To live in the US with a J1 visa, you must have valid health insurance for the entire duration of your study or exchange program. The insurance policy you purchase has to meet the requirements set by the US Department of State.
If you fail to acquire health insurance, you will risk losing your visa and residence status in the US.
Requirements for J1 Visa Health Insurance
The health insurance policy for a J1 visa has to meet the following requirements:
- Coverage of $100,000 per accident or illness (with a deductible of maximum $500).
- Repatriation of remains in the event of death (in the amount of $25,000)
- Medical evacuation to your home country or your country of permanent residence (in the amount of $50,000).
Additionally, the insurance company underwriting your insurance policy must have one of the following ratings:
- M. Best rating of “A-“ or above
- McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above
- Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above
- Fitch Ratings, Inc of “A-“ or above
- Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above
If you are purchasing a health insurance policy abroad, the policy must be officially recognized and guaranteed by your home country’s government.
Does J1 Insurance Need to Be ACA-Compliant?
Insurance for a J1 visa does not need to be ACA-compliant; it only has to meet the requirements set by the US Department of State (as listed above).
Do I Need Insurance for the Visa Application?
You don’t need to have health insurance to apply for a J1 visa or to be granted J1 status after you enter the US. However, you must have insurance coverage starting on the first day of your program.
You have to make sure your health insurance is valid for the entire duration of your program to maintain your legal J1 status, no matter where you are physically located.
How Can I Get Insurance for a J1 Visa?
You can get health insurance for the duration of your J1 visa program either through your school, hosting organization, or employer, or you can purchase it yourself through private insurance providers. The important thing is that J1 insurance must meet the requirements set by the Department of State.
Through Your School or Host Organization
Your school or host organization may provide you with health insurance as part of your program. If they do, this is usually the easiest option because the insurance plan will most likely meet J1 visa requirements. Additionally, in most cases, you will be automatically enrolled (or at least they will help sign you up).
Through Private Insurance Companies or Brokers
If your host school or organization does not provide you with health insurance, you have to purchase a plan yourself. You can purchase a J1-compliant insurance plan directly from private companies that specialize in international student or exchange visitor insurance.
You can compare plans from trusted providers to make sure they meet the Department of State’s requirements (minimum coverage limits, repatriation, emergency evacuation).
Can I buy insurance through the Marketplace?
Technically, international students in the US and other legal residents can purchase health insurance through the ACA Marketplace. However, most plans on the Marketplace exchange do not meet the requirements set by the Department of State for J1 visa holders (such as coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains).
Best J1 Visa Health Insurance Plans
Here are the best health insurance plans for J1 visa holders (and their J2 visa dependents) and their main features:
Patriot Exchange Program
- Cost: $1,068 for 12 months.
- Does it meet the J1 visa requirements? — Yes.
- Does it offer coverage outside the US? — Yes.
- Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Rating.
- Policy maximum per person — $100,000.
- Deductible per person — $100 per incident.
- Co-insurance — 90/10.
- Student health center — $5 copay; deductible waived.
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- Within the PPO network, after the deductible, pays 90% of the expenses up to $10,000 and then 100% to the policy maximum.
- Outside the PPO network, after the deductible, it pays 80% up to the policy maximum.
- Outside the US, it covers 100% up to the policy maximum after the deductible.
ExchangeGuard Choice
- Cost: $1,102 for 365 days.
- Does it meet the J1 visa requirements — Yes.
- Does it offer coverage outside the US? — Yes.
- Policy maximum per person — $100,000.
- Deductible per person — $100 per incident.
- Co-insurance — 90/10.
- Student health center — $5 copay; deductible waived.
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- Within the PPO network, after the deductible, pays 90% of the expenses up to $10,000 and then 100% to the policy maximum.
- Outside the PPO network, after the deductible, it pays 80% up to the policy maximum.
- Outside the US, it covers 100% up to the policy maximum after the deductible.
ExchangeGuard Essential
- Cost: $803 for 365 days.
- Does it meet the J1 visa requirements? — Yes.
- Does it offer coverage outside the US? — No.
- Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Rating.
- Policy maximum per person — $100,000.
- Deductible per person — $250.
- Co-insurance — 100/0.
- US urgent care — $15 copay unless the deductible is $0.
- Walk-in clinic — $15 copay unless the deductible is $0.
- Student health center — to policy maximum.
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- The plan pays 100% of the policy maximum after the deductible is paid, or 80%.
- Outside of the PPO network, it pays the Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) to the policy maximum; after the deductible,
Student Health Advantage
- Cost: $1,668 for 12 months.
- Does it meet the J1 visa requirements? — Yes.
- Does it offer coverage outside the US? — Yes.
- Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Rating.
- Policy maximum per person — $300,000.
- Deductible per person — $250 per incident.
- Co-insurance — 90/10.
- Student health center — $5 copay; deductible waived.
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- Within the PPO network, after the deductible, pays 90% of the expenses up to $10,000 and then 100% to the policy maximum.
- Outside the PPO network, after the deductible, it pays 80% up to the policy maximum.
- Outside the US, it covers 100% up to the policy maximum after the deductible.
StudentSecure
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- Cost: $792 for 365 days.
- Does it meet the J1 visa requirements? — Yes.
- Does it offer coverage outside the US? — Yes.
- Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Rating.
- Policy maximum per person — $100,000.
- Deductible per person — $0 per incident.
- Co-insurance — 80/20.
- US urgent care — $100 copay, $200 if outside PPO.
- Student health center — $25 copay per visit
- Direct billing through United Healthcare PPO Network.
- Within the PPO network, after copayments, pays 80% of the expenses up to $100,000 and then 100% to the policy maximum.
- Outside the PPO network, pays Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) to policy maximum.
- Outside the US, it covers 100% up to the policy maximum after copayments.
If you use Insubuy, you can find more insurance plans and even explore their coverage options in detail. Once you find a policy you like, you can make the purchase directly from Insubuy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does J1 visa insurance cover?
J1 insurance usually covers the following benefits:
- Doctor’s visit/consultation.
- Hospitalization (the cost of the hospital room).
- The cost of prescription drugs and medicine.
- Surgical procedures.
- Emergency services, such as the ambulance and ER.
- The cost of lab tests and X-rays.
- Physical therapy.
- Repatriation costs.
- AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment).
Remember that depending on the plan you buy and the insurance provider you pick, different benefits will be covered. Usually, you can customize your plan with the benefits you want and need according to your medical history. This means you can exclude or add benefits as required, but in this case, don’t be surprised to see the cost of your insurance change depending on what benefits you add/exclude.
Does it count if I already have travel insurance?
Not necessarily. Not all travel insurance policies meet J1 visa requirements; they might not cover repatriation of remains or medical evacuation, or they might not be valid for the entire duration of your study program.
You have to make sure your travel insurance meets all Department of State criteria, or at least supplement it with additional coverage.
Can I insure my dependents as well (J2 Visa)?
Yes, if you have a spouse and/or dependent children, you can add them to your health insurance plan. They won’t need to purchase a separate plan.
Can I switch insurance providers during my program?
Yes, you can switch insurance providers as long as there is no gap in your coverage and your new insurance plan meets the requirements set by the Department of State.
How much does J1 visa insurance typically cost?
J1 visa health insurance costs (monthly premiums) range from $50 per month to over $300. The price range changes so much because it depends on many factors. For example, the most important determining factor of the cost price is the duration of your policy. The longer you stay in the US, the longer your policy will be active, which increases the price.
Another affecting factor is the insurance plan you pick. The more benefits your plan has, the more you increase the cost of your insurance. Similarly, your age, health condition, and other factors affect the price of your insurance. At Insubuy, you can compare different insurance plans simultaneously and see how the price changes depending on the benefits they offer.
How long is J1 visa insurance valid?
Insurance plans in the US are usually valid for a year, and you can renew your insurance annually. If your study or exchange program lasts for less than one year, you can buy your insurance for only the duration of your program, e.g., six months.
If it lasts longer, then you have to renew your insurance policy while you are in the US so it can continue to cover you while you are still living in the country under the J1 visa.