J-1 Visa Medical Insurance Requirement
Under U.S. law, if you are in the U.S. on a J-1 or J-2 visa, you must maintain a specific level of medical insurance for the duration of your stay in the U.S.
If you do not maintain the specific level of medical insurance, your J-1 or J-2 status could be terminated (costly and difficult to resume).
The requirement is spelled out in U.S. law at CFR 22 62.14
The Requirement Applies to Both J-1 and J-2 Visa Holders
To be clear: the J-1 medical insurance regulation requires that both J-1 and J-2 visa holders comply with the requirement.
If you are accompanied in the U.S. by dependents in J-2 status, they need to comply with the requirement, too.
Public Health Options
Public health options in the U.S. are supported by tax revenue.
If you are in the U.S. on a J-1 or J-2 visa you cannot legally rely on public health options to provide coverage for your medical care.
The J-1 and J-2 regulations do not allow you to become what is known as a “public charge”—someone who relies on tax-financed social welfare or health care options to support themselves.
Relying on public health options for your medical care needs could make you a public charge, which would be a violation of the J-1 and J-2 regulations.
J-1 Medical Insurance Requirement
There are 2 aspects to the J-1 medical insurance requirement:
- The areas to be covered by the insurance and the amounts of coverage, and
- The quality of the company that provides the insurance.
Both aspects are relevant to compliance.
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Coverage |
Quality of the Company |
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Each person in J-1 and J-2 status must be covered by medical insurance that meets all of the following minimum coverage and amounts: A. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness B. Deductibles cannot exceed $500 per accident or illness C. Medical evacuation to your home country of at least $50,000 D. Repatriation of remains to your home country of at least $25,000
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The insurance company that provides the insurance to you must meet at least one of the following minimum quality standards: · 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. · Backed by the full faith and credit of the Exchange Visitor’s home country government. · Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor. · Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization or eligible Competitive Medical Plan as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. · Federal, state or local government agencies; state colleges and universities; and public community colleges may, if permitted by law, self-insure any or all of the above-required insurance coverage.
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Cost Concerns
We understand that you may be from a country that does not have medical insurance or where medical insurance is relatively inexpensive.
Nonetheless, the J-1 regulations require you to maintain a specific level of medical insurance.
Selecting Insurance Plans
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If you have access to a VCU-related medical insurance plan connected to your status as a VCU employee |
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VCU-related insurance option |
Only the Anthem COVA Care plan meets criteria A-B above. No other plan meets criteria A-B. Anthem COVA Care also meets the quality requirements of the J-1 medical insurance regulation. |
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Additional insurance needed |
Anthem COVA Care does not meet criteria C-D. If you select Anthem COVA Care, you also need to buy additional insurance (not related to VCU) for medical evacuation and repatriation (criteria C-D above). See “Additional Insurance” below. |
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If you have access to a VCU-related medical insurance plan connected to your status as a VCU student |
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VCU-related insurance option |
The United Healthcare Plan for VCU students meets criteria A-B above, but it does not meet criteria C-D. The United Healthcare Plan for VCU students also meets the quality requirements of the J-1 medical insurance regulation. |
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Additional insurance needed |
The United Healthcare Plan for VCU students does not meet criteria C-D above. If you select United Healthcare Plan for VCU students, you also need to buy additional insurance (not related to VCU) for medical evacuation and repatriation (criteria C-D above). See Additional Insurance below. |
Additional Insurance
If you select either Anthem COVA Care or the United Healthcare Plan for VCU students as your insurance company, these plans cover only criteria A-B above. They do not cover criteria C-D. To comply with the J-1 medical insurance requirement, you need to buy additional insurance to cover criteria C-D.
The following insurance companies offer additional insurance for criteria C-D above: International Student Insurance (ISI), Seven Corners, INSUBUY, and Travelex.
You are also welcome to do an internet search of your own to identify other insurance companies that may offer additional insurance for criteria C-D.
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If you do not have access to a VCU-related medical insurance plan connected to your status as a VCU employee or student |
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You must purchase J-1 compliant medical insurance for criteria A-D from a non-VCU related company. The following companies offer J-1 compliant medical insurance. You are also welcome to do an internet search of your own to identify other insurance companies that offer J-1 compliant medical insurance. International Student Insurance (ISI), Seven Corners, INSUBUY, and Travelex. |
Additional Information
If you have questions or concerns about the J-1 medical insurance requirement, please contact Immigration Services.