ISO Health Insurance for H-1B Visa Holders
The International Student Organization (ISO) offers its Voyager plan for H-1B visa holders looking for short-term coverage. While the U.S. does not require H-1B visa holders to purchase health insurance by law, its costly healthcare makes health insurance recommended.
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Are you an H-1B visa holder preparing for work in the United States? With affordable coverage for you and your dependents, ISO’s Voyager plan may fit the bill; or, you can check out international health insurance, travel medical insurance, or short-term insurance from Pacific Prime’s partners.
Keep reading to learn more about ISO’s Voyager plan and what it covers. Plus, learn more about the benefits of short-term health insurance, travel medical insurance, and international health insurance for workers in the United States on H-1B visas.
Please note that all monetary amounts in this article are valued in United States dollars or USD.
Who is International Student Organization
Since 1958, the International Student Organization has provided coverage to more than 3 million international students across over 2,600 schools and universities worldwide, making it one of the largest global student insurance managers.
ISO offers plans throughout the United States and in more than 200 countries, with access to a network of over one million healthcare providers.
As a provider specializing in international coverage, ISO’s customer service boasts a multilingual team to facilitate easy claims and simple enrollment in their affordable plans.
If you’re looking for more information on student-specific health insurance, check out this Pacific Prime article that outlines requirements and compares some of the best international student plans available.
Voyager: ISO Health Insurance for H-1B Visa Holders
For those with few health concerns who want to prioritize budget-friendly coverage, consider ISO’s Voyager plan. It’s ideal for workers on H-1B visas who stay in the U.S. for less than 6–10 months, since such short-term workers don’t have to purchase ACA-compliant comprehensive insurance.
Benefits of Voyager Plan for H-1B Visa Workers
While most of the International Student Organization’s plans cater to students, as the name suggests, ISO’s Voyager plan is ideal for H-1B visa workers, including their dependents. Some of the benefits of the Voyager plan include:
- $75,000 USD toward medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
- An unlimited annual maximum
- 100% coverage for sickness and illness up to the daily limit
- Optional coverage for dependents
The price range for coverage depends on age, with children and individuals ages 7–24 costing $79 per month, 25–29 costing $92 per month, 30–64 costing $119 per month, and dependent children costing $125 per month.
What the Voyager Plan Covers for H-1B Visa Workers
Check out the table below to see what the Voyager plan covers, or refer to the Voyager plan pamphlet for even more information:
| Annual maximum | Unlimited |
| Per injury/sickness maximum | $150,000 |
| Deductible per event | $150 |
| Copay emergency room | $300 |
| Coinsurance | 100% up to daily benefit limits |
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered after 18 months |
| A.M. Best rating | A++ |
| Medical evacuation | $50,000 |
| Repatriation of remains | $25,000 |
| Provider network | Aetna PPO |
Who is Eligible for ISO Insurance
H-1B visa holders, as well as other visa holders who are not U.S. citizens but who have a current passport or visa to the United States and do not reside in their home country, may qualify for this coverage. Dependents with a valid visa who pay the required premium may also qualify.
Other Insurance Options for H-1B Visa Holders
Consider short-term, long-term, and travel medical insurance for your H-1B visa coverage. If your employer does not offer health insurance, it’s advisable to purchase coverage, even for a temporary work visa in the United States, as U.S. healthcare is some of the most expensive in the world.
International Short-Term Health Insurance for H-1B Workers
Short-term health insurance offers affordable, flexible temporary coverage for medical care costs as you wait to receive more comprehensive coverage, whether by purchasing a long-term plan or by returning to your home country where you maintain comprehensive coverage.
Many short-term health insurance plans offer coverage for up to a year with renewal options, so for those without many health needs, a budget-friendly short-term plan may be tempting. If you plan to stay abroad longer than a few months or have extra medical concerns, consider more encompassing care.
Most short-term health insurance covers:
- Preventative care
- Emergency care
- Urgent care
- Medical tests
Some plans also offer discounts on prescription medications, but many short-term insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, mental health services, maternity care, and substance abuse.
Suggested Insurers for Short-Term Insurance for H-1B Workers
For short-term health insurance, consider Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions or April International. Learn more about each of them below.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions for H-1B Visa Workers
Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions offers exceptional short-term international plans. We recommend the Xplorer Premier plan for comprehensive U.S. coverage for up to nine months, with unlimited annual and lifetime benefits and all costs applying toward your deductible.
Read more about the Xplorer Premier plan in this article, or find more information about Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions’ international short-term plans and travel insurance plans on their page. They also offer high-quality long-term international coverage.
April International for H-1B Visa Workers
April International’s MyHealth International plan simplifies coverage for H-1B visa holders and their families with their five-tier options. You can select coverage from one to twelve months, with a one-time extension option for up to six months.
The annual benefit limit for each plan is:
- Emergency plan: $294,500
- Formule basic plan: $589,000
- Essential plan: $1,178,000
- Comfort plan: Unlimited
- Premium plan: Unlimited
If you would like to purchase travel insurance for your time working in the United States, or if you prefer to bundle travel medical insurance with traditional travel insurance rather than purchase short-term insurance, look through April International’s offerings.
Travel Medical Insurance for H-1B Visa Workers
International travel medical insurance, sometimes called visitor’s insurance, varies from traditional travel insurance, which covers trip-related issues like lost luggage and emergency medical costs only. What your medical travel insurance covers will vary widely depending on which plan you choose.
If you’d like to bundle travel insurance with your health insurance, check out this article or the best traditional travel insurance options on our page.
Suggested Insurers for Travel Medical Insurance
For travel medical insurance, consider VUMI VIP and IMG Global. We’ve highlighted a few of their best offerings below.
VUMI VIP for H-1B Visa Workers
VUMI VIP’s travel insurance medical coverage includes $5,000,000 in maximum lifetime benefits, 100% hospitalization coverage, and even possible coverage for pre-existing conditions, whether you opt for single-trip coverage or annual coverage.
Single trips may be extended as many times as you choose up to one year, and annual coverage works for multiple trips within 30, 45, or 90 days. VUMI also covers up to $500,000 for pre-existing conditions with verification of six months of stability without symptoms and without medication changes.
VUMI offers not just top-notch travel insurance but also quality international health insurance. If VUMI sounds like the right fit for you, find out more on their page.
IMG Global for H-1B Visa Workers
IMG Global offers multiple travel medical insurance plans, whether you pick their GlobeHopper plan or one of their Patriot plans. IMG’s GlobeHopper plan offers maximum coverage for:
- Hospital room and board in a semi-private room
- Intensive care
- Medical expenses
- Out-patient medical expenses
- Ambulance fees
- Prescription medications
- Emergency room accidents
- Emergency room illnesses with in-patient admission
- Dental care due to an injury
For a deep dive into the GlobeHopper plan, review this Pacific Prime article.
Long-Term Insurance for H-1B Visa Workers
Long-term health insurance is the golden standard for health coverage, as it offers the most comprehensive care. Within the United States, all long-term plans, sometimes called domestic or private insurance, must cover the following health benefits:
- Ambulatory services
- Emergency services
- Maternity and newborn care
- Rehabilitative services
- Hospitalization
- Mental health and substance abuse services
- Wellness and chronic disease management
- Prescription drugs
- Pediatric services
- Laboratory services
Suggested Insurers for Long-Term International Insurance
For fantastic international long-term insurance, consider Cigna Global and Allianz Care. They each offer fantastic benefits, which we’ve touched on below.
Cignal Global for H-1B Visa Workers
Cigna Global offers international coverage through their extensive network across their four excellent health insurance plans: their Cigna Global Health plan, with Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiered packages, and their Close Care plan.
Review the table below to see the benefits of the Global Health plans:
| Coverage Benefits | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Annual Limit Amount | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Coverage Area | Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment | Paid in full for a private room | Paid in full for a private room | Paid in full for a private room |
| Hospital Accommodation for Parent or Guardian | $1,000 | $1,000 | Paid in full |
| Pandemics, Epidemics, and Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
| Inpatient Cash Benefit | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Accident and ER Treatment | $500 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| Transplant Services | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
| Advanced Medical Imaging | $10,000 | $15,000 | Paid in full |
| Rehabilitation | $5,000 | $10,000 | Paid in full |
| Home Nursing | $2,500 | $5,000 | Paid in full |
| Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine | $1,500 | $2,500 | Paid in full |
| Palliative Care | $35,000 | $60,000 | Paid in full |
For cost-effective health insurance, the Close Care package offers an annual coverage limit of $500,000, which you may use in the U.S. or your country of nationality. It covers:
- In-patient care in full for a semi-private room
- Out-patient care in full for a semi-private room
- Accommodation costs in full for a semi-private room
- Cancer care
- $3,000 for mental and behavioral health care
Allianz Care for H-1B Visa Workers
Allianz Care offers three different long-term international plans—their Care Base plan, Care Enhanced plan, and Care Signature plan.
The Allianz Care Base plan covers a maximum of $2,500,000, which includes coverage for private inpatient and day-patient hospital rooms as well as oncology, rehabilitation, medical evacuation, home care, and emergency outpatient treatment.
Allianz’s Care Enhanced plan offers a maximum coverage of $4,000,000, with the same coverage as the Care Base plan but with the addition of emergency dental care.
Allianz’s Care Signature plan covers the highest maximum amount at $5,000,000. It covers the same benefits as the Care Enhanced plan but also includes preventative surgery and laser eye treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ISO insurance?
ISO Insurance, or ISO Student Health Insurance, has been the world’s largest provider of insurance for international students in the U.S. since 1958. They offer affordable health plans for F1, J1, H-1B, and OPT visa holders in the U.S.
How can I make a claim with ISO insurance?
To file an insurance claim with ISO, first provide your insurance ID to your doctor and request that they file the claim. If your doctor does not file claims, gather the required documents and fill out the claim form on the ISO Claims Process website within 90 days of care.
Is it possible to have no health insurance while on an H-1B visa?
It is possible to go without health insurance while working on an H-1B visa, but it is highly discouraged, as healthcare in the United States is very expensive. Paying for medical care without insurance is extremely costly.
Choose the Right Protection for Your Time in the U.S.
Choosing the right health insurance is an important step when working in the United States on an H-1B visa. Whether you select an ISO plan or another option, it’s important to review your coverage carefully to ensure it meets your healthcare needs and visa requirements.
At Pacific Prime, our insurance specialists can help you compare plans and find coverage that fits your situation, all at no extra cost. Contact us for personalized advice, request a free quote, or explore and compare available plans today.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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