J1 Visa Insurance Requirements

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Jonathan Perez | Oct 22, 2024 Insurance

Visiting the United States as an international visa holder is a process that puts different requirements on the applicant based on the conditions of their visa. For J1 visa holders, health insurance is mandated by sponsoring programs and is a necessity to maintain their personal medical insurance needs.

Known for its particularly expensive health care, treatment costs in the United States can be overwhelming, naturally costing in the thousands of dollars at times. Since many individuals come to the U.S. for financial opportunities, these bills can be a huge setback and a significant burden to carry, making insurance a dedicated solution.

In this piece, we’ll introduce the different insurance requirements for a J1 visa holder, why it is important, and some resources to help guide your search.

Health Insurance Requirements for J-1 Visa Holders

1. Medical Benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness

Your medical benefits are the total amount in USD that your plan can cover you for in the case of an illness or injury. This amount should be sufficient for the potential of high-cost treatments, where bills can cost upwards of thousands of dollars.

2. Medical Evacuation in the amount of $50,000

In cases where a person becomes unexpectedly ill or is in a dire or grave situation, they may be eligible for this benefit. It will allow them to be transported, by air or other means, to the nearest appropriate care facility for advanced treatment. This may also include a return to your home country, if it is necessary.

3. Repatriation of Remains in the amount of $25,000

Repatriation of remains is a benefit that will only kick in if you pass away while in the U.S. In these cases, your insurance will cover the expenses for the preparation and transportation of your remains back to your home country.

4. Deductible amount not exceeding $500

Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket when you receive a medical bill from a service during your insurance coverage, before your insurance can cover you. This is set into place to prevent excessive out-of-pocket costs before your insurance can be used.

5. Coverage of pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period

The wording on this may vary depending on the program you attend, but a pre-existing condition is anything that you had either:

  • Experienced symptoms of,
  • Saw a doctor for,
  • Took medicine for, or
  • Received medical services of any kind for –

before the start of your insurance plan. To avoid complete denials for these types of services, the Department of State requires an allowance of coverage. For many companies, you might expect to see a “waiting period” before these services are covered, which is usually 6 months.

One other note that you might see regarding the qualifications of an outside health insurance plan will include its financial rating – you might be asked to provide a plan showing one of the following ratings:

  • An A.M. Best rating of “A-“ or above
  • A McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above
  • A Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above
  • A Fitch Ratings, Inc of “A-“ or above
  • A Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above

Showing strong financial backing is just another way to prove to your sponsor that the insurance plan you are using is sufficiently able to cover the costs of your medical visits and is a valid option for your program.

What Are Your Health Insurance Options as a J-Visa Holder?

Programs that allow J1 visa holders in the U.S. will provide criteria on what insurance options are acceptable to meet their requirements. It is always best to reach out to an advisor or a PDSO at your school to determine what plans will be deemed acceptable, as they will have the ultimate say in approving your coverage.

1. Insurance offered by your program, school, or sponsor

As J1 programs are held by various entities, including universities, research institutions, or employers, you may find that your sponsor can offer health insurance coverage that meets the above requirements. You may be sent information on how to enroll into this plan when you are initially accepted into your program.

When you receive this information, you may also see options for health insurance that are provided by your sponsor, if you choose not to opt into their own plan. Some of the options you might also be referred to can include:

2. Insurance from your home country/government

Sometimes, you may be offered insurance from your own country. If you choose this option, you will need to cross-verify that all above benefits are met through your plan, as otherwise you may find yourself still searching for health insurance after your arrival.

3. Private health insurance plans

Dedicated health insurance providers, like ISO Student Health Insurance, specialize in offering comprehensive plan options that fully meet your school or program’s requirements. You can speak to an advisor, PDSO, or DSO at your school for any recommendations as to private companies they typically recommend to visa holders.

A Few Other Reminders

Some visa holders may be faced with a situation where they purchase a plan with coverage that they find is acceptable for their program but may be missing coverage for just Medical Evacuation and Repatriation. At ISO Student Health Insurance, we offer a standalone Medical Evacuation and Repatriation plan that you can enroll into if you are satisfied with your current medical benefits, seen here: https://www.isoa.org/medevac

Additionally, your program may also ask for similar insurance coverage for any accompanying dependents that come with you to the United States. At ISO, those with J2 visas can be added as dependents within our regular J1 Exchange plans but can also enroll separately into a standalone dependent plan, our Voyager plan: https://www.isoa.org/voyager.

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About ISO Student Health Insurance

Founded in 1958, ISO prides itself on being the leader in providing international students with affordable insurance plans. Administered by former and current international students, we are able to assist our member with multilingual customer service in Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and more. ISO serves over 3,200 schools/colleges and more than 150,000 insured students every year.

For more information, please visit www.isoa.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.

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