Health Insurance

All J-1 visitors and their J-2 family members are required to have the following minimum health insurance coverage throughout their stay:

• Medical benefits of at least $50,000 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/her country in the amount of $10,000
• Deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness

As an employee, you will be eligible to enroll in the Institute's health insurance plan upon your start date with the Institute, which will meet this requirement. However, you may wish to purchase an interim health plan for your travel to the United States (U.S.) and if you will be arriving in the U.S. before your start date with the Institute. Please see Gateway Plans  for information on an insurance plan called Gateway USA . Medical insurance not provided by Van Andel Institute should meet the requirements above, and the insurance corporation underwriting the policy must have one of the following ratings:

• A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above
• Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above
• Standard & Poor’s Claims paying Ability rating of “A-” or above
• Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above

J-2 Dependents

If your J-2 dependents will be arriving separately after your arrival and intend to reside with you in the U.S. for the duration of your stay, you will have only 30 days to enroll them in the Institute’s health insurance plan upon their arrival to the U.S. Please contact Margie Hoving as soon as they arrive in the U.S.

If your J-2 dependents will just be visiting you for a limited period of time and will not be residing with you for the duration of your employment with the Institute, they will not be eligible to enroll in the Institute’s benefit programs. They will need to purchase health insurance coverage on their own (see the Gateway plan mentioned above) and provide documentation of their health insurance coverage upon their arrival.