Massachusetts law requires all Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. Additionally, the Department of State requires that all J-1s and J-2s have medical insurance that meets the established minimum requirements for the entirety of their J-1/J-2 program.* This requirement is the result of a concern to "protect the health, safety, and welfare of foreign nationals who come to the United States as exchange visitors."
Failure to enroll in medical coverage within 30 days of arrival on a J-1 may result in the termination of your J-1 sponsorship.
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Medical evacuation and repatriation is available free of charge to all students and scholars visiting UMass (paid and unpaid).
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
- Policy must be secured to meet the benefits requirements and be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the participant's policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country.
The U.S. Health System and insurance options are complex and expensive. You can learn the basics of the U.S. Health Insurance here.
- Currently enrolled J-1 Students will be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan. If you waive the UMass SHBP, your personal plan must meet the requirements noted above and you must report it using the e-form below.
- J-1 Students on post-completion Academic Training will need to determine how long their UMass Student Health Insurance is valid. Once it has expired, you will need to update your insurance information using the e-form below.
- You must have insurance that begins upon arrival to the U.S., but you do not need to provide this information until after arrival.
- J-1 Scholars on UMass Payroll (i.e., employees)
- Employees in positions represented by the Postdoctoral Researcher Organizing (PRO) bargaining unit are eligible for health insurance coverage from the first date of employment.
- Employees in all other positions will have a wait time of 60 days before they are eligible for the university health plans.
- You will need to purchase private medical coverage to satisfy the J-1 requirements until the eligibility date passes to enroll in the University health insurance.
- J-1 Scholars on UMass Payroll (i.e., employees)
- J-1 Scholars will provide insurance information for themselves (and dependents if applicable), in the Arrival Form after entering the U.S.
- If your insurance changes during your program, update it using the e-form below.
If you need to updated your insurance coverage, please submit the J-1 Insurance Coverage Update E-form.
UMASS is not affiliated nor responsible for these plans and we do not endorse any specific company.
If you purchased health insurance in your home country or have insurance from your home institution or home government, please ensure that it covers all the J-1 requirements listed above and covers you and any J-2 dependents during your entire J-1 program.
Health Insurance that can be used at University Health Services at UMass Amherst:
- United Health Care: The only option available that allows usage of University Health Services on the UMass Amherst campus. For instructions on how to complete the information on the website, please click here.
Additional plans that are NOT covered by University Health Services at UMass Amherst:
- International Student Insurance
- ISO International Student Insurance
- Compass Benefits Group website
- HTH Worldwide Insurance Services website
- There are more companies that specialize in insurance for J-1 scholars/J-2 dependents that can be found through an online search.
It is your responsibility to get details about the plan you choose. It is important to know whether you will need to pay first and then get reimbursed (this can be very costly) and what doctors or hospitals will accept the insurance plan you choose. Most of these plans do NOT cover prior health problems (pre-existing conditions). They are travel/accident insurance and offer minimal coverage and sometimes large deductibles.
