans for F1 students; J1 Exchange products; OPTima plans; Voyager coverage for other visa holders; ISO Share and ISO Care school-waiver products; high-school plans; dependent add-ons; and standalone medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. ISO's operating infrastructure integrates the FirstHealth, Multiplan, Cigna PPO, and Aetna PPO networks, while Sisco Benefits administers claims and Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries underwrite the policies.

ISO primarily monetizes recurring monthly insurance premiums through self-serve enrollment on isoa.org. Students select plans using their visa type, school, age, and desired coverage; enrollment produces an insurance card, confirmation letter, payment receipt, and waiver support. University international-student offices facilitate recommendations, approvals, and waiver processing but sales remain direct, creating a digitally scalable distribution model supported by multilingual service and school-specific marketing content.

Name

ISO Insurance

Legal name

International Student Organization

Website

https://isofib.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ISO Insurance manages U.S. health insurance plans for international students, exchange visitors, OPT participants, and other non-immigrant visa holders, distributing them through a self-serve website and university relationships, with waiver support and PPO network access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Health Insurance

NAICS

Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

International Student Health & Travel Insurance (EDAIAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International/Expatriate Individual Health Insurance (FSAIAEAH), International / Expatriate Group Health Plans (FSAIAFAJ), Health, Travel & Tuition Insurance for Overseas Secondary Students (EDAIAHAJ)

Keywords

• International student insurance
• Travel health insurance
• F1 visa insurance
• J1 visa insurance
• OPT insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Mont-royal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. International Student Health Insurance Premiums: Monthly subscription-based health insurance premiums for international students, scholars, and visa holders. Plans range from $8/month (medical evacuation only) to $85/month (Platinum comprehensive). Revenue is recurring as students maintain coverage throughout their studies.
2. OPT and Post-Graduation Insurance: Monthly premiums for OPT students and recent graduates transitioning to work visas. OPT plans start at $39/month.
3. Dependent Coverage Add-ons: Additional premiums for covering dependent family members (spouse and children) under the same insurance plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

ISO Insurance provides monthly health insurance plans specifically designed for international students, exchange visitors, OPT graduates, and other non-immigrant visa holders (F1, J1, H1B/H4, F2/J2, B1/B2) attending US academic institutions. Plans include Silver, Gold, Compass PPO, ISO Secure, Platinum, J1 Exchange, J1 Exchange Superior, OPTima, Voyager, ISO Share, ISO Care, High School, Essential, and standalone Medical Evacuation & Repatriation options, ranging from $8 to $85 per month and providing access to FirstHealth, Multiplan, Cigna PPO, and Aetna PPO networks with claims administered by Sisco Benefits and policies underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway.

Product overview

ISO Insurance offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products specifically designed for international students and visa holders in the United States. The core offerings include Silver, Gold, Compass PPO, ISO Secure, and Platinum plans for F1 international students, which range from affordable basic coverage to premium comprehensive benefits. For J1 visa holders, ISO provides the J1 Exchange and J1 Exchange Superior plans that meet U.S. Department of State requirements starting at $39/month. OPT graduates can access dedicated OPTima plans from $39/month, while H1B/H4, F2/J2, and B1/B2 visa holders are served through the Voyager plan at $79/month. The company also offers ACA comparable plans (ISO Share and ISO Care) for schools with specific waiver requirements, plus standalone Medical Evacuation & Repatriation coverage at $8/month as a supplemental option. All plans provide access to major PPO networks including FirstHealth, Multiplan, Cigna PPO, and Aetna PPO, with claims processing handled by Sisco Benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Platinum: Premium insurance plan for international students with comprehensive coverage
• Gold
• Silver
• Compass PPO
• ISO Secure
• OPTima
• J1 Exchange Plan
• Voyager
• ISO Share
• ISO Care

Products and services

• Silver Plan Most affordable international student health insurance plan at $31/month with $400,000 annual maximum, $150,000 per injury/sickness maximum, $45 deductible at student health center, and Aetna PPO network coverage. Includes 100% coinsurance to daily limits, pre-existing condition coverage after 6 months, $60,000 medical evacuation, and $50,000 repatriation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can save up to $1,500 per school year compared to school health plans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PPO Networks (FirstHealth, Multiplan, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO)coreTechnology or IntegrationISO plans utilize Preferred Provider Organization networks including FirstHealth, Multiplan, Cigna PPO, and Aetna PPO. These networks provide access to over 1 million doctors and hospitals nationwide with negotiated discounted rates.
• Sisco BenefitscoreTechnology or IntegrationClaims administration handled by Sisco Benefits. Processes claims, generates Explanation of Benefits (EOBs), and issues reimbursement payments to members.
• US Universities and CollegescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 6,700 universities and colleges where ISO plans are accepted or recommended. Includes 300+ schools that officially endorse ISO for waiver purposes such as NYU, UC campuses, UPenn, Stanford, Virginia Tech, FIU, Yale, and UVA.
• International Student OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISO is the manager and sole provider of plans for the International Student Organization. Members receive access to newsletters, scholarship information, grants, and additional services and savings.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Insubuy: Online insurance marketplace and broker specializing in international student, visitor and immigrant insurance products. Competes directly with ISO on self-serve PLG acquisition for F1/J1/H1B/OPT segments.
• International Student Insurance (ISI): Direct online competitor in the US international student health insurance market, offering comparable F1, J1, OPT and dependent plans across multiple US PPO networks. Closest head-to-head alternative for international students shopping for waiver-eligible coverage.
• Compass Student Insurance (Crump Life): Specialist international student health insurance broker/distributor offering F1, J1 and OPT plans through US universities. Direct competitor for waiver-eligible student plans with similar self-serve online enrollment.
• Student Health Advantage (Tokio Marine HCC): Underwritten international student and scholar health insurance product widely distributed through brokers and direct channels. Competes for the same F1/J1/OPT customers with similar benefit structures and visa-specific compliance.
• VisitorsCoverage: Online comparison and direct-purchase platform for visitor, student and immigrant health insurance in the US. Comparable self-serve, multilingual, visa-segmented approach targeting the same international customer base as ISO.
• PGH (Pacific Global Health) / Global Travel Plus: Specialty international health and travel insurance provider offering student and visitor plans in the US market. Competes for J1, F1 and B1/B2 visa-holder segments with comparable PPO-based product design.

Broad incumbents

• Aetna International (CVS Health): Large incumbent international health insurer whose PPO network ISO leverages for ISO Secure and other plans. Competes in the expatriate and student segments with broader portfolio and deeper employer-channel relationships.
• Cigna Global Health: Major multinational health insurer whose PPO network ISO already integrates with. Competes indirectly through employer-sponsored and direct individual international health plans that overlap with ISO's Voyager/H1B offerings.
• GeoBlue (Blue Cross Blue Shield): BCBS-affiliated international health insurance provider offering student and expatriate plans (e.g., Patriot Exchange Program) through university channels. A larger, more diversified incumbent that competes for the same institutional endorsements.

Emerging players

• ISOA (UK / European arm): ISO's own UK/European sibling entity listed on isofib.com as 'ISO Insurance UK.' Closely related international student insurance product line targeting UK and European inbound students — comparable customer profile and product model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/isostudentinsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iso-insurance/?trk=nmp_rec_act_company_photo
• Instagraminstagram.com/isostudentinsurance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISO Insurance