Exchange Visitors

Minimum coverage must provide:

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of exchange visitors to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and
• Deductibles not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Given the realities of the US health care system and potential costs associated with it, CWU recommends students considering coverage with the following higher levels:

• Minimum annual maximum benefit of $1,000,000;
• Minimum pre-existing condition benefit of $2,500;
• Minimum repatriation coverage benefit of $25,000;
• Minimum medical evacuation coverage benefit of $50,000;
• Coverage for self-inflicted injury of not less than $10,000;
• Mental health conditions covered as any other illness;
• Coverage for injury incurred participating in intramural and club sports.

Exchange Visitors are required to have insurance for the full duration of their program, as determined by the program start and end dates printed on the DS-2019.

If you plan to travel within the United States before or after your program, we strongly recommend you extend the dates of coverage to include this time as well.

SEVEN CORNERS/ASPE

Designed for international students, visiting scholars, and others enrolled in an educational or cultural exchange program. Two plans are available. The Basic plan can meet the minimum requirements. However, it has several options for coverage built in, so you must be sure to select the levels that meet regulatory requirements. The Choice plan provides higher levels of coverage.

LewerMark

Designed for international students, visiting scholars, and others enrolled in an educational or cultural exchange program. Three plans available. Basic plan meets the minimum requirements. Additional plans provide higher levels of coverage.

PSI

Designed for international students, visiting scholars, and others enrolled in an educational or cultural exchange program. Three plans available. Maple plan meets the minimum requirements. Additional plans provide higher levels of coverage.

ISO

Designed for international students, visiting scholars, and others enrolled in an educational or cultural exchange program. Two plans available. Exchange plan meets the minimum requirements. Superior plan provides higher levels of coverage.

Students are not limited to the pre-approved policies or providers listed above; they may secure coverage from another provider, whether based in the US or in their home country. However, 22CFR§62.14 does also include minimum requirements for providers, as well.

Per regulations, any policy, plan or contract secured to fill the above requirements must, at a minimum, be:

• Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A−” or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of “A−” or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B + ” or above; a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A−” or above; a Moody's Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or
• Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; or
• Offered on a group basis to enrolled students by a designated sponsor.

When purchasing a policy other than one CWU has pre-approved, you must ensure that the provider meets one of these criteria.

If your insurance coverage satisfies all minumum requirements with the exception of medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, you purchase separate coverage for specifically for that.

Here is one option:

SOS INTERNATIONAL

SOS International offers a repatriation and medical evacuation policy that meets our requirements if you have other approved insurance and are only in need of this coverage to be compliant.

Due to statutory limits on deductibles, CWU's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unfortunately is not a permissible option for J-1 Exchange Visitors.

The following forms must be submitted via the Proof of Coverage and Compliance webform each time you initially purchase, change, extend, or otherwise update your insurance coverage:

• Receipt of plan purchase and/or confirmation of coverage letter showing dates of coverage;
• Current insurance card; AND
• English-language description of policy benefits (if submitting a non-pre-approved plan)

Click the link below to access the Proof of Coverage and Compliance webform and upload your documents.

Pre-Approved Plan

If you have secured your coverage through one of the pre-approved plans listed above, the deadline to submit documents for verification is the last day of the Schedule Change Period ("Add/Drop") each quarter. Each term's academic calendar is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Plan Requiring Approval

Plans requiring review and approval must be submitted no later two weeks prior to your program start date.

For J-1 Exchange Visitors, failure to demonstrate compliance with insurance requirements is grounds for termination of visa status.