Medical care in the United States is extremely expensive. Without health insurance coverage, individuals who need medical care often go into debt for many years-sometimes for the rest of their lives-in order to pay back the medical provider (doctor or hospital) that treated their illness or injury.
For this reason, Rutgers University requires all F and J nonimmigrants who hold a Rutgers I-20 or DS-2019 to have health insurance that meets or exceeds the University's minimum required level of coverage. Please note that the requirement includes not only F-1 and J-1 visa holders on Rutgers' visa sponsorship, but also F-2 and J-2 visa dependents on Rutgers' visa sponsorship, as well.
Minimum Requirements for Health Insurance Coverage at Rutgers
All F-1s and J-1s on Rutgers' visa sponsorship and their F-2/J-2 visa dependents are required to have health insurance that provides at least the following level of coverage:
- The alternate coverage is currently active and the student agrees to maintain the health insurance coverage throughout the current semester.
- The plan offers an annual minimum of $100,000.00 in coverage per accident or illness.
- The plan must include a minimum of $7,500.00 for repatriation of remains and $10,000.00 for medical evacuation.
- Plan deductible does not exceed $500 per accident or illness per policy year.
- Plan covers inpatient and outpatient medical care within commuting distance of the Rutgers University campus area. Coverage that is only for emergency room care is not acceptable.
- Plan covers pre-existing conditions.
- Plan covers a minimum of $1,000.00 for prescription drugs per policy year.
- The plan has a maximum out of pocket limit of no more than $5,000.00 per policy year.
- The plan is provided by a company licensed to do business in the US with a US claims payment office and a US phone number.
- Must be an insurance plan (not a reimbursement plan) and the underwriting company must have a rating of either "A" or above by A.M. Best, "A-1" or above by Insurance Solvency International Ltd., "A -" or above by Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability, "B +" or above by Weiss Research, Inc.
The insurance policy available for purchase through Rutgers University offers the level of coverage listed above.
