This information applies to J-1 Exchange Visitors in the Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, and Student Intern categories only. If you are an exchange student working with Partner School Exchange Coordinator Amila Tica, these plans are not approved for your program. Exchange students will receive information about pre-approved health insurance directly via email.

The University of Florida and U.S. Immigration Law require all J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors to have sufficient health insurance for the duration of the J-1 program. Coverage must remain active even when you or your J-2 dependents are outside the United States. 

Willful failure to maintain adequate health insurance coverage will result in serious consequences for your J program and immigration record.

Pre-Approved Health Insurance Plans for J-1 Scholars 

Below is a list of pre-approved health insurance plans. UFIC highly recommends these plans as we work closely with these companies and can provide additional assistance if there are any issues.  

If you select one of these plans, providing proof of health insurance is simple: simply submit a copy of your insurance ID card(s).  

 

Pre-Approved Private Plans: 

  • International Student Protection (ISP) - UF Scholar Trail Blazer Plan 
    • 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. 
    • No maternity coverage. 
    • For more information and to enroll, click here. 
  • Professional Service, Inc. (PSI) - Gold Plan OR Platinum Plan  
    • PSI Gold: 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. 
    • PSI Platinum: Pre-existing conditions are covered with no waiting period. 
    • Both PSI Gold and Platinum plans have some maternity coverage. 
    • For more information and to enroll in either PSI Gold or Platinum, click here. 
  • UnitedHealthcare - Student Health Insurance Plan 
    • UnitedHealthcare for UF is administered by Hub International.   
    • Pre-existing conditions are covered with no waiting period. 
    • Some maternity coverage. 
    • You can find more information in the coverage brochure.
    • To enroll in the UnitedHealthcare plan, you must contact Hub International representative Kim Wood.  

Notes:

  • Each plan listed above has a one-month minimum. 
  • Please review the coverage information carefully to ensure that you are purchasing a plan that covers your particular healthcare needs. 
  • If you have J-2 dependents: J-2 dependents can be added as dependents on any of the above plans. However, J-2 dependents cannot enroll in any of those plans separately.  
    • IMG Patriot Plan 
      • A pre-approved plan that offers separate coverage for J-2 dependents. 
        • To be approved, the policy maximum must be at least $100,000. 
      • This plan is only pre-approved for J-2 dependents, not J-1 exchange visitors.  
      • For more information and to enroll your J-2 dependents, click here. 

 

Pre-Approved UF-Sponsored Plans:

Your UF offer letter will indicate if you are eligible for UF benefits. If you are eligible and choose to enroll in UF-sponsored health insurance:  

  • You must purchase at least one month of external insurance coverage for yourself and your J-2 dependents (if applicable) until your UF-sponsored plan is active. 
  • You must enroll in UF benefits within 60 days of the start date on your form DS-2019. 
    • Enrollment in UF-sponsored health insurance is not automatic.  
    • For questions about UF benefits and/or the hiring process, please contact your department's Human Resources representative.  
       
  • State of Florida – Standard PPO and Standard HMO 
    • The high deductible versions of the PPO and HMO plans do not meet visa requirements and are not acceptable plans.  
    • State of Florida plans do not meet the J-1 medical evacuation and repatriation requirements. You must purchase a supplemental plan (e.g., BETA Scholastic) that provides appropriate coverage for the duration of your program. 
  • GatorCare   
    • GatorCare plans satisfy all J-1 requirements including medical evacuation and repatriation.  
    • For more information, click here.  

 

Supplementary Insurance:

  • BETA Scholastic Plan 
    • This plan can only be used as a supplement to an insurance plan that does not provide medical evacuation and repatriation (e.g., State of Florida plans).   
    • For more information and to enroll, click here.  

 

Other Insurance Plans:

  • If you want to select an insurance plan that is not listed above, you must: 
    • Ask your insurance provider to complete the insurance verification form. 
      • You must submit the completed form to EVS.  
      • If your insurance provider cannot confirm all the items listed on the form, then your insurance plan will not be accepted. 
    • If approved, this insurance must be purchased for a minimum of 90 days.    

 

J-1 Insurance Coverage Requirements 

If you do not purchase a pre-approved health insurance plan, the plan you choose must meet the following requirements:
  1. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness; 
  2. Mental/Nervous Conditions Expense Benefit and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Expense Benefit: 
    1. Benefits are provided for psychotherapeutic treatment and psychiatric counseling and treatment for an approved psychiatric diagnosis. 
    2. Benefits are for both inpatient mental health treatment in a hospital or approved facility and for outpatient mental health treatment. 
    3. Benefits are provided for inpatient and outpatient services including diagnosis, detoxification, counseling, and other medical treatment rendered in a physician's office or by an outpatient treatment department of a hospital, community mental health facility, or alcoholism treatment facility. 
    4. So long as the facility is approved by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals or certified by the U.S. Department of Health. 

Inpatient Expense: Up to a minimum of 40 days. 
OUT-OF-NETWORK PROVIDER: Inpatient expense up to a minimum of 40 days. 
80% coverage for in-network and 70% coverage for out-of-network. 

Outpatient Expense: Up to a minimum of 40 visits. 
OUT-OF-NETWORK PROVIDER: Outpatient expense up to a minimum of 40 days. 
80% coverage for in-network and 70% coverage for out-of-network. 

  1. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000; 
  2. Medical evacuation in the amount of $50,000; 
  3. A deductible not to exceed $500

    (also may include a 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions and 25% co-payment); 

  4. Policy shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates; 
  5. Any insurance policy secured to fulfill these requirements must meet minimum insurance solvency rating: 
    1. Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A" or above, a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above; 
    2. Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; OR 
    3. Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; OR 
    4. Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 
  6. Must be acceptable in all medical facilities. 

NOTE: EVS does not accept Seven Corners, Visit, and Inbound insurance policies. 

Please send all insurance confirmations to evs@ufic.ufl.edu.