All exchange visitors (both J-1 principals and J-2 dependents) are required to have sickness and accident insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance in effect for the duration of their exchange visitor status. 22 C.F.R. § 62.14
In compliance with immigration regulation 22 C.F.R. § 62.14, for J exchange visitors, BYU–Hawaii requires all enrolled students to show proof of health insurance coverage (receipts, contracts etc.) to International Student Services at internationalstudent@byuh.edu.
You will be eligible for Student Medical Benefit only if you are attending BYU–Hawaii on a full-time basis which means you are taking 12 or more credits.
If you plan to apply for annual leave, you are required to enroll in the BYU–Hawaii Student Medical Benefit.
If you plan to go back to your home country or another country for your Internship/AT or OPT, you need to submit a confirmed flight itinerary to Beth Martin for verification. beth.martin@byuh.edu or (808) 675-3512
If you plan to do an internship, pre-completion academic training (AT) or curricular practical training (CPT), you will be covered by the Student Medical Benefit; however, you need to inform the Health Services to ensure duration of coverage.
However if you have graduated and still have AT or OPT to do, you must use a third-party insurance. At the bottom of this page is a list of insurance companies who have the same type of coverage as the SMB.
IF YOUR AT/OPT IS PARTIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY, YOU MUST HAVE A THIRD PARTY INSURANCE TO COVER YOUR IN COUNTRY PORTION OF YOUR AT.
NOTE: You must present proof of your coverage to Beth Martin and to the International Student Services office.
To ensure that individuals coming to the U.S. under the J Exchange Visitor Program have adequate health insurance, the U.S. Department of State has stipulated these minimum standards:
Medical benefit of at least $100,000 per person per accident or illness.
Deductible that does not exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Coverage of pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period.
J patient cannot be required to pay more to exceed 25% medical costs.
Minimum medical evacuation expenses in the amount of $50,000.
Minimum repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000.
The insurance company must meet minimum industry rating requirements (an A. M. Best rating of 'A-' or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of 'A-i' or above, a Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of 'A-' or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above).
If you require third party insurance while doing your AT/OPT, here are a few companies that you may contact to purchase Health Insurance that meet the standards mentioned above: