Health Insurance: Scholars (all non-Duke students)

(The below information is applicable to all scholars working and conducting research at Duke University, and is MANDATORY for all J-1 and J-2 visa holders.)

The Need for Health Insurance
It is very unwise to be in the United States without adequate health insurance. Although in many countries the government bears the expense of health care for its citizens, individuals and families in the United States are responsible for these costs themselves. Since a single day of hospitalization and medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars, many hospitals and clinics refuse to treat uninsured patients except in life-threatening emergencies. A good medical insurance plan is the only protection against the enormous costs of health care in the USA.
 

If you are a J-1 or J-2 visa holder, you MUST have a medical insurance policy that meets certain conditions the entire time you are in the United States. To view these Medical Requirements go to Duke Visa Services webpage on J Visitor Exchange Program.

J-1  and other scholars Employed by Duke

Will you be getting a monthly paycheck from Duke and therefore are a Duke employee?

If you are not sure, then please contact your sponsoring department immediately and ask them. Generally speaking, to quality for the Duke Employee Health Insurance Plan, you must be employed 40 hours per week.  Ask your department.  NOTE: Students employed on campus are not eligible for the Duke employee health insurance.

If you are eligible for the Duke Employee Medical Insurance, you will go to a Benefits Orientation a few weeks after you start working at Duke.  This is when you will sign up for the Duke Employee Medical Insurance.  Again, make sure to ask a representative from your department about registering for the Benefits Orientation. To learn more about the different options for the Duke Employee Medical Insurance, go to: http://www.hr.duke.edu/benefits/health/

The Duke Employee Medical Insurance DOES NOT cover Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains for J-1 visa holders.  Therefore you must purchase additional insurance to cover these two areas.  International House has an insurance plan, International SOS, which covers these two areas only.  The yearly costs are as follows:
Individual: $68
Individual & Spouse: $130
Individual & a Child: $130
Individual & Family: $200
For more information email: ihouse@duke.edu or call 919.684.3585.

NOTE: Clinical House Staff employees sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) do not need to purchase additional insurance for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains. This policy is already purchased for you by the ECFMG.

J-1 Scholars and J-2 Dependents Not Employed by Duke

If you will not be employed by Duke, first determine if
• your home country medical insurance policy will cover you while in the United States
• your home country medical insurance policy satisfies the six J-1 visitor insurance requirements. Click here to see what the six requirements are.

If your home medical insurance policy meets all the J-1 health requirements while in the States, then you must obtain a statement in writing verifying this coverage in detail and bring this statement with you to the United States.

If your home medical insurance policy WILL NOT cover you while in the United States, then you can either purchase a medical insurance policy that will OR you can purchase a Medical Insurance policy after you arrive to Duke.

If you want to purchase a Medical Insurance Plan from your home country, take the J-1 Medical Insurance Requirements to your local insurance office or travel office. Ask the insurance agent to determine if their company has a Medical Insurance Plan that meets all the requirements of the J-1 Medical Insurance. If they do, you will purchase the medical insurance for the length of time you are in the United States. International House and Duke Visa Services cannot legally verify if your home medical insurance plan meets all of the J-1 health insurance requirements. You must verify this yourself or have an insurance agent from home to do so.

If you do NOT purchase a medical insurance plan from your home country, then International House has applications for four different Medical Insurance Plans that meet all the J-1 visa requirements:

International Scholar Medical Insurance Comparison Chart

Please note that none of these Medical Insurance Plans cover a Pre-Existing Condition (i.e. a medical condition you have had prior to signing up for the plan. If you are already pregnant prior to signing up for the plan then pregnancy expenses will not be covered.)  Compass and The Plan do cover pregnancy if one conceives after enrolling in the plan.  If interested, we can assisted you in registering for one of these plans during Scholar Orientation.

Medical Insurance for Travel to United States and First Month at Duke
We recommend that everyone purchase a traveler’s medical insurance for his or her first month at Duke. WHY? If you are an employee and eligible for the Duke Employee Health Insurance Plan, the Plan does not begin until one month after your start date at Duke.  If you are NOT an employee and plan to purchase a Medical Insurance Plan from International House, it may take several weeks to do so, or to finalize your decision.

Therefore we strongly recommend that all J-1 scholars and dependents arrive in the United States with a one-month traveler’s insurance. The only exception would be if you have purchased a Medical Insurance Plan from home for your entire stay at Duke and therefore you are covered from the start.

The Need for Health Insurance
It is very unwise to be in the United States without adequate health insurance. Although in many countries the government bears the expense of health care for its citizens, individuals and families in the United States are responsible for these costs themselves. Since a single day of hospitalization and medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars, many hospitals and clinics refuse to treat uninsured patients except in life-threatening emergencies.  A good medical insurance plan is the only protection against the enormous costs of health care in the USA.

How Medical Insurance Works
When you purchase a medical insurance plan, the money you pay (the monthly premium) is combined with the premiums of other subscribers to form a pool of money. This money is then used to pay the medical bills of subscribers who need medical insurance. Your medical coverage remains valid only as long as you pay your medical insurance premiums.

Once you purchase medical insurance, your insurance company will provide you with an identification card you will show when you have to go to the hospital or clinic. The insurance company will evaluate any doctor’s bill (also called  a claim) that you file and make the appropriate payment to you based on your particular medical policy. In some cases the insurance company pays the hospital or doctor directly. In other cases the company reimburses you directly.

Click here for the handout Finding a Doctor.