Insurance
The costs for medical care are very high in the United States. Hence, it is important that international visitors have adequate medical insurance while in the U.S. The Office of International Students and Scholars recommends that all international visitors have insurance that will cover them during the period when they are traveling to and from the United States as well as during their stay in the country. For scholars in the J-1 exchange visitor visa category, the U.S. Department of State requires that they secure at least a minimum medical coverage as outlined below.*
International scholars who will be employed by UCSB will need to check with their department as to what their insurance coverage is and when it will begin. The Office of International Students and Scholars cannot answer questions about insurance coverage. Below is an alphabetical list of some insurance companies that have web sites that offer the coverage required for J-1 scholars and/or stand alone policies for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Please note that most of these companies include scholars in their plans that are identified as being for international (and global) students. OISS provides this information without endorsement.
*Insurance Requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors
J-1 visa holders (and their dependents who accompany them in J-2 status) are required to have a certain level of insurance coverage during their J-1 program in order to maintain legal immigration status. The Department of State outlines the required coverage at http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/sponsors/how-to-administer-a-program/administration.html#insurance
Below is a brief summary of the requirements:
- Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
Insurance companies are assigned a rating based on their ability to pay claims. An insurance policy secured to meet the J-1 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.
Alternatively, an exchange visitor may hold a policy that is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country.
Proof of health insurance is required upon arrival and checking in with UCSB’s Office of International Students and Scholars and when the DS-2019 form is extended.
If an exchange visitor fails to maintain the required health insurance coverage, the university is required to terminate the scholar’s J-1 exchange program.
OISS wants to emphasize the importance of insurance coverage in general because of the expense of medical care in the U.S.