Mandatory Medical Insurance
J-1 Exchange Visitor Program participants and their dependents are required by the U.S. Department of State to have medical insurance in effect during the period of time they are in the program. This includes any time spent outside of the U.S. during the program period. Minimum coverage requirements pursuant to Federal Regulations [22 CFR 62.14] are listed below for reference.
Minimum Coverage Requirements
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
- Expenses associated with 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
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period as determined by current industry standards
- Underwriting by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above; or backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country
Please note: The State Health Plan of North Carolina (i.e. 70/30 plan, 8/20 plan, etc.) for certain UNC employees does NOT meet the Department of State requirements for participants in the J Exchange Visitor Program.
J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents may meet the health insurance requirement in one of three ways:
The insurance plan offered to UNC’s Postdoctoral Scholar employees meets and exceeds the U.S. Department of State’s requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents. More information regarding this plan and the enrollment process can be found on the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs website.
New Postdocs: Enrollment in the Postdoc Medical Insurance Plan begins the first day of the month following your appointment start date. For example, if your postdoc position begins on January 15th, your Postdoc Medical Insurance policy will begin on February 1st. You must make sure that you have alternative insurance coverage for the period before your Postdoc Medical Insurance Plan begins.
Alternate insurance options for yourself or your dependent(s) can be found in the sections below.
UNC has contracted with the insurance company, GeoBlue, to provide our visitors a health insurance option that exceeds the U.S. Department of State’s requirements for J-1/J-2 visitors. Please see the instructions below if you wish to enroll yourself (and your dependents) in coverage.
- Go to https://www.geobluestudents.com/
- Enter UNC’s group access code, SKN-627, in the box under the section labeled “Students and Plan Members” along right side bar
- Select “new” enrollment
- The coverage period cannot exceed 12 months. If your program is more than 12 months, you will need to renew your policy toward the end of the 12-month period.
- Once you enroll, you will receive an email from GeoBlue with instruction on how to register with their website. Please be sure to register, login, print your new ID card, and provide a copy to ISSS.
A brochure of the GeoBlue insurance plan with coverage details can be viewed on this webpage. More information on the Department of State’s health insurance requirement for J-1 exchange visitors can be found online in our J-1 Scholar Welcome Handout.
If you prefer to use a company other than GeoBlue for your health insurance coverage, you must have that insurance company complete an Insurance Certification form for you (and your dependents) confirming that the coverage meets all of the Department of State’s requirements.