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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
 
  1. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
  2. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
  3. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
  4. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
  5. 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 Jefferson First, Select, or Choice if using Jefferson’s health insurance plan to meet the minimum medical benefit requirement.
  • Exchange Visitors employed with a Jefferson affiliate must check their medical benefits for the minimum coverage and assess whether they need to purchase supplemental coverage.
  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

You may obtain insurance from any provider that meets the minimum requirements. Please be sure to review the Additional Considerations section below as you search for the policy that best fits your needs. For your convenience, here is a list of insurance companies you may wish to consider:

  • 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.
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