The Complete Guide to J1 Visa Health Insurance

The American healthcare system is notoriously complex and difficult to deal with even for American citizens. Getting healthcare as a visa holder can be even more challenging, and immigrants seeking healthcare in the US are often overwhelmed.

This article is a detailed guide for J1 visa holders considering a health insurance plan. Find out who needs health insurance, why it’s important, and what to look for in your J1 visa health insurance plan.

What is a J1 Visa?

The J1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for individuals visiting the United States for work or educational programs that promote cultural exchange between nations. There are a number of eligible work or study categories, and each category has a specific purpose or type of exchange. Some programs are run by private companies, and others by the U.S. government.

J1 visitors can stay in the U.S. until their exchange program ends, but the length of each program varies. J1 visa holders are also subject to the mandatory home residency requirement, which means that you must return to your last country of residence for 2 years before applying.

Who Needs J1 Visa Health Insurance?

All J1 visa holders are required to have medical insurance for the entirety of their J1 program. The majority of J1 sponsor programs provide enrollees with a health insurance plan. If your program does not offer a health insurance plan, then you will be required to enroll in a private insurance plan. The State Department has the following requirements for J1 visa health insurance plans:

• Minimum medical benefits of $100,000
• Minimum coverage for Repatriation of Remains of $25,000
• Minimum coverage of medical evacuation of the visitor to their home country of $50,000
• Maximum deductible of $500 per accident or illness
• Policy underwritten by an insurance carrier with a good rating from a major ratings bureau

Why It’s Important to Have Coverage

Having health insurance is crucial for a number of reasons. First, it is an immigration requirement, so it’s a necessity if you want to obtain and keep a J1 visa. However, it’s also important to have coverage in the event that you have a medical emergency, like sickness or an accident. Without insurance, any trip to the hospital may incur thousands of dollars in medical bills. You or your sponsor might then be forced to pay these bills out of pocket.

3 Things to Look for in J1 Visa Health Insurance

Now that you know how important it is to have health insurance, what should you look for when shopping for a plan? Read on for some of the most important factors to consider.

Medical Benefits

The first and most important thing to look for in your J1 visa health insurance plan are the benefits. Each insurance plan will have its own coverages and benefits, for instance mental health services, maternity care, prescription drug coverage, and much more. The more benefits your plan has, the less likely that you will get stuck with a medical bill that your plan does not cover.

Return of Mortal Remains Coverage

Return of mortal remains refers to the transportation of a deceased person’s body to their home country. This might not be something you want to think about, but repatriation of remains is an enormous cost that your family would have to pay out of pocket if you are not covered.

Medical Evacuation Coverage

Medical evacuation coverage protects you in case of an emergency medical evacuation. These evacuations often involve chartered helicopters or planes, so they are extremely expensive. Medical evacuation coverage also covers you in case you need to be repatriated home for medical care.

J1 Visa Health Insurance for International Students

As with J1 work programs, J1 study programs for international students typically offer enrollees their own health insurance plan. However, this is not always the case, and if your program does offer insurance you may want a plan with better coverage anyway. If you want to enroll in a private health insurance plan, then your plan will likely have to meet a set of minimum requirements set by your program sponsor.

Health insurance plans for J1 international students typically include additional coverage like mental health, maternity, sports-injury, pre-existing conditions, and more. Just make sure that the plan you choose meets the minimum requirements set by the State Department, because you may have to provide proof of insurance that details your coverage to the U.S. consulate or embassy.

Conclusion

Relocating to the United States is difficult enough without having to worry about health insurance. Luckily, since most J1 sponsor programs provide you with health insurance, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about finding the right insurance plan. If you do have to choose a plan from the private insurance market, now you know what to look for.

Generally, you should err on the side of caution: the more coverage, the better. You never know what might happen, and paying a little bit now can save a huge amount in the future if something goes wrong. If you’re struggling to cover insurance payments or other costs of living, a personal loan can help.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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