J1/J2 Visa Insurance Requirements

U.S. Federal Government regulations require health insurance for all J1 exchange visitors and for accompanying J2 spouses and/or dependents.

Sponsors must require that all exchange visitors (in any of the program categories) have insurance in effect that covers the exchange visitors for sickness or accidents (injury). The J1 exchange visitor must have insurance from the “Program End Date” to either the “Program End Date”, “Effective Program End Date”, or “Effective Date of Termination” (whichever is later).

Sponsors must also require that accompanying spouses and dependents of exchange visitors also have insurance for sickness and accidents.

The J1 regulations require the following minimum health insurance coverage:

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
• Expenses associated with medical evacuation to home country in the amount of $50,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
• Coverage of pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period
• Payment by the insurance company of at least 75% of the medical care costs per accident or illness
  (insured must not be required to pay more than 25% of medical care costs per accident or illness).

Health insurance policies must be underwritten by an insurance corporation having at a minimum one of the following:

• A.M. Best rating of A- or above
• McGraw Hill Financial / Standard & Poor’s Claims- paying Ability rating of ‘A- or above
• Weiss Research, Inc. rating of ‘‘B+’’ or above
• Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above
• Moody’s Investor Services rating of ‘‘A3’’ or above.

Regulations also state that sponsors shall terminate an exchange visitor’s participation if the exchange visitor and/or accompanying spouse and/or dependent(s) willfully fail to maintain required health insurance coverage and/or make material misrepresentations about such insurance coverage.