J1 Visa Exchange
Visitor Insurance

A J1 visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa. The primary goal of this type of visa is to encourage the development of relationships between the U.S. and other nations. This program is overseen by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Visitors who participate in the J1 exchange visitor program can travel to the U.S. for the duration of their programs. Many government-approved sponsors offer programs across fifteen different categories. These categories are Trainee, Teacher, International travel for summer work, Specialist, Short-term scholar, Secondary, school student, Research scholar, Professor, Physician, International visitor, Intern, Government visitor, College and university international student, Camp counselor, Au pair. Participants through these sponsor programs require to meet a minimum requirement of J visa health insurance. This health insurance could be on an individual or group basis.  

If you do plan to travel outside the US during the program, you should get in touch with your sponsor for a travel validation signature before you leave the US. In the event you travel outside the US after the end of the program in the 30 day grace period, your J visa and your DS-2019 will have expired and re-entry into the US will be possible with a new J visa through a new program. Will you be covered by your insurance policy when you travel outside the US will depend on the policy you have bought. The J visa insurance plans bought on this site can offer you coverage during your short trips outside the US. It is a good idea to call to confirm before your travel.  

It would depend on the eligibility criteria for that policy. It is best to talk to the insurance administrator to find out the eligibility for the plan. On this site, there are various options available for J2 visa holders. These plans meet the minimum requirement in order to participate in the programs. Patriot Exchange is one of the plans that meets this requirement. 

J1 visa holders and their dependents are required to have adequate health insurance in order to participate in the programs. During the time the J visa holders are on the program, the program sponsors must ensure that the J visa exchange visitors have insurance that includes minimum coverage and benefits that cover them for sickness or accidents during the duration of the program. These minimum requirements are  

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness  
• Repatriation of remains coverage amounting to $25,000  
• Expenses associated with the emergency medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000  
• A deductible of no more than $500 per accident or illness  

J1 visa insurance policies must also be underwritten by an insurance company that possesses one of the following:  

• An A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above;  
• An Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (IS) rating of “A-1” or above;  
• A Standard and Poors Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above; or  
• A Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.  

Sponsors need to ensure that their J1 visa program participants and their dependents have health insurance that has the above listed J visa insurance requirements and is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the participant’s home country.  

Dependents of J1 visa holders accompanying them to the US during their J1 visa program are subject to the same J visa insurance requirements. J2 visa holders, dependents of the J1 visa holders are required to have health insurance coverage throughout their stay in the US.  

If J1 or J2 visa holders fail to meet the necessary medical insurance requirements, it may be result in termination from the exchange program.  

J1 as well as H-1B are both temporary nonimmigrant visas. These visas allow foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. The J1 is based on programs while the H-1B uses employers as sponsors. You can change J1 visa to a working H-1B visa however there are various pro’s and con’s in doing so. Be sure to understand all the requirements, advantages and disadvantages for this changing J1 to working visa.  

Annual multi-trip plans can work best for businessmen, executives and frequent overseas travelers. These plans provide coverage for a whole year and are typically cheaper than buying single trip travel insurance plans. Annual trips however may have limits on the length of trip ranging from 15 to 45 days or more depending on the policy you choose. A single trip insurance may be better if you do not travel frequently.  

As a J-visa holder, if you do plan to travel outside the US during your program, it is a good idea to first check if your policy does cover you outside before you opt for another insurance.  

US Department of State has a set of minimum insurance requirements for J1 & J2 visa. The health insurance coverage for J1 visa provide per injury/sickness coverage with the following minimum requirements to be met:  

1. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness  

1. Repatriation of remains coverage amounting to $25,000  

1. Expenses associated with the emergency medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000  

1. A deductible of no more than $500 per accident or illness  

J1 visa health insurance policies must also be underwritten by an insurance company that possesses one of the following:  

• An A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above;  

• An Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (IS) rating of “A-1” or above;  
• A Standard and Poors Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above; or  
• A Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.  

The J visa health insurance plans provide the above but sometimes the sponsoring organization may have additional insurance requirements for exchange students.  

It is always a good practice to have travel insurance when traveling outside your country.  

There are various insurance companies that provide J visa health insurance. You can answer the questions on the top of the page to compare the various J visa health insurance options available to you after which you can complete the application online and complete the purchase. 

It is always recommended to buy US medical insurance for foreigners visiting the US from India as opposed to travel insurance from India. US hospitals recognize and are familiar with the network providers and US insurance providers. Doctor offices and hospitals find it easier to bill direct directly to the insurance company there by making it easy and providing cash less services wherever possible.  

With the US Health Care costs in mind, US insurance companies have designed the policy benefits to suit the needs of visitors from India to the US. US insurance plans have a wide range and choice of policies may it be younger or elderly visitors.  

The intention of a Summer Work Travel program is to provide foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience and to be exposed to the people and way of life in the United States.  

Summer Work and Travel students must be:  

• · Sufficiently proficient in English to successfully interact in an English speaking environment  
• · Post-secondary school students enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or other full-time course of study at an accredited classroom based, post-secondary educational institution outside the United States  
• · Have successfully completed at least one semester or equivalent of post-secondary academic study  
• · Pre-placed in a job prior to entry unless from a visa waiver country  

Once you fulfill the above and are able to participate in a program, you will need a summer work travel insurance. you can compare the plans on this site to fulfill the summer work travel insurance requirements.  

You can purchase visitors insurance any time before the visitor starts the journey or even after they arrive in the US. It is a good practice to buy the policy in advance so the journey may also be covered (based on the policy). For some reason if you did not complete the application before your travel, you can purchase visitor insurance on reaching the US. The coverage can begin as early as very next day, and the documents can be emailed to you immediately after purchase  

The Summer Work and Travel program lasts up to a maximum of four (4) months. Participants may not work at any other time except during the period indicated on the DS-2019 form.

In Germany, it is compulsory for host families to pay for insurance for their Au Pairs. The Au Pair insurance must comprise travel health insurance, liability insurance and accident insurance. Patriot Exchange provides per incident coverage for hospitalization, intensive care, surgery and prescription drugs up to the chosen policy maximum. It includes coverage for accidental death and dismemberment as well as personal liability.  

Insurance is one of the requirements when you stay abroad, as medical help can be expensive. Requirements may vary based on the Au Pair’s citizenship, length of stay and chosen host country.  

Some countries require the host family to take care of the insurance coverage for their Au Pair, some require them to register with a private healthcare insurance while some countries might need them to enroll in the National Health Care System. It is important to find out what the requirements of the host country are and accordingly look for an insurance. In the US, Au Pair’s have been designated by the U.S. Government as an Exchange Visitor Program, enabling participants to use the J1 visa. Patriot Exchange is a popular plan meeting the minimum requirement for individuals on a J visa  

Having health insurance and an Au Pair contract outlining the work provide a legal and safe stay in Germany. Au Pairs can consider private Health insurance. The Host family must cover the insurance costs. Au pairs will need to show the insurance confirmation to the German Embassy as well as when you enter the country. You can consider the Comprehensive plan options for health insurance  

Every insurance policy is different. Depending on the policy you opt for pandemics like coronavirus may be excluded. Safe Travel USA Comprehensive policy is a policy that treats covid-19 as any other illness and has not excluded treatment as long as it is not a pre-existing condition.