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J Status Health Insurance Requirements
Insurance Minimum for J Status
United States government regulations and South Dakota Board of Regent policy require health insurance coverage for all visiting scholars and their family members who accompany them to the United States.
Based on federal regulations, the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) requires Visiting Scholars (J-1-Visiting Scholar and J-2-Dependent Status) to purchase health insurance. These visiting scholars are required by federal law to have insurance which covers the time they leave their home country until the date they depart the United States.
Health insurance must include:
Minimum Coverage of $100,000 per accident or illness
Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000.
Medical expenses associated with the evacuation of the exchange visitor of $50,000 or more.
Deductible not to exceed $500.00 per accident or illness.
The State of South Dakota Health Plan does not meet all of the federal guidelines and SDBOR Policy for insurance. An additional policy through CISI (or other provider) will be required for scholars who have the State of South Dakota Health Plan to ensure that they have repatriation/evacuation coverage. (Coverage is generally under $10 per month.)
Furthermore, scholars who are covered by the SD Health Plan should purchase travel insurance that meets the department of state regulations for times they are not covered by this plan. Our Human Resources office has indicated that health insurance provided by the state of South Dakota does not go into effect until one month after your employment start date. According to the Department of State Regulations, you must have coverage for your entire stay in the U.S. As a result, you will need to purchase one month of insurance from one of the companies below PRIOR to your arrival in the U.S.
Those scholars who do not qualify for the State of South Dakota Health Plan (are not benefits eligible) must enroll for the SDBOR approved health insurance plan. Visiting Scholars can purchase health insurance from one of the following providers.
Purchasing one of these health insurance policies must be done prior to entering the United States.
Student Health Center & Off-Campus Health Facilities
The Student Health Center on campus is free for Students ONLY.
J-1 Student Interns are NOT eligible for this service.
We recommend the Monument Health Urgent Care Centers. You will get a discount on your bill. You must provide your insurance card and your student ID.
1303 N. Lacrosse St
2116 Jackson Blvd.
Insurance Terminology
Premium
A Premium is the price of the insurance plan. It usually depends on your age. The older you are, the more it costs. Higher premiums usually mean more insurance coverage. If you have a pre-existing condition such as asthma, you might consider a higher-level plan.
Plan Year
A Plan Year is the period of time for coverage and usually is for group plans. The South Dakota Board of Regents (or BOR) has a mandatory group insurance plan for international students, and the plan year is from August 1 to July 31.
Deductible
A Deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance company pays any charges. It may be paid once per year or once per illness, condition, or event.
For example: Your deductible is $500 for the year. You must pay up to the $500 and then the insurance company will start paying for a portion of the bills.
In-Network or Provider Network
In-network means a group of medical providers that contract with the insurance company to charge a little less for a visit or procedure. They may accept direct payments from the insurance company.
If a medical provider states that they will bill the insurance company first, that means they will send the bill to the insurance company, the insurance company will pay a portion, then you will pay the rest.
Do not forget to pay! It could be bad for your credit. Bills from the medical provider may arrive 2-3 months after your visit.
Out-of-network providers
This is the opposite of In-Network providers. If you go to a medical provider that does not contract with the insurance company, you will pay more for the visit. It is important to check on the insurance website for a list of providers that accept the insurance.
Co-Insurance
Co-insurance is any additional amount you must pay after the deductible is met. If you are in-network, most co-insurance costs are 20% of the bill. The co-insurance will be higher out-of-network, perhaps 30-40%, rather than 20%.
Co-Pay
Co-pays are sometimes used instead of a deductible, such as a set amount for a doctor visit. They may also be used in addition to the deductible. This option is usually not available in student plans.
Usual, Reasonable and Customary
Usual, Reasonable and Customary, also called URC, is based on the average cost for a geographic area. Insurance companies often use a regional index to determine URC.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-Existing Conditions are any condition or injury you had before purchasing the insurance plan. Some companies will not cover at all; others might cover if a specific amount of time has passed. Six months is a common time frame.
Reputable Providers for Comprehensive Coverage
(in alphabetical order)
American Visitor Insurance: https://www.americanvisitorinsurance.com/visa-insurance/j1-visa.asp
Compass Benefits Group: https://www.studenthealthusa.com/
Cultural Insurance Services International: https://www.culturalinsurance.com/students/coming-to-u.s.asp
International SOS: https://www.internationalsos.com/personal-membership
International Student Insurance: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/scholars/
International Student Organization of America: www.isoa.org
LewerMark: https://www.lewermark.com/
Student Insure: https://studentinsure.com/
Student Medicover: https://www.smcovered.com/
VISIT® International Health: https://www.visitinsurance.com/scholar
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains Insurance
Must be coordinated with Ivanhoe International Center
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