Visa Categories
J-1 Insurance
The U.S. Department of State requires all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents to have insurance for sickness and accidents during the full duration of their J program, as outlined below. Willful failure to meet insurance requirements will result in the termination of your exchange visitor program [22 CFR 62.14].
J-1 Minimum Requirements
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
- Some insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions or pregnancy. Please read the policies carefully and contact the insurance companies that match your medical needs.
Note
- If you are a J-1 student, please check the details of Jefferson's student health insurance to ensure it meets the minimum J-1 requirements.
- Jefferson employees must select the platinum or gold level if using Jefferson’s health insurance plan in order to meet the minimum medical benefit requirement.
| Does a J-1 Visa holder need to purchase insurance? | |
|---|---|
| J-1 employee whose benefits start immediately | YES. Purchase a plan to cover Repatriation of Remains and Medical Evacuation. |
| J-1 employee whose benefits start on the 1st day of the month | YES. Purchase a plan to cover any gap from a DS-2019 start date to when your benefits start. You must also ensure you have coverage for Repatriation of Remains and Medical Evacuation for the entire duration of your program. |
| J-1 employee who is not qualified for benefits through the employer | YES. Purchase a plan to cover all U.S. Department of State's requirements for the entire duration of your program. |
| J-1 Research Volunteers and Visiting Scientists | YES. Purchase a plan to cover all U.S. Department of State’s requirements for the entire duration of your program. |
List of Insurance Companies
Although you may obtain insurance from a provider that meets the minimum requirements, we have provided you with a list of providers considering the prices, services, and accessibility of surrounding hospitals.
- An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.
- In order to avoid reimbursement issues for any medical costs with non-U.S. insurance plans, we strongly recommend that you enroll in an eligible insurance plan from a U.S. insurance company. Contact the health insurance provider should you have questions about their plan.
- Should you arrive earlier than your start date, we strongly recommend coverage starting from the day of your arrival.