NSM Insurance Group acquires ISO Student Health Insurance

Group of students sitting on steps

The acquisition is NSM’s fourth in the travel space over the last nine months

Global specialty insurance provider NSM has acquired ISO Student Health Insurance, one of the largest international student health insurance managers in the world.

Founded in1958, ISO offers accident and sickness insurance plans specifically designed for international students studying outside of their home country and travelling to the US. Today, it delivers insurance to more than three million students in over 200 countries, partnering with over 2,600 universities.

Jacob Harel, Chairman of ISO, said the company was “energized” to become a part of NSM’s portfolio. “For over 60 years, we have remained laser focused on serving a target demographic no other provider can match and building a highly reputable brand based on deep industry relationships, a range of product offerings and fast and reliable customer service,” he said. “I am confident NSM has the capacity and resources to enable ISO’s continued growth through product development and geographic expansion.”

Bill McKernan, President of NSM Insurance Group, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome ISO to our growing family of travel insurance brands. ISO is the market leader in student travel insurance and has established an amazing direct-to-consumer distribution strategy. Jacob and his team have built a tremendous business and operating model and we look forward to supporting their continued growth by leveraging our cutting-edge resources and technology and global distribution channels.”

This acquisition marks NSM’s fourth in the travel space over the last nine months. In October 2023, the group acquired Envisage International, a provider of global health and travel insurance for international students and cultural exchange participants. In May, NSM signed a definitive agreement to purchase two travel insurance brands, AllClear Travel Insurance and InsureandGo.

NSM says that it is committed to pursuing “strong-performing” companies in the travel insurance space as it looks to become a dominant player in the industry.