HEALTH INSURANCE

As an Exchange Visitor in the United States, you must carry health insurance for yourself and your J-2 dependents for the full duration of your J program. Government regulations stipulate that if, after that date, you willfully fail to carry health insurance for yourself and your dependents, your J-1 sponsor must terminate your program, and report the termination to the Exchange Visitor Program of the State Department in Washington.

 

Therefore, it is recommended that J-1 Exchange students/visitors and their dependents purchase the policy offered through the ISP office of California State University, Bakersfield. This policy has been designed to meet all J-1 insurance standards. If you have additional questions, please contact us for further information.

 

The Reason for the Requirement and Need for Health Insurance


It is dangerous to be in the United States without adequate health insurance. Although in many countries the government bears the expense of health care for its citizens, and sometimes even for visitors, individuals and families in the United States are responsible for these costs themselves. Since a single day of hospitalization and medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars, many hospitals and doctors refuse to treat uninsured patients except in life-threatening emergencies. Insurance gives you access to better and more timely health care, and provides the only protection against the enormous costs of health care in this country.

 

Required Insurance Specifications

 

If you prefer your own policy, it has to meet the following requirements for the type and amounts of coverage you must carry if you hold J-1 or J-2 status:

 

The policy must provide "medical benefits of at least $50,000 for each accident or illness," according to the text of the regulations. Since insurance companies cover no more than the policy-holder's expenses (minus a deductible and, under co-insurance, a percentage), and never provide a minimum amount for each accident or illness, the quoted text should be worded differently. Presumably it was intended to mean that an acceptable policy can not set a maximum lower than $50,000 in benefits for each accident or illness.

 

If you should die in the United States, the policy must provide at least $10,000 in benefits to send your remains to your home country for burial. This is called REPATRIATION of remains.

 

If, because of a serious illness or injury, you must be sent home on the advice of a doctor, the policy must pay up to $10,000 for the expenses of your travel. This is called MEDICAL EVACUATION.

 

The policy may establish a waiting period before it covers pre-existing conditions (health problems you had before you bought the insurance), as long as the waiting period is reasonable by current standards in the insurance industry.

 

The policy must be backed by the full faith and credit of your home country government or the company providing the insurance must meet minimum rating requirements established by the State Department (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).

 

Where to Find Insurance Information

 

CSUB has contracted with Acordia Somerton Student Insurance Services to offer our students/scholars an insurance policy that exceeds these requirements. It is available for purchase from the Office of International Students & Programs (ISP) or online at www.csuhealthlink.com (You must choose CSUB campus to enroll).