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 Highmark Lion Traditional PPO plan through Penn State's HR portal, Workday, 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 Highmark Lion Traditional policy.  You have several purchasing options for this coverage.  We accept medical evacuation and repatriation policies from the following companies:

  • ISO 
  • WorldTrips
  • Trawick  
  • UHCSR (formerly First Student) – scroll to end of this webpage for enrollment instructions 

STEP 1

Purchase medical evacuation / repatriation of remains coverage for the entirety of your Program (DS-2019 dates).  Remember to include all J-2 dependents on your policy.  Save a PDF of your confirmation of coverage that includes:

  1. Your name and the names of your J-2 dependents
  2. Dates of coverage (must match the dates of your program)
  3. Amounts of coverage

We cannot accept screenshots from insurance quotes, only a screenshot of your confirmation of coverage.

STEP 2

NEW SCHOLARS -- Use the Medical Insurance form in your J-1 Incoming Scholar Checklist to upload your offer letter and your confirmation of coverage for evacuation/repatriation.

CONTINUING SCHOLARS -- Use the Update Insurance Information form under J-1 Scholar Services in iStart to upload your confirmation of coverage for evacuation/repatriation and your “Benefit Elections as of Date” PDF from Workday.

 

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!  The university health plan follows the academic year: August 13, 2023 to August 12, 2024. At this time, you can only purchase up to August 12, 2024.

The start date of your insurance is your Program start date on your DS-2019.  The end date of your insurance is your Program end date on your DS-2019 or August 12, 2024 (whichever comes first).

If you start on August 1, 2023, you will have to purchase two plans: One from August 1, 2023 to August 12, 2023; and the other from August 13, 2023 to your Program end date or August 12, 2024 (whichever comes first). 

Contact UHCSR Customer Service if you have problems with purchasing from their website. Unfortunately, we are not UHCSR employees and cannot help you.

STEP 1

Purchase insurance through UHCSR (formerly First Student) – scroll to end of this webpage for enrollment instructions

The plan includes major medical insurance benefits as well as medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.

ESTIMATED Penn State Student Health Plan Costs (2023-2024 Academic Year)

  Daily
Scholar $10.03
Spouse $10.03
Child $10.03

IMPORTANT! We cannot accept screenshots from insurance quotes, only a screenshot of your confirmation of coverage.

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.  

 

CATEGORY 3:  YOU ARE A SCHOLAR WITH ANOTHER INSURANCE POLICY

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 are looking for a budget-friendly option and you are willing to travel off-campus for medical treatment, you may purchase your insurance from another company, if it meets the U.S Department of State 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 (e.g., in the event of pregnancy).  Therefore, make your insurance decisions carefully.

If you purchase an insurance waiver, you must purchase insurance for the duration of your Program (dates of your DS-2019).   NOTE: Insurance companies in the United States only permit insurance purchases of 365 days, so confirm your Program dates match the dates of insurance.  If you are in a multiple-year program, you must purchase insurance in annual installments.

IMPORTANT! We cannot accept a plan that does not meet the U.S. Department of State requirements listed at the beginning of this webpage.  It must specify that your medical coverage is per accident or illness.  There are no exceptions.

In the past, we have approved plans from the companies below. Not all plans from these companies meet the minimum requirements.   Choose carefully.

  • IMG
  • ISO 
  • Student Medicover
  • Tai'An
  • Trawick
  • WorldTrips 

IMPORTANT! You may email your policy to jscholaradv@psu.edu before purchase to confirm it meets the U.S. Department of State requirements.  

STEP 1

Purchase an insurance policy that meets the U.S. Department of State requirements at the top of this page.  

Coverage amounts must be in U.S. dollars.  Your policy must be in English and include the following information:  

  1. Your name and the names of your J-2 dependents
  2. Dates of coverage (must match the dates of your program)
  3. Amounts of coverage

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? 

Email jscholaradv@psu.edu

Contact UHCSR Customer Service if you have problems with purchasing from their website. Unfortunately, we are not UHCSR employees and cannot help you.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Purchasing the Penn State Evacuation/Repatriation Policy (Category 1 only)

This coverage is $110 per person per academic year.  It is not a pro-rated policy, meaning you cannot buy this coverage by the day or month.

For enrollment in UHCSR Penn State Medical Evacuation / Repatriation:

  • Go to the UHCSR website and choose your campus. 
  • Select 2023-2024 as your policy year.
  • Scroll down and Click Read More on "Global Travel Services."  
  • Click the link for American College Student Association.
  • Click on the Enroll Now button (it is in the middle of the moving image).
  • A new page opens.  Scroll down and enter your information.
  • On the next page, for Health Insurance Provider, type "Highmark."
  • For Health Insurance Member ID, enter your Penn State ID number.
  • In the dropdown, select Single Coverage, currently $110 per person.
  • Enter your payment information.
  • Check the box to confirm that you agree with the terms and conditions and click Continue.
  • Review your information and click the Enroll Now button.
  • Save the PDF that confirms your coverage.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Purchasing the Full Coverage Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan (Category 2 only)

For enrollment in Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan ($10.03 per day per person): 

  • Go to the UHCSR website and choose your campus. 
  • Select 2023-2024 as your policy year.
  • Scroll down and Click Explore Policy on "Medical – Graduate Plan."  
  • Click on the Get Started Button.
  • If you are a current customer, and want to renew your policy, click Log In.
    • You must use the username and password for your UHCSR.com MY ACCOUNT (where you download ID cards and claims)
    • This is not your FirstStudentOnline.com login account information!
  • If you are a new customer, click Continue as Guest.
  • In the dropdown box “Please Select,” scroll to the very bottom and select “Visiting Faculty/Scholars” or “Visiting Scholars.”
  • Enter your answers for the dependent questions.
  • Select the start date for your insurance.
  • Select the end date for your insurance.
    • For new scholars, this will be your DS-2019 Program End Date or August 12, 2024, whichever comes sooner.
    • For continuing scholars, this will be your DS-2019 Program End Date or August 12, 2024, whichever comes sooner.
  • On the next page, enter your personal information.
    • For SSN or ITIN, enter your Penn State ID number if you do not have a Social Security Number.
    • For School Assigned ID, enter your Penn State ID number.
  • On the next page, choose your payment type, and type in your name twice to act as a signature. 
  • Then on the next page, enter your payment information.
  • Save the PDF that confirms your coverage.