The University of Arizona requires all international students on a nonimmigrant visa to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan through Campus Health. You will be automatically enrolled and billed for insurance every fall and spring semester within 3 business days of registering for classes for that term.
Learn more about the Student Health Insurance Plan.
J-1 Immigration Requirement
If you are in J-1 status, you must have health insurance during your entire stay in the U.S. If you have dependents in the U.S on J-2 visas, they are also required to carry health insurance. Not carrying insurance that meets the minimum requirements is a violation of your status and can result in termination of your SEVIS record.
Below are the minimum requirements that the health insurance plan for you and your dependents should meet according to the immigration regulations (22 C.F.R. § 62.14). These requirements are also explained on page 2 of the Form DS-2019.
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of exchange visitors to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- Deductibles not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
Insurance policies secured to fulfill these requirements:
- May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions that is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;
- May include provisions for coinsurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and
- Must not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.
Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fill the above requirements must, at minimum, be:
- Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A-“ or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above, a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A-“ or above; a Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or
- Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country; or
- Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or
- Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization or eligible Competitive Medical Plan as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
J-1 Students: You will be insured through Campus Health. The coverage plan offered meets the minimum requirements.
J-2 Dependents: J-2 spouses and children cannot be insured through Campus Health. You must purchase private insurance for them. When purchasing a private health insurance plan you must make sure it meets the requirements above. Most insurance plans do not include repatriation and medical evacuation, so you might have to purchase additional coverage.
Here are some examples of health insurance providers that offer plans tailored to international students. We do not endorse or monitor these insurance companies or their plans.