Insurance

Santa Clara University requires all F-1 and J-1 visa students to have health insurance.

F-1 and J-1 visa students will be automatically enrolled into the SHIP regardless of number of units, and can waive enrollment ONLY if they have health insurance that meets Minimal Essential Coverage (MEC) requirements.

If you are not already in possession of a U.S. based health insurance, we recommend purchasing SHIP rather than an alternative policy.

J-1 visa holders who waive out of SHIP will need to provide proof of insurance that meets immigration requirements.

Visit the university Insurance website for more information.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Insurance Requirements

The insurance coverage must provide the following minimum coverage:

Minimum medical benefit of $100,000 per person per accident or illness;
Deductible that does not exceed $500 per accident or illness;
Minimum repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
Minimum medical evacuation expenses in the amount of $50,000; and
Co-insurance paid by J-1 not to exceed 25% of covered benefits per accident or illness.

Insurance policies:

May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions that is reasonable as determined by current industry standards; and
Must not unreasonably exclude coverage for the perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which you participate.

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

Underwritten by an insurance corporation having:

An A.M. Best rating of “A-“ or above; or
A McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above; or
A Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above; or
A Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A-“ or above; or
A Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or

Be backed by the full faith and credit 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 of Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Insurance Needs Outside of SHIP

If you will arrive in the U.S. prior to the effective date of your insurance, we recommend purchasing a supplemental policy to cover that time. Please email iss@scu.edu for recommendations.

If you need insurance on OPT/STEM OPT, please email iss@scu.edu for a list of OPT insurance providers.