J2 Visa Specific Health Insurance
Foreigners visiting the United States on a J2 visa must maintain adequate health insurance coverage for their entire visit. This requirement is the same for J1 and J2 visa holders, as J2 visa holders are the dependents (spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21) of J1 visa holders.
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Do you have dependents visiting the United States with you on a J2 visa? If so, you’ll likely want to know more about recommended health insurance plans for foreigners in exchange programs. This guide from Pacific Prime can help you understand J2-specific visa health insurance.
We will explain the health insurance requirements for the J2 visa, the different insurance plans available for the dependents of exchange visitors, and more. We will also share the top insurance providers offering J2-specific insurance plans.
Keep reading to learn more, or check out our free tool to begin comparing health insurance plans on your own!
Why J2 Visa Holders Need Health Insurance
The U.S. Department of State requires dependents of exchange visitors on a J2 visa to have health insurance for the entirety of their stay. This health insurance must meet specific requirements. Without this health insurance coverage, J2 visa holders could have their visas suspended.
Health insurance is also highly recommended due to the financial protection it offers to exchange visitors and their families. Health insurance coverage can grant you access to a network of healthcare providers and support and help protect you from medical debt.
Without this financial support, exchange visitors and their dependents are left to pay medical bills out-of-pocket. This can be a serious financial drain, especially in the United States which has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world
Health Insurance Requirements for J2 Visa Holders
The health insurance minimum requirements for J2 visa holders are:
- Medical benefits of at least USD $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains coverage of at least USD $25,000
- Medical evacuation coverage of at least USD $50,000
- A deductible that does not exceed USD $500 per accident or illness
The United States Department of State also requires that the company underwriting the insurance policy must have one of the following ratings:
- an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above;
- an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above;
- a Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-” or above; or
- a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above
In addition to meeting these minimum requirements, J1 visa holders and their dependents on a J2 visa must maintain this coverage for the entirety of their time in the United States.
Understanding the J2 Visa
The J2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the dependents of J1 visa holders to accompany them on their exchange program in the United States. In order to be considered a dependent, you must be the spouse or an unmarried child under the age of 21.
The J2 visa holder’s status is directly connected to the J1 visa holder’s status. This means that if the J1 visa holder’s visa expires or is terminated, the J2 visa holder’s visa will expire or be terminated as well.
Types of Health Insurance Plans for J2 Visa Holders
Health insurance plans for J2 visa holders can be purchased in short-term or long-term policies. The length of the policy you choose will depend on the length of your parent or spouse’s exchange program. There are many health insurance plans available for families.
There are health insurance plans with basic coverage to meet J2 visa minimum requirements, or there are more comprehensive options. If you plan on needing more medical care or want more peace of mind, you will want to purchase a more comprehensive health insurance plan.
If your parent or spouse is a student attending a University, they can purchase a University health insurance plan. These are typically designed to meet all J visa requirements and usually can add dependents to the plan.
If you are interested in having worldwide coverage in both the United States and outside, you can purchase a long-term international health insurance policy. These international health insurance policies come in a variety of options and from different providers.
Top Providers Offering J2 Visa-Specific Insurance
The top providers that offer health insurance plans for exchange visitors and their dependents include Cigna and IMG Global. Each of these providers offers comprehensive health insurance coverage, with premiums that can fit a variety of budgets.
Cigna Health Insurance
Cigna offers comprehensive health insurance to J2 visa holders through their Cigna Global Health plans or their Close Care plan. The Cigna Global Health plans come in three different coverage options, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, and offer a worldwide network.
The Close Care plan only offers coverage in the destination country and the policyholder’s country of origin. This makes it an excellent choice for exchange visitors who don’t plan on traveling outside their destination country besides occasionally visiting home.
Cigna Global Health Plan
Cigna’s Global Health plans were designed to offer foreigners comprehensive international healthcare coverage for their time abroad. Available in three different coverage categories, these plans are customizable and can be tailored to the policyholder’s needs.
See the table below to compare the plan benefits:
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Annual Overall Benefit Maximum | USD $1,000,000 | USD $2,000,000 | Paid In Full |
| Hospital Charges | Covered with a Private Room | Covered with a Private Room | Covered with a Private Room |
| Advanced Medical Imaging (MRI, CT and
PET scans) |
Covered Up to $10,000 | Covered Up to $15,000 | Fully Covered |
| Mental and Behavioural Health Care | Covered for $5,000 Up to 30 Days | Covered for $10,000 Up to 60 Days | Covered Fully Up to 90 Days |
| Emergency Inpatient Dental Treatment | Covered | Covered | Covered |
Exchange visitors and their families looking to extend their coverage can also choose to purchase either one or more of the additional modules listed below:
- International Outpatient: Includes coverage for specialist fees, pathology, radiology and diagnostic tests, prenatal and postnatal care (after a waiting period of 12 months), and more.
- International Evacuation & Crisis Assistance Plus: Includes coverage for medical evacuation, medical repatriation, repatriation of mortal remains, travel costs for an accompanying person, access to Cigna’s Crisis Assistance Plus™ Programme, and more.
- International Health & Wellbeing: Includes coverage for wellness coaching, Cigna’s mental health support programme, routine adult physical examination, several different kinds of cancer screenings, and more.
- International Vision & Dental: Includes coverage for routine dental care, eye tests, glasses and contact lens expenses, and more.
Cigna Close Care Plan
Cigna’s Close Care plan can offer J2 visa holders cost-effective coverage while they are abroad. Many exchange visitors will only need coverage in the U.S. and for their home country, which makes Close Care’s geographical area of coverage a great choice.
The Close Care plan offers an annual benefit maximum per beneficiary per period of cover of USD $500,000. We have listed some of the benefits included in this plan below:
- Hospital Charges
- Surgeons’ and Anaesthetists’ Fees
- Specialists’ Consultation Fees
- Pathology, Radiology and Diagnostic tests
- Mental Health Care Covered Up to USD $3,000 for 60 Days
- Emergency Inpatient Dental Treatment USD $2,500
- Medical Evacuation USD $50,000
- Medical Repatriation USD $100,000
J2 visa holders looking to extend their coverage can also choose to purchase either one or both of two additional modules, Outpatient and Wellness Care and Dental Care and Treatment. These modules offer more benefits for outpatient services and dental treatment.
IMG Global Health Insurance
IMG Global offers exchange visitors and their families comprehensive health insurance through their Patriot Exchange Program plan. This plan was designed specifically to meet the U.S. J1 and J2 visa insurance requirements for students and those participating in a cultural exchange program.
IMG Global Patriot Exchange Program Plan
The Patriot Exchange Program plan was designed to give exchange visitors coverage where they need it most. This plan offers two different areas of coverage and optional add-ons to extend coverage.
The benefits offered in the Patriot Exchange Program are as listed below:
- Maximum Annual Limit: USD $5,000,000
- Physician / Specialist Visit Coverage
- Hospital Emergency Room Coverage
- Hospitalization / Room & Board Coverage
- Laboratory, Radiology, & X-Ray Coverage
- Prescription Drugs and Medication Coverage
- Inpatient Mental Treatment: Covered Up to a Maximum Limit of USD $10,000
- Outpatient Mental Treatment: Covered Up to a Maximum Limit of USD $500
- Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
- Repatriation for Medical Treatment / Repatriation of Mortal Remains Coverage
Key Benefits to Look for in J2 Visa Health Insurance
As a dependent on a J2 visa, some key health insurance benefits you may be interested in are wellness and general care, prescription drug coverage, maternity care, and mental health services. These benefits can help children and spouses thrive while adjusting to a new country and lifestyle.
When shopping for J2 visa-specific health insurance plans, take the time to compare benefits so you understand what is being covered. Some of the more basic student health insurance plans may not cover all of these benefits, while more comprehensive international health insurance plans do.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is health insurance mandatory for a J2 visa?
Health insurance is mandatory for J2 visa holders. J2 visa holders have the same health insurance requirements that J1 visa holders do. They need coverage of at least USD $100,000 per accident or illness, coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation, and more.
What happens if a J2 visa holder doesn’t have insurance?
Without adequate health insurance coverage, J2 visa holders could face visa suspension or termination. Additionally, you’d be left vulnerable to high United States healthcare costs without health insurance coverage.
How long do I need to maintain J2 visa health insurance coverage?
You will need to maintain your J2 visa-specific health insurance coverage for as long as your parent or spouse’s exchange program. This is due to the requirement that foreigners on J1 and J2 visas maintain adequate health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in the United States.
Conclusion
J2 visa holders will need adequate health insurance coverage, just like J1 visa holders. As plenty of health insurance plans allow policyholders to add dependents, finding the right health insurance coverage for their time in the United States can be easy with the right help.
If you have questions or want guidance in finding a J2 visa-specific health insurance plan, the insurance experts at Pacific Prime are ready to help! As an insurance broker, we can give our clients free and unbiased advice and help compare a wide variety of plans.
You can contact us online, or call us toll-free at 1-800-868-1451. If you’d like to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers, use our free quote tool!
If you enjoyed this article, check out our other articles on similar topics like Student-Specific J1 Visa Health Insurance and H1B Visa Specific Health Insurance Plans!
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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