What Is J1 Visa Insurance?
J1 visa insurance is a mandatory health insurance requirement for all J1 exchange visitors and their J2 dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 21). The U.S. Department of State requires this insurance to ensure visitors are protected from the high cost of medical care in the United States.
J1 Visa Health Insurance Requirements
- J1 Scholar (Exchange Scholar) Health Insurance policy must provide medical benefits of at least $100,000 for each accident or illness.Students who still hold older $50,000 policies must upgrade to meet the new requirement.
- If a J visa holder dies in the U.S., then the policy must provide at least $25,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation insurance benefits to send the remains to the home country for burial.
- The J-1 exchange visitor health insurance deductible should not exceed $500 per accident or illness.
- The co-payment of medical expenses (the portion not covered by insurance that the insured pays him or herself) should not exceed 25% of the total medical cost, helping you avoid large unexpected bills.
- If, because of a serious illness or injury, you must be sent home on the advice of a doctor, the policy must pay up to $50,000 for the expenses of your travel.
- J1 Scholar (Exchange Scholar) Health Insurance policy may establish a waiting period before it covers pre-existing conditions (that is, health problems you had before you bought the insurance), as long as the waiting period is reasonable by current standards in the insurance business.
- If you elect to satisfy the insurance requirement through a policy issued in your home country, the policy must be backed by the full faith and credit of your government. Otherwise, the company providing the insurance must meet minimum rating requirements established by Department of State (an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or better, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-1" or better, a Standard & Poor's Claims-Paying Ability rating of "A-" or better, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of "B+" or better).
- These J1 visa health insurance plan requirements apply to both J-1 visa students and J-1 visa exchange scholars and to their J-2 dependent visa spouse and J2 visa children.
How Can I Find the Right Insurance to Satisfy J Visa Insurance Needs?
Finding the right J1 or J2 visa insurance is easy at America Visitor Insurance! You can simply use our best J visa health insurance compare engine to instantly compare plans that meet U.S. Department of State requirements. Just enter age of J visa holders and the dates you need the coverage. There are J1 visa insurance options available, all of which will provide a ‘visa letter’ that you can submit to show you have insurance that meets their requirements.
Coverage for J2 Dependents Only
If you only need insurance for dependents because your institution is covering your own insurance (as J1, so you only need for J2 dependents), then, you can opt for the Patriot Exchange plan which allows the J2 dependents to be ‘alone’ (without the J1 person) on their own policy. Most other companies will require the J1 to be the ‘primary’ insured on the policy. Note that you will have to pay upfront for all the dates you sign up for as a one-time payment.
What Does the J1/J2 Visa Exchange Visitor Insurance Cover?
J1/J2 exchange visitor insurance is designed to meet U.S. Department of State requirements and protect visitors against high medical costs in the United States. While coverage varies by plan, most J1/J2-compliant policies include the following benefits:
- Medical expenses: Provides coverage for hospitalization, outpatient expenses, prescription medications with a minimum coverage of $100,000 per incident.
- Emergency medical evacuation: Provides at least $50,000 coverage for transportation expenses to a medical facility in case of emergencies.
- Repatriation of remains: Offers a minimum $25,000 coverage for return of mortal remains to return to the home country in case of death.
- Accidental death and dismemberment: Provides the covered benefits in case of accidental death and dismemberment.
- Mental health coverage: Includes coverage for mental health treatment, counseling, and therapy important for exchange visitors adjusting to new environments.
- Pre-existing conditions: Most of the plans include coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
- PPO network: Plans with access to a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network like UnitedHealthcare facilitate direct billing with U.S. hospitals and doctors, which significantly reduces your upfront out-of-pocket costs.
J1 Visa Health Insurance Reviews
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Which Is the Cheapest J1 Visa Travel Insurance?
The cheapest J1 visa travel insurance is Student Journey Lite, starting at $30 per month.
Other affordable J1 visa health insurance option includes StudentSecure Smart and StudentSecure Budget.
- Policy maximum: $150,000
- Deductible: $100 per injury/illness
- Student health center deductible/copay: $45
- Direct billing:
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Covers after 6 months of waiting period.
- Renewal: Can be renewed from 30 days to 12 months.
- Policy maximum: $200,000
- Deductible: $0
- Student health center copay: $25 per visit
- Direct billing:
- Pre-Existing Conditions: No coverage
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 4 years.
- Policy maximum: $300,000
- Deductible: $500 per period
- Student health center deductible/copay: $25
- Direct billing:
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Covers after 6 months of waiting period.
- Renewal: Can be renewed from 30 days to 12 months.
How Much Does J1 Visa Insurance Cost?
The cost of J1 visa insurance starts from $30 per month and goes up to $730 per month. The cost is dependent on the age of the J1 visa scholar, the plan maximum and the deductible. The key factors that affect the cost include:
How much does it cost for a J1 visa insurance?
| Plan Name | Max Coverage | Deductible | 18 – 24 Years | 25 – 30 Years | 31 – 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Journey Lite | $150,000 | $100 | $30 | $96 | $96 |
| Student Secure Smart | $200,000 | $0 | $32 | $67 | $167 |
| Student Journey Plus | $300,000 | $100 | $48 | $195 | $195 |
| Student Secure Budget | $500,000 | $0 | $53 | $100 | $236 |
| Patriot Exchange Program | $100,000 | $250 | $65 | $85 | $85 |
| Student Journey Platinum | $500,000 | $250 | $74 | $116 | $293 |
| Student Health Advantage Standard | $500,000 | $250 | $115 | $135 | $243 |
| Student Secure Select | $1,000,000 | $0 | $106 | $240 | $538 |
| Student Health Advantage Platinum | $1,000,000 | $100 | $353 | $408 | $730 |
This table gives the average J visa health insurance cost for different ages. Source: American Visitor Insurance®
Which Is the Best Health Insurance for J1 Visa Holders?
Patriot Exchange Program IMG
- Ideal for : F1 & J1 students visa holder, Adventure Sports
- Pre-existing condition: Comprehensive plan with high medical maximum and pre-existing conditions coverage after 12 months of waiting period.
- Mental health: Out Patient : Max 50 visits, maximum limit, Inpatient: Up to $10,000
- Direct Billing: First healthcare network
or United HealthCare - Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 24 months.
- Patriot Exchange Program insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 visa holder starts from $65 per month ($1018 per year). An annual payment option is available to students.
Policy maximum?
$1,00,000 to $5,00,000Deductible options?
$0 to $500Period of coverage?
1 month up to 12 months
Patriot America Plus IMG
- Ideal for: J1/j2 visa holders
- Pre-existing condition: Covers acute onset of pre-existing conditions for travelers below age 70
- Direct Billing: First healthcare or United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 24 months.
- Patriot America Plus insurance cost for a 35 years old J-1 exchange visitor starts from $60 per month ($931 per year). An annual payment option is available to students.
Policy maximum?
$1,00,000 to $1,000,000Deductible options?
$0 to $2,500Period of coverage?
5 days up to 12 months
Student Journey Platinum IMG
- Ideal for : J1, F1, A1 and M1 visas, Adventure Sports, Maternity
- Pre-existing condition: Covers after 6 months of waiting period
- Mental health: Out Patient : Max 40 visits, maximum limit, Inpatient: Up to 30 days max
- Direct Billing: United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 12 months.
- Student Journey Platinum insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 program scholar starts from $293 per month ($3,516 per year). An annual payment option is available to students.
Policy maximum?
$500,000Deductible options?
$250Period of coverage?
30 days to 12 months
StudentSecure Select Worldtrips
- Ideal for : F1 & J1 students visa holder, Maternity, Sports coverage
- Acute on set of pre-existing condition: $25,000 up to policy maximum
- Mental health: Physician Office Visit: Max 30 visits, Inpatient: Max 30 days (includes drug and alcohol abuse)
- Direct Billing: United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 4 years.
- Student Secure Select insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 scholar starts from $538 per month ($6336 per year). You can buy the plan either on a monthly or a yearly basis.
Policy maximum?
$1,000,000Deductible options?
$0Period of coverage?
30 days to 364 days
Student Health Advantage Standard IMG
- Ideal for : F1, J1,M1 and A1 students visa holder, Adventure Sports
- Pre-existing condition: Covers after 12 months of waiting period
- Mental health: Out Patient : Max 50 visits, maximum limit, Inpatient: Up to $10,000
- Direct Billing: First healthcare network or United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 60 months.
- Student Health Advantage Platinum insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 visa applicant starts from 243 per month ($2916 per year), both monthly and annual payment options are available. Offers high policy maximum and good coverage for various medical emergencies.
Policy maximum?
$500,000Deductible options?
$250Period of coverage?
1 month up to 12 months
StudentSecure Elite Worldtrips
- Ideal for : F1 & J1 students visa holder, Maternity, Sports coverage
- Acute on set of pre-existing condition: $25,000 up to policy maximum
- Mental health: Physician Office Visit: Max 40 visits, Inpatient: Max 40 days (includes drug and alcohol abuse)
- Direct Billing: United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 4 years.
- Student Secure Elite insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 student starts from $805 per month ($9479 per year). You can buy the plan either on a monthly or a yearly basis.
Policy maximum?
$5,000,000Deductible options?
$0Period of coverage?
30 days to 364 days
Student Health Advantage Platinum IMG
- Ideal for : F1, J1,M1 and A1 students visa holder, Adventure Sports, Maternity
- Pre-existing condition: Covers after 12 months of waiting period
- Mental health: Out Patient : Max 50 visits, maximum limit, Inpatient: Up to $10,000
- Direct Billing: First healthcare network or United HealthCare
- Renewal: Can be renewed and extended up to 60 months.
- Student Health Advantage Platinum insurance cost for a 35 years old J1 participant starts from $730 per month ($8760 per year), both monthly and annual payment options are available.
Policy maximum?
$1,000,000Deductible options?
$100Period of coverage?
1 month up to 12 months
J1 Visa Insurance - Faq's
Yes, health insurance is required for J-1 visa holders. The U.S. Department of State requires all participants of the J-1 visa program to have health insurance that includes specific coverage limits for medical benefits, medical evacuation, and repatriation.
All J visa applicants need to show proof of insurance that meets minimum J1 visa health insurance requirements when you apply for a J1 visa. It is best to complete your J1 insurance purchase on American Visitor Insurance before you start the visa application process.
Yes, J-2 visa holders can often be covered by the same insurance plan as the J-1 visa holder, such as the insurance available on American Visitor Insurance or those provided by the exchange program. However, it is important to ensure that the coverage meets the health insurance for J1 and J2 visa requirements.
There are many plans that meet the J visa requirements available. You can compare quotes from different companies and get one that meets your needs. You need to concentrate on the statements given for coinsurance. The deductible (which as per requirements cannot be more than $500) is what you pay before the insurance pays on your behalf for each illness/accident incurred. The coinsurance is what you pay after the deductible.
This is a percentage, such as 20% of the next $5,000 (the insurance company pays 80%) and then above the $5000, they pay 100%. So, you would pay your deductible PLUS an additional $1000 if you incurred a bill of, say $10,000 (because $1000 is 20% of $5000). However, some plans offer higher or lower limits and different percentage that you would pay. All plans will provide a VISA LETTER which you would present to show you have the appropriate insurance to meet visa requirements.
Individuals who are coming to the US on J1 and J2 visas are eligible to purchase the Exchange Visitor Insurance plans. Here are the details:
- J1 Visa holders: Anyone who is participating in the US Department of State approved Exchange Visitor Programs, such as Students, Scholars, Researchers, Teachers and au pairs.
- J2 Visa holders: The spouse and children who are the dependents of the J1 Visa holder on J2 Visas are eligible.
- Program sponsors: Some programs require specific insurance coverage as part of their sponsorship and participants must ensure that these requirements are met.
Most of these plans cover only the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. However, they will have a waiting period of either 6 months or 12 months. *Acute onset of pre-existing conditions is where the individual is experiencing life threatening emergency due to the condition the individual has before the insurance plan became effective.
The benefits offered by each J visa insurance plan vary. Some of the additional benefits the J1/J2 Visa Exchange Visitor Insurance offer are Mental health coverage, Pregnancy and Maternity Care, Intercollegiate Sports coverage, dental coverage and wellness check up. Some plans offer coverage for vaccinations as well.
For instance, the Student Secure Elite version plan offers $150 for covering vaccinations like Rubella, Measles, Mumps, Covid-19... It is important to go through the schedule of benefits for additional coverage.
Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance for J1 Visa Insurance
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance requires the student insurance plan to include Medical evacuation coverage. The J1 Visa requirements include minimum coverage for Medical Evacuation of $50,000 and Repatriation of Remains of $25,000. Most university insurance do not provide this medical evacuation coverage, and students do not realize that they are not meeting the J1 Visa requirements. The Atlas Medevac insurance from WorldTrips and Medical Evacuation and Repatriation offers coverage for medical evacuation of $50,000 and satisfies the J visa requirements.
Buying Insurance to Satisfy the Latest J1 Health Insurance Requirements
I am a customer of IMG with the Patriot America Lite insurance plan. My university has informed me that I need to purchase a plan that meets the new J Visa insurance requirements. How can I proceed with canceling my current plan? Is it possible to upgrade my existing policy to meet the new requirements?
Regards,
Xuedong
Thank you for contacting us at American Visitor Insurance for your J1 Visa insurance needs!. The plan that you currently have is Patriot America Lite Insurance which is suitable to visitors to the US. The specific plan for J1 Visa holder is another plan called Patriot Exchange student insurance from the same company. Since the requirements for J1 Visa has changed, we are suggesting customers to purchase Patriot Exchange student insurance plan which satisfies the new requirements of J Visa.
If you had the same plan before then you could have upgraded, but since you have a different you will not be able to do that.
But here is something that would be helpful to you. Please send an email to chs.service@imglobal.com and send your certificate number and mention that you need to purchase another plan and cancel this plan. This will waive your cancellation fee and your old plan will be cancelled and the unused premium will be returned and you can purchase the new plan.
We have contacted the Insurance Company and confirmed that this is their procedure.
Hopefully this is helpful!
Please let us know in case of any questions.
Sincerely,www.americanvisitorinsurance.com
Customer care
(877) 340 7910
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