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A Complete Guide for J1 VISA Group Medical Insurance

Atlas Group Travel Insurance

A complete guide for J1 visa group medical insurance

J1 Visa is a type of non-immigrant, short-term visa for the US. Tourists who take part in the J1 Visa program travel to the US for work and study-based programs. This visa is applicable for trainees, students, research scholars, professors, international students, volunteers, au pairs, interns, and more. J1 visa holders can bring their spouse and children on dependent or J2 visas.

J1 visa group insurance holders need to meet several requirements before they head to the US. One of the main requirements is that the visitors need to carry medical insurance that meets their stay duration in America. Visitors can apply for J visas online by using a credit card. All they need to do is fill a form with some basic details. And, in this case, Visitor Guard® can help you!

What are the types of J1 Visa health insurance plans?

The main J1 Visa health insurance plans are Atlas America, Patriot Exchange, and Atlas Premium. Besides these four plans, there are other options- Study USA, Student Secure, Geoblue Navigator, Student Health Advantage, and Student Health Advantage Platinum.

To know which plan suits your group the best, contact us! We hold years of experience in providing the right solutions to our clients.

Who needs J1 Visa?

A J1 Visa is provided by the US to the professionals and students who are engaged in exchange programs. J1 visa holders can go back to their country and return to the US as much as they like. In some cases, they can be allowed to work in the US. The length of the stay depends on the exchange programs they are enrolled for. For instance, academic students may get visas for a few years, while trainees or volunteers may get a few months.

To fall under J1 Visa, you need to be:

  • Au Pairs
  • Camp Counselors
  • Government visitors
  • Interns
  • International visitors
  • Physicians
  • Professors and Research Scholars
  • Short-term Scholars
  • Specialists in different areas
  • University Students
  • Secondary School Students
  • Teachers
  • Trainees
  • Work and Travel Participants
  • Dependents of J1 visa holders

What are the advantages of the J1 Visa Group Insurance?

There are multiple benefits of J1 Visa Group Insurance. These are:

  • J1 Visa Group Insurance looks after your medical bills and offers the same coverage as other individual medical plans.
  • J1 Visa group plans are usually cheaper.
  • J1 Visa holders can take advantage of US tax benefits, and they are exempt from FICA contributions.
  • J1 Visa Group Insurance holders can add their spouse and children  under dependent visas to group insurance.
  • Group insurance doesn’t need a separate application for each individual. Each one of them will get separate ID cards.

What are the restrictions?

  • Every individual in the group must have the same effect and expiration date.
  • The deductible, policy maximum, and coinsurance must be the same for everyone.
  • Members must be a part of the same sponsoring organization.
  • Individuals and their dependents can be a part of the same groups long as they are  part of the same sponsoring organization to fall under J1 Visa group insurance.
  • Beware of fraudulent agents.

What are the requirements?

As per the US government (22 CFR 62.14), the following are the J1 visa insurance requirements:

  • Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
  • Repatriation of remains of at least $25,000
  • Expenses of $50,000 associated with the medical evacuation of the visitor to their home country
  • $500 maximum deductible allowed per illness or injury
  • Plan to be underwritten by an insurance corporation with-
  • An A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above,
  • Or an Insurance Solvency International Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above,
  • Or a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above,

Or a Weiss Research Inc. rating of B+ or above

Sometimes, some schools or universities already provide group medical insurance. Hence, you don’t need a plan covering the medical and hospital charges, but you may need a policy covering emergency evacuation and repatriation. Individual sponsorship programs may have additional specific insurance requirements. Be sure to check with them or contact Visitor Guard®.

What are the best group insurance plans?

Atlas America

  • Coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions that are not chronic and congenital
  • Optional coverage for AD&D, Personal Liability Coverage and Crisis Response coverage
  • You can choose deductible from $ $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000
  • Only non-US citizens who are at least 14 days of age are eligible for coverage under this plan
  • COVID-19 is covered and treated as any other sickness
  • In network, coinsurance is waived

Patriot Exchange

  • Coverage for students, groups, and/or their spouses and unmarried dependent children traveling with them
  • Plan maximums limit choices from $50,000 up to $500,000 per injury or illness with a lifetime maximum of $5,000,000
  • Plans are renewable for up to 48 months if a minimum of one month is purchased
  • Groups may purchase customizable annually renewable long term plans
  • No coinsurance, i.e policy pays 100% after the deductible
  • Optional add-on coverage available for high school sports, interscholastic, intramural, or club sports, personal liability, and legal assistance

Atlas Premium

  • The plan is available to parents and relatives visiting the USA, business professionals, nannies, international students, foreign tourists, Exchange Scholars on J visas, and more.
  • Non-US citizens can get coverage for their visits in the US or outside their home country. US citizens get coverage outside the US.
  • Coverage for emergency reunion up to a maximum of $150,000, subject to a maximum of 15 days, and the lifetime maximum for emergency medical evacuation is up to a $1 million.
  • Coverage for eligible injuries and illnesses that could occur while participating in many popular vacation sports at no additional cost.
  • Coverage for AD&D, Personal Liability Coverage, and Crisis Response coverage included.

What’s more?

J1 Visa group insurance covers medical evacuation, repatriation of remains along with medical insurance. Medical Emergency evacuation insurance makes arrangements to transport a patient to the nearest qualified  medical facility. On the other hand, the repatriation of remains arranges for the return of the deceased remains to the home country.

If you have medical insurance through your sponsor, you can add this evacuation and repatriation coverage to your J1 visa insurance plan to meet the J1 visa requirements and can lessen your financial burdens if any emergency arises.

The application process for getting the emergency evacuation insurance is simple and done within minutes. The applicants need to submit the name, date of birth, address, and email address for their documents to be emailed and a valid credit card for the purchase.

If you are on a J visa, and traveling  to the US with a group, don’t hesitate to contact us. Visitor Guard® makes sure that you choose the right J1 Visa plan smoothly and securely.

Pallavi Sadekar

Pallavi Sadekar

Travel Insurance Expert

Pallavi Sadekar is a seasoned insurance professional with over 17 years of experience in the industry. As the Head of Operations at Visitor Guard®, she brings a wealth of expertise to the field. With a profound understanding of insurance, Pallavi has consistently demonstrated her commitment to helping clients make informed decisions about their coverage.

Pallavi’s insights and advice has earned her recognition in esteemed publications, including Forbes, USA Today, and various online platforms. Her contributions to these outlets have solidified her reputation as a trusted authority in the insurance domain. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of visitor insurance, finding the right coverage for clients, or understanding the intricacies of visitor health insurance, Pallavi’s in-depth knowledge allows her to offer practical and informed guidance to her clients.

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