International Student Insurance Requirements

International students who have J or F immigration status are required by The University of North Carolina System to carry health insurance as a condition of enrollment at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  In addition, as part of the United States Department of State J Exchange-Visitor visa regulations, all J-1 Exchange Visitors are required by government regulations to carry health insurance for themselves and their J-2 dependents throughout the duration of their academic program. 

Any J-1 exchange-visitor who willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage, or makes a material misrepresentation to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concerning such coverage, will be in violation of his/her immigration status and subject to termination as a J-1. 

Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fill the health insurance requirements must, at a minimum, be:

1. Underwritten by an insurance corporation having 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; or
2. Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of an exchange visitor’s home country; or
3. Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or
4. Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 Minimum Health Insurance Plan Requirements for J or F Immigration Status 

1. The health insurance plan must have a minimum medical benefit of $50,000 coverage for each specific illness or injury.
2. The plan must have a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
3. The plan must provide at least $7,500 in benefits for repatriation of remains to the home country in case of death.
4. The plan must pay up to $10,000 for medical evacuation to the home country.
5. The plan must provide coverage of activities inherent to the Exchange Visitor’s program.

NOTE: Campus Health Services is unable to file claims with an international insurance company. We can provide the necessary paperwork for the student to file their own claims.