Insurance and Healthcare

Insurance And Healthcare For J-2 Dependents

We certainly hope that your dependents do not become sick or injured while they are here; however, if it happens, you must be well-prepared with adequate medical insurance and a basic understanding of the U.S. health care system.

Please watch the following video about the U.S. health care system

This video teaches international students how to prepare for their arrival in the US, how the US healthcare system works and how students should seek medical care appropriately if they become sick or injured.
Also please visit www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/ for more information.
and view resources explaining how insurance works (courtesy of International Student Insurance)

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you MUST maintain adequate medical insurance for yourself and any J-2 dependents accompanying you for the duration of your J-1 program. If you willfully fail to maintain adequate insurance coverage as required by the U.S. Department of State, your J-1 exchange program will be terminated.

The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Often referred to as simply "the Affordable Care Act," this healthcare reform law was intended to increase access to health insurance coverage and benefits in the United States at lower costs. Part of this federal law is the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision. This provision requires everyone who is subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to meet one of the following requirements:

  1. Have qualifying health care coverage/minimum essential coverage; or,
  2. Qualify for a health coverage exemption; or,
  3. Make a shared responsibility payment (that is, pay a 'penalty' or 'fine') when filing his/her U.S. federal income tax return

You and your dependents may be subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Please note, however, that as nonimmigrants you do NOT qualify for government subsidies for healthcare (see below for further discussion).

A Note About Government Medical Assistance Programs

As nonimmigrants, you and your J-2 dependents should not apply for health insurance subsidies or use government medical assistance programs such as Medicare/Medicaid, or other government-funded public assistance programs including (but not limited to) food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, subsidized housing, etc. One of the conditions of your admission to the United States as a nonimmigrant is that you prove you have the financial means to support yourself and your dependents WITHOUT utilizing any form of government-funded public assistance. Utilizing U.S. government-funded public assistance programs may cause you to be deemed a "public charge" (someone who relies on the government for financial support) and may cause the immigration service to determine that you are in violation of your status. This could mean deportation from the United States and/or a bar preventing you from returning to the United States following an absence.