J-1 & J-2 Health Insurance Requirements and Options

J-1 Exchange Visitors and their accompanying J-2 dependents are required to hold primary insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance for the duration of the J exchange visitor program. Please review this page for U.S. Department of State insurance requirements and options.

Minimum levels of health insurance coverage must provide:

1. medical benefits of at least $100,000 per illness or accident 
2. deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
3. expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of $50,000
4. repatriation of remains in the event of death in the amount of $25,000
5. Coverage of pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period
6. Co-payments that do not exceed 25 percent

The corporation underwriting the insurance policy must have one of the following ratings:

1. an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above;
2. an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above;
3. a Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-” or above; or
4. a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above

If you will have University coverage, please discuss health insurance coverage with your UCSF department; UCSF health insurance is arranged through the sponsoring department.

Government regulations require that J programs be terminated if a scholar or their J-2 dependent willfully fails to comply with insurance requirements. Unfortunately, if a scholar's program is terminated due to lack of insurance coverage for the J-1/J-2, the scholar is not eligible to apply for reinstatement.

Potential Program Termination

Failure to maintain USDOS insurance requirements for the J-1 scholar or J-2 dependents for the entire program duration will result in program termination. If an EV program is terminated, both the J-1 and J-1 must return to their home country immediately. J-1 scholars (including J-2 dependents) cannot apply for reinstatement if their program has been terminated. 

Affordable Care Act

J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors may be subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. 

COVID-19 Coverage

International scholars are required to independetly confirm that the insurance policy they purchase covers COVID-19 related hospitalizations, testing and illnesses.

Insurance Options

*If looking for medical evacuation and repatriation coverage only (this is also a legal requirement), please see below:

Betins, International Health & Travel Insurance Website

This option does not imply any endorsement or product guarantee by UCSF International Students and Scholars Office.