J-1 students have a legal obligation to maintain health insurance for the duration of their program which meets the following requirements:

  • 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 the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
  • A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Degree-seeking students are automatically enrolled in UVM student health insurance which meets the J-1 requirements. Exchange students may either enroll in UVM student insurance or show proof of an alternate insurance as described below. 

Exchange Students - Documenting Proof of Insurance

To submit your insurance information to the OIE, log in to iStart and under the exchange student tab you will find the verification. Students who do not have health insurance with the requirements as listed above will be enrolled in UVM health insurance. The cost will be your responsibility to cover. Current cost information is available from the Center for Health & Wellbeing. Deadlines for insurance documentation for exchange students will be outlined in pre-arrival communications, but is generally around July 15 for fall (August) students and December 15 for spring (January) students. The following applies to UVM’s exchange students:

ISEP Students: Many exchange students come to UVM through ISEP. ISEP’s MedEx insurance meets the above requirements. However, if you are an ISEP student, you still must show proof of your ISEP insurance. Please log in to iStart and demonstrate your ISEP insurance.

Bilateral Exchange Students: All other students must show proof of a University-sponsored insurance from home, or an insurance which you have privately purchased. This insurance will be reviewed and compared to the requirements listed above. If you know you wish to be on UVM health insurance, please log in to iStart and indicate that to us.