Health Insurance & Medical Resources

It is strongly recommended that all scholars purchase sufficient entry-to-exit health insurance coverage, as health care in the U.S. is very expensive. In addition, J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents are required to maintain health insurance for the duration of their program and to provide proof of coverage to OISS to maintain their valid immigration status.

Minimum requirements for health insurance under J-1 regulations

  • Medical benefits of at least $100,000 for each accident or illness (a higher benefit is better)
  • Medical evacuation in the amount of $50,000, should you need to be sent home on the advice of a doctor
  • Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000, should you die while in the U.S.
  • Coverage must include the semester for which you are at Rice University
  • Minimum 75% coverage for each accident or illness
  • Maximum deductible of $500 per condition per plan year
  • A pre-existing “wait period” limitation of no more than six months
  • The policy must be backed by the full faith and credit of home country government (for those covered by their home country's national insurance plan), or the company providing the insurance must meet minimum rating requirements established by the U.S. government (an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-1" or above, a Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above).
  • Policy must be in English
  • All exchange visitors and any accompanying dependents may also be subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (22 CFR 62.14(a))

Insurance Options for J Scholars

Rice-sponsored J scholars can choose from 4 options to meet the legal visa requirements:

Option 1: Rice benefits plan through Aetna + supplemental medical evacuation and repatriation (ME&R) coverage through Betins

Additional ISI short-term coverage may be required if your Rice employment start date is not the 1st of the month.
⚠️ Please note that Academic Visitors and Visiting International Undergraduate Researchers are not benefits-eligible and therefore not eligible for this option.

Rice benefits plan through Aetna

The following options are accepted for J-1 immigration purposes:
1. Aetna Memorial Hermann ACO
2. Aetna Select HMO

Learn more about these medical plan options at https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/medical-plans.

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains (ME&R)

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains (ME&R), which are required for J visa compliance, are not covered by the Rice benefits plans through Aetna. Therefore, when choosing the Aetna plan, Rice employees with J Exchange Visitor visas will also have to purchase a supplemental Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains coverage from another insurance company, Betins: https://www.betins.com.

ISI short-term coverage

The Rice Aetna plans start on the first day of each month. Employees with an employment start date on the first day of the month can enroll in Aetna any day of that month. Employees with an employment start date other than the 1st of the month will be able to enroll in Aetna the following month and must purchase one of the approved ISI insurance plans for the interim period between their program start date and the start date of their Aetna plan. See the ISI section below for more information on accepted plan options.

Enrollment steps

Step 1: Check your Rice program start date. If your program at Rice starts on the first of the month, you may move directly to step 2.
If your Rice employment start date is other than the 1st of the month, purchase one of the approved ISI insurance plans to cover you until your benefits start date.

Step 2: Enroll in Rice benefits. For more information, please see https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/newly-hired-benefits-eligible.

Step 3: Enroll in a supplemental Medical Evacuation & Repatriation plan through Betins. Select the "BETA Scholastic Evacuation and Repatriation" option.

Option 2: IFS/PSI insurance plan for Rice scholars

This option is not available if you have J-2 dependents.

Learn more about this plan at https://www.psihealthplans.com/Rice.

Enrollment Questions: contact@insuranceforstudents.com
Benefits and Claims Questions: UnitedHealthcare Student Resources Int'l, P.O. Box 809025 Dallas, TX 75380-9025, 1-888-251-6253
Preferred Provider Network: UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus PPO

The plan is administered through IFS/PSI. IFS stands for Insurance For Students, and PSI is Pinnacle Student Insurance.

Option 3: ISI International Student Health Insurance

The following ISI options are accepted for J-1 immigration purposes:
1. Student Journey Lite
2. Student Journey Plus
3. Student Secure Select
4. Student Secure Elite

Please note that the Select and Elite options are not available if you have J-2 dependents.

Learn more about these plans on the International Student Insurance website.

For questions:
• Toll-Free (U.S. & Canada): +1 (877) 758-4391
• International: +1 (904) 758-4391
• Email: info@internationalstudentinsurance.com
• Live Chat: Available on their website during business hours.

Option 4: ISO J1 Exchange Plan

The following ISO options are accepted for J-1 immigration purposes:
1. J1 Exchange
2. J1 Exchange Superior

Learn more about these plans on the ISO website.

For questions:
• Phone: +1 800-244-1180; +1 212-262-8922
• Email: customercare@isoa.org
• Live Chat: Available on their website during business hours.

Additional option for J-2 Dependent Insurance: Voyager Plus from ISO

It is recommended that J-2 dependents enroll in the same insurance plan as the J-1 scholar. However, if you are a current J-1 scholar and wish you add a J-2 dependent during your program, this may not be an available option.

If you require separate coverage for a J-2 dependent only, you may enroll them in the ISO Voyager Plus plan at https://www.isoa.org/voyager-plus.

All the options above meet the minimum J requirements, and only these options will be accepted for immigration purposes. If you wish, you’re welcome to enroll in additional insurance plans beyond what is required to meet your individual needs.

Special note: J students should refer to https://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu for their insurance options.

Providing Insurance Proof to OISS

All Rice-sponsored J visa holders are required to submit proof of insurance coverage to OISS for the full duration of their program. Please review the sections below for guidance that applies to your situation.

Current J-1 Scholars

If you extend or change your insurance coverage during your program at Rice, upload your updated health insurance documents at https://bit.ly/J-insurance.

Make sure each file you upload is titled with your full legal name, as documents that cannot be identified will be discarded.

The official confirmation document of your insurance enrollment must include the name of the beneficiaries on the policy (i.e., the J-1 and J-2 visa holders), the policy name, and the period of coverage.

If you do not maintain continuous coverage, your J-1/J-2 SEVIS immigration record will be subject to termination the day after your insurance expires, and you will no longer be eligible to engage in your program activities.

New J-1 Scholars

Upload the health insurance documents in the OISS Portal as part of your immigration check-in process.

The official confirmation document of your insurance enrollment must include the name of the beneficiaries on the policy (i.e., the J-1 and J-2 visa holders), the policy name, and the period of coverage.

OISS cannot validate your immigration record as active without proof of health insurance, which would result in a termination of your J SEVIS immigration record. Therefore, it is important that you submit your health insurance documentation as soon as possible when starting your program at Rice.

Accepted Insurance Documents

Rice Benefits Plan through Aetna Insurance

Rice benefits through Aetna

Provide your "Benefits Confirmation and Summary" document. Alternatively, you can access an enrollment summary through iO:

  1. Log in to your iO account (http://io.rice.edu/). Please note that you will have access to your iO account only after you check in with HR)
  2. Go to "Me" menu item
  3. Click on "Benefits"
  4. Click on "View all enrollments" in the "Enrollment Summary" section
  5. If you are providing proof of continued enrollment, you can change "Current enrollment" to the "As of date" of your continued coverage.
  6. Print the report to a PDF file and provide it to OISS

BETA Scholastic Evacuation and Repatriation plan from Betins

Provide the document titled "Confirmation of Coverage," which must include your name and the effective dates of coverage.

Click here for an example of the required document.

IFS/PSI Insurance Plan for Rice Scholars

Download and provide the document titled "Confirmation of Coverage" from your online account. The document must include your name and the effective dates of coverage.

Click here for an example of the required document.

ISI Alternate Insurance Plan

Provide the document titled "Confirmation of Coverage," which must include your name and the effective dates of coverage.

Click here for an example of the required document for the Student Secure plans.
Click here for an example of the required document for the Student Journey plans.

ISO J1 Exchange Alternate Insurance Plan

Provide the document titled "Confirmation Letter," which must include your name and the effective dates of coverage.

Click here for an example of the required document.

Additional Resources