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:
- Medical benefits of at least $250,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains benefits in the amount of $7,500
- Medical evacuation benefits in the amount of $10,000
- A deductible that does not exceed $500 per accident or illness
- A coinsurance no greater than 26% of the covered benefits per accident or illness (coinsurance is the portion of the eligible charge which is the insured person's financial responsibility)
- 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. or, may be backed by the "full faith and credit" of the visitor's government
The insurance policy available for purchase through Rutgers University offers the level of coverage listed above.
