Federal law requires J-1 exchange visitors and their J-2 dependents to have sickness and accident insurance for the duration of the J-1’s program. It is the sponsoring department’s responsibility to emphasize the importance of this requirement to the J-1 exchange visitor.
Exchange visitors should make insurance arrangements before departing their home country. Each J-1 exchange visitor must provide a completed Statement of Compliance when they attend the Mandatory Remote J-1 Check-In session, and with each request for an extension of their DS-2019.
Minimum coverage must meet or exceed the following:
| Item | Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|
| Medical benefits* | $100,000 |
| Repatriation of remains | $25,000 |
| Medical evacuation | $50,000 |
| Deductible per accident or illness* | $500 |
*Not all health insurance policies available to UW employees meet these coverage requirements. In addition, these plans generally do not include medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, and the exchange visitor will have to purchase this type of coverage separately. More information for exchange visitors is available on our Insurance Requirements page for J-1 scholars.
