Scholars & Employees

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.

Please note: If you are on Jefferson health insurance, you must purchase separate repatriation and medical evacuation coverage.

Some insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions or pregnancy. Please read the policies carefully and contact the insurance companies to match your medical needs.

Note: If you are J-1 student, please check the details of Jefferson's student health insurance to ensure it meets the minimum J-1 requirements.

List of Health Insurance Companies

In consideration of the costs, services and availability of nearby hospitals, we have included a list of companies for you to choose from. However, you are not obligated to buy insurance from those specific companies. You must purchase a plan that offers:

A deductible of $500 or less, and medical coverage of $250,000 or more.

If you are obtaining non-Jefferson health insurance, here are additional considerations when selecting an insurance policy:

  • 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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