J-1 Health Insurance
Visitors in J-1 and J-2 statuses are required to maintain health insurance coverage that meets U.S. Department of State requirements (listed on page two of the DS-2019) for their program duration as a condition of their participation in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The minimum requirements intend to provide catastrophic health insurance coverage while on the J-1 program. Please follow the steps below to make sure you and all J-2 family members have adequate health insurance in the United States. Contact ischolars@ucsd.edu if you have any questions.
Please Note:
*Medical care in the United States is extremely expensive and can be complicated to navigate. Please do not wait until you are sick to understand how your insurance plan works; instead, identify a health care provider and urgent care center within your plan's network now!
*Any J-1 exchange visitor who willfully refuses to comply with this requirement shall be considered to be in violation of his/her exchange visitor status and the program sponsor will be obligated to terminate the Exchange Visitor's program.
Step 1: Review the Requirements
U.S. Department of State Requirements
The following table summarizes the requirements that are listed on page 2 of your DS-2019 at 1(f):
| Item | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Medical Benefit | $100,000 per person, per year or accident *May include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25 percent of the covered benefits per accident or illness |
| Medical Evacuation | $50,000 to their home country |
| Repatriation of Remains | $25,000 |
| Deductible | Cannot exceed $500 per accident or illness |
| Preexisting Conditions | Cannot exclude altogether coverage for preexisting conditions although it may require a waiting period for them |
Additionally, the insurance corporation underwriting the policy must have one of the following ratings:
| A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above |
|---|
| Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above |
| Standard & Poor’s Claims paying Ability rating of “A-” or above |
| Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above |
| Coverage backed by the full faith and credit of the government of my home country |
| McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above |
| Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above |
Federal Requirements: Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This only applies to J-1 scholars who may be considered a resident alien for tax purposes (unrelated to immigrant status).
See "Determining Alien Tax Status" and follow instructions for the "Substantial Presence Test."
Depending on how long you remain in the United States, you may become subject to the terms of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions require that individuals be enrolled in ACA-compliant insurance plans. Whether individuals are subject to this mandate is determined by your tax status (NOT IMMIGRATION STATUS; see "Tax Resources"). If you are a non-resident alien for tax purposes, then you are not subject to this individual mandate; if you are a resident alien for tax purposes, however, then you must be enrolled in an ACA-compliant insurance. Failure to comply in the past resulted in an IRS penalty ("Individual Shared Responsibility") but the current law has removed this penalty.
All UC San Diego employee-provided insurance plans and the Gallagher (Garnett-Powers & Associates) plans for Postdoctoral Scholars are ACA-compliant. The Gallagher (Garnett-Powers & Associates) plans for visiting academics (not postdoctoral scholars) are not ACA-compliant. If you are a Resident Alien for Tax purposes and have questions about your non-UCSD plan, you should contact the insurance plan administrators directly and confirm that your insurance plan is ACA-compliant.
If you are seeking to enroll in other insurance plans, note that nonimmigrants are allowed to enroll in marketplace insurance exchanges established by the ACA enactment (see list) and also the main marketplace website.
All J-1 scholars will still be required to maintain insurance that meets the federal regulatory requirement for this nonimmigrant classification and the requirements imposed by the University of California, San Diego, regardless of your tax residency status.
Step 2: Enroll In Health Insurance
Postdoctoral Scholar J-1 Exchange Visitors
Option 1: If you enroll in the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan:
Postdoctoral Scholars are eligible for the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan and may enroll online. The UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan meets the medical evacuation and repatriation (MER) requirements and is ACA-compliant. After you enroll, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
Option 2: If you plan to enroll in your own health insurance plan:
If you do not enroll in the UC Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan and have instead purchased a different qualifying insurance, please complete the Gallagher waiver process. After you receive a waiver, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
UC San Diego Employee J-1 Exchange Visitors (Paid by UC San Diego, excluding postdocs)
Option 1: Enroll in a UCSD Health Insurance Plan for Employees:
- Check with your department administrator to see if you are benefits-eligible.
- If benefits-eligible, choose coverage through a UC San Diego health plan that meets the J-1 minimum requirements. None of the UC San Diego plans cover medical evacuation and repatriation of remains (MER), so this will need to be purchased separately.
NOTE: The UC San Diego "CORE" Plan or Health Savings Plans ARE NOT compliant with Federal Regulations! Do not enroll in these plans. - Purchase MER insurance and submit proof of MER in the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
Option 2: Enroll in an Alternative Health Insurance Plan:
- If you choose to enroll in a qualifying insurance plan other than a UC San Diego health insurance plan, please complete the Gallagher waiver process.
- After you receive a waiver from Gallagher, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
All Other UC San Diego J-1 Exchange Visitors
Option 1: UC San Diego Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan:
The Office of Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholar Affairs, the Graduate Division, and the International Services and Engagement Office have partnered with Gallagher to design the UC San Diego Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan; all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents are eligible to enroll online. The UC San Diego Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan meets the medical evacuation and repatriation requirements. After you enroll, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
Option 2: Enroll in an Alternative Health Insurance Plan:
If you choose to enroll in a qualifying plan other than the UC San Diego Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan:
- Request that your prospective insurance company
verify that the policy meets the J-1 minimum requirements. - Complete the Gallagher waiver process.
- After you receive a waiver, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
Step 3: Submit Verification to ISEO
J-1 Insurance Verification
Submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement. This form can be found after logging in by clicking on the 'J-1 Scholar Services' category in the left menu. An advisor will review your request and update your record to show your compliance with J-1 regulations.
View iServices Instructions for Scholars for additional instructions on how to log-in to iServices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Complete the Waiver Process?
Submit the online Waiver Form through Gallagher. Prepare documents that show proof of insurance coverage meeting the J-1 requirements stated above. Documents must be translated into English and converted to U.S. dollar amounts.
A waiver from must be submitted by anyone on a J-1 program who obtained their own insurance plan. Gallagher will verify that the insurance meets the requirements noted on page two of the DS-2019.
You do not need to submit a waiver if you enrolled in a Gallagher, Postdoc, or UC San Diego Health insurance plan* as these plans meet the requirements noted on page two of the DS-2019.
*UC San Diego Health insurance plans require the purchasing of supplemental medical evacuation and repatriation of remains (MER) coverage.
After you receive a waiver, submit the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
What is Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (MER) Insurance and How Do I Purchase It?
J-1 visa holders must have insurance that meets all requirements as outlined on page 2 of your DS-2019. If you are a UC San Diego non-postdoc employee and are enrolling in a UC San Diego sponsored employee health insurance plan it will be necessary to purchase additional Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (MER) insurance coverage with the following coverage, as UC San Diego non-postdoc employee plans to not have this coverage:
| Item | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Medical Evacuation | $50,000 to their home country |
| Repatriation of Remains | $25,000 |
You may purchase any MER coverage that meets the requirements outlined above. After you purchase MER, submit proof of MER coverage in the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
MER Coverage Options (online application):
- BETiNS
- International Student Insurance
- Tokio Marine HCC
- Note: The International Services and Engagement Office is providing examples of companies used by our scholars but is not endorsing the services of these companies.
- A-G Administrators Plan Form (UC System sponsored)
- Note: A-G requires purchasing coverage in 1 year increments, does not prorate, and does not offer the option for online transactions. For the last question on the form, you may list "ISEO at UCSD" as your International Scholar Advisor.
Do You Have General Health Information for Me to Read?
Visit ISEO's Health Information webpage.
What Does Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage Mean?
The U.S. Department of State indicates the required minimum health insurance coverage amounts on page two of the DS-2019 for anyone participating in a J-1 program. These minimum coverage amounts are intended to cover catastrophic health insurance needs, rather than provide comprehensive health insurance.
Catastrophic health insurance coverage typically has high deductibles/out of pocket expenses and is meant to cover emergencies (e.g. accident requiring hospitalization). Catastrophic health coverage may not include vaccine coverage, require pre-certification for doctors visits, and may not include preventative care coverage.
The Postdoc and UC San Diego health insurance plans provide comprehensive health insurance coverage.
Please review your health insurance to determine if it provides catastrophic or comprehensive coverage.
Who Is My Insurance Provider?
Your insurance carrier/provider (i.e. Health Net, IMG, etc.) will depend on your specific selection, please review your health insurance card/documents closely as your insurance carrier/provider will be noted on them.
What Are Some Health Insurance Providers for Non-employees of UCSD?
Gallagher Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan - Endorsed by UC San Diego
Phone: (888) 441-3719
Email: UniversityServices.GBS.vabp@ajg.com
The Office of Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholar Affairs, the Graduate Division, and the International Services and Engagement Office have partnered with Gallagher to design the UC San Diego Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan.
Some Additional providers - Not Endorsed by UC San Diego:
BETiNS
Phone: (866) 552-8834
Email: info@betins.com
Compass Benefits Group
Phone: (800) 683-1468
Email: studentplans@compassbenefits.com
International Student Insurance
Phone: (877) 758-4391
Email: info@internationalstudentinsurance.com
International Student Organization
Phone: (800) 244-1180
Email: kziv@isoa.org
International Medical Group, Inc
Phone: (800) 628-4664
Email: insurance@imglobal.com
Patriot Insurance (offers coverage for ages over 64)
Phone: (317) 655-4500
How Do I Submit MER Proof?
Submit proof of MER coverage in the J-1 Insurance Verification Form in iServices to complete your J-1 health insurance requirement.
- You will need to upload:
- Proof of enrollment and payment with your name (and J-2 family members' if applicable)
- Policy details in English with MER specifics in U.S. dollar amounts and appropriate policy rating
- See "Step 1: Know the requirements for more information."
What Do These Health Insurance Terms or Words Mean?
Please visit our Health Insurance page for the definitions of common health insurance terms.
How Do I Obtain Counseling, Dental, and Vision Coverage?
Visit our Health page for information.
Workshop Presentations
Insurance 101
Gallagher (Garnett Powers) on the visiting scholar insurance plans for J-1 Scholars
Annual Virtual Presentation (see blue drawer below).
Representatives from Gallagher (Garnett-Powers and Associates) will be available via zoom to talk about the J-1 Visiting Scholar insurance plans for the new plan year.
Topics to be addressed include:
- How to use the health insurance plans to keep out-of-pocket costs less
- How to best use the Basic plan given its minimal coverage
- How to locate a provider in a specific zip code
- Understanding U.S. health insurance jargon
- How to read an "Explanation of Benefits"
- Difference between Gallagher (Garnett-Powers), the insurance broker, and the actual insurance company
Note
Gallagher (Garnett Powers) has also created an reference sheet with general health insurance terminology.Recording: Gallagher on Visitor Scholar insurance plans for J1 Scholars 2023-24
Gallagher on Visitor Scholar Insurance Plans for J-1 Scholars, August 22, 2023
Representatives from Gallagher (Garnett-Powers) will be available via zoom to talk about the J-1 Visiting Scholar insurance plans.
** Note: Subtitles/Closed Captions for all videos were automatically generated by Zoom. If you have questions regarding any of the information on the video contact ischolars@ucsd.edu **