Health Insurance

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations governing Exchange Visitor Programs (22CFR514.14) require that the EV and his/her dependent(s) obtain health, accident, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains insurance. A qualifying insurance policy MUST provide:

  • medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
  • repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
  • expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000
  • a deductible not to exceed $250 per accident or illness

J-1 Exchange Visitors at UCLA are required to follow procedures for 1 of the 3 health insurance options listed below depending on their UCLA appointment title. If you are not sure of which category you fall into, please contact your department for clarification.

  1. Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plan (PSBP) 
    Postdoctoral Scholars are required to enroll in the Postdoctoral Scholar Benefits Plan (PSBP). Information regarding eligibility, requirements, and enrollment process can be found on the Gallagher site at https://clients.garnett-powers.com/pd/uc/ . Your UCLA academic department will assist you with enrollment when you arrive as part of the hiring process.

  2. UCLA Employee Medical Benefits 
    If you are a UCLA employee, you may be eligible for medical benefits. Your UCLA academic department will assist you with enrollment when you arrive as part of the hiring process. Medical benefits coverage for UCLA employees does not include the following:

    • repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
    • expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000

    Medical evacuation and repatriation of remains coverage may be purchased separately through BETiNS to fulfill the J-1 visa requirements.
     
    The UC CORE plan and the UC Health Savings plan does not meet the J-1 visa requirements due to the deductible amount.
     

  3. Visiting Scholar Insurance Plans
    In addition to meeting federal regulations, all exchange visitors are also required to meet the appropriate campus or institutions’ medical insurance requirements. All J-1 exchange visitors appointed through UCLA Graduate are required to enrolling the Visiting Scholar Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan (VSISP) through Garnett-Powers & Associates. Information regarding eligibility, requirements, enrollment and the waiver approval process can be found on the UCLA Graduate Division website at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/vshlthbnft.htm as well as on the Garnett-Powers site at http://www.garnett-powers.com.