U.S. Federal law requires that all J-1 Exchange Visitors (as well as their accompanying spouses and dependents) have health insurance in effect that covers them for sickness or accidents during the time of their J-1 program. Inadequate health insurance coverage in the U.S. may be catastrophic for an Exchange Visitor and her/his dependents.
All J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits:
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
Wabash College will help ensure that J-1s and their dependents have insurance in effect during the period of time they are in the J-1 program. If you have questions about how to buy the correct type of health insurance, please let Amy Weir know. To better understand why mandatory health insurance is so important in the United States, please watch this video.