J-1 Scholar: Medical Insurance
As a J-1 Scholar, you are required to have health insurance that meets the requirements for yourself and for any accompanying J-2 dependents during the entire time you are a scholar at Penn State.
What are the requirements?
Medical insurance that meets the J-1 regulations is required for all J-1 Visa holders and accompanying J-2 dependents for the duration of their program.
According to the U.S. Department of State, minimum requirements include:
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to home country in the amount of $50,000
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
Why is medical insurance so important?
- Health care is very costly in the United States.
- The U.S. does not have a national health care plan.
- Health services may be restricted if you do not have health insurance.
- Willful failure to purchase and maintain the required insurance coverage (including J-2 dependents) will result in the termination of your exchange program.
How do I meet the requirement?
When it comes to insurance, there are three types of scholars at Penn State. Find your category below to learn how to meet the insurance requirement.
CATEGORY 1: YOU ARE PAID BY PENN STATE AND HAVE BEEN OFFERED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
WARNING: If you are a J-1 Student formally enrolled in classes, you must purchase your insurance through Lionpath. The insurance linked below does not meet the requirements for enrolled students.
If you have been offered employee benefits, you must enroll in the Aetna PPO plan through Penn State's HR portal, Worklion, as soon as you arrive to the United States.
You must also purchase medical evacuation and repatriation insurance coverage as it is not included in the Aetna PPO policy.
Contact First Student Customer Service if you have problems with purchasing from their website. Unfortunately, we cannot help you.
STEP 1
IMPORTANT: Purchase the Annual policy for you and your dependents. This coverage begins August 13, 2022 and will expire on August 12, 2023.
Step-by-step instructions for enrollment:
- Go to Medical Evacuation and Repatriation coverage.
- The PSU - Stand Alone coverage should already be selected for you.
- In the dropdown, choose "Stand Alone Repatriation/Evacuation."
- In the dropdown, choose Annual coverage.
- If applicable, select spouse. Select number of dependents.
- If the price is not $105 per person, you have selected the wrong policy.
- For Student ID, enter your Penn State ID number.
- For Health Insurance Provider, type "Aetna."
- If you are a new scholar: for Health Insurance Provider #, retype your Penn State ID number.
- If you are a continuing scholar: for Health Insurance Provider #, type the ID number that appears on your Aetna insurance card.
STEP 2
NEW SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation (offer letter and confirmation of evacuation and repatriation coverage) to the Medical Insurance form in your iStart checklist.
CONTINUING SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation ("Benefit Elections as of Date" PDF from WorkLion and confirmation of evacuation and repatriation coverage) to the Update Insurance Information form in iStart under J-1 Scholar Services. We cannot accept screenshots from insurance quotes, only a screenshot of your confirmation of coverage.
CATEGORY 2: YOU WANT TO PURCHASE THE PENN STATE STUDENT HEALTH PLAN
WARNING: If you are a J-1 Student formally enrolled in classes, you must purchase your insurance through Lionpath. The insurance linked below does not meet the requirements for enrolled students.
If you need insurance coverage and want to use University Health Services on campus, you must purchase the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
IMPORTANT: Purchase from your start date to your program end date or August 12, 2023 (whichever comes first).
If you start on August 1, 2022, you will have to purchase two plans: One from August 1, 2022 to August 12, 2022; and the other from August 13, 2022 to your program end date or August 12, 2023 (whichever comes first).
At this time, you can only purchase until August 12, 2023.
Contact First Student Customer Service if you have problems with purchasing from their website. Unfortunately, we cannot help you.
STEP 1
Purchase the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan through First Student.
The plan includes major medical insurance benefits as well as medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.
Step-by-step instructions for enrollment:
- Type in Penn State and scroll to choose your campus. If you type in Pennsylvania State University, the website will fail.
- Choose Visiting Scholar.
- Enter your start day.
- For new scholars, this is your DS-2019 Program Start Date.
- For continuing scholars, this will be the first day you do not have insurance coverage.
- Enter your end day.
- For new scholars, this will be your DS-2019 Program End Date or August 12, 2023, whichever comes sooner.
- For continuing scholars, this will be your DS-2019 Program End Date or August 12, 2023, whichever comes sooner.
ESTIMATED Penn State Student Health Plan Costs (2022-2023 Academic Year)
| Daily | |
|---|---|
| Scholar | $9.47 |
| Spouse | $9.47 |
| Child | $9.47 |
STEP 2
NEW SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation to the Medical Insurance form in your iStart checklist. We cannot accept screenshots from insurance quotes, only a screenshot of your confirmation of coverage.
CONTINUING SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation to the Update Insurance Information form in iStart under J-1 Scholar Services. We cannot accept screenshots from insurance quotes, only a screenshot of your confirmation of coverage.
CATEGORY 3: YOU ARE A SCHOLAR WITH ANOTHER INSURANCE POLICY
If you need medical insurance and are willing to seek off-campus medical treatment, you may purchase another insurance that meets the requirements.
At our office, this is called an insurance waiver, because you are waiving the requirement to buy the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan.
If you choose the waiver option, you cannot purchase the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan later. Therefore, please make your insurance decisions carefully.
If you purchase an insurance waiver, you must purchase insurance for the duration of your program. If you are in a multiple-year program, you must purchase in annual installments.
In the past, we have approved plans from the companies below. Not all plans meet the minimum requirements. Choose carefully.
- IMG
- ISO
- Student Medicover
- Tai'An
- WorldTrips
IMPORTANT: You may email your policy to jscholaradv@psu.edu before purchase to be sure it meets the requirements.
STEP 1
Purchase an insurance policy that meets the J-1 requirements at the top of this page. Coverage amounts must be in U.S. dollars, and your policy must be in English.
STEP 2
NEW SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation to the Medical Insurance form in your iStart checklist.
CONTINUING SCHOLARS -- Upload documentation to the Update Insurance Information form in iStart under J-1 Scholar Services.
What if I still have questions?
Contact First Student Customer Service if you have problems with their website.
Email jscholaradv@psu.edu
