Health Insurance
The US Department of State requires that J-1 exchange visitors and their J-2 dependents have sickness and accident insurance for the duration of the J-1’s program. Exchange visitors are required to present proof of insurance coverage at the time of check-in at Portland State University
Minimum coverage must provide:
- medical benefits ($50,000 per accident or illness),
- deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness,
- expenses associated with the medical evacuation to the home country ($10,000),
- and repatriation of remains ($7,500).
Option 1: Insurance Purchased or Provided In Your Home Country
If you will have insurance from your home country, it must meet US State Department minimum requirements outlined above. If the health insurance policy you have from your home country does not include medical evacuation or repatriation benefits you must purchase additional insurance to meet this requirement.
To review a policy that provides medical evacuation and repatriation benefits only, and can be purchased as additional coverage to your existing insurance plan, please visit
Option 2: Purchase Portland State University Accident & Health Insurance Plan
If you will not receive medical insurance coverage as part of your compensation from PSU, the university is now able to offer coverage directly through PSU upon your J-1 program dates. This policy is a major medical insurance policy and also includes the required medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. (Please note this insurance is different from the insurance provided by some PSU departments to scholars as a condition of their employment.) If you do not have health insurance from your home country or as part of your PSU employment and wish to purchase the PSU Plan, you may do so when you arrive in Portland. Please contact oia@pdx.edu for current costs.
Option 3: Portland State University Insurance Provided by Your PSU Department
If you will be paid a salary by PSU for your research or teaching at PSU, please check with your hosting department to see if your appointment includes the benefit of extended health insurance. Please note that most domestic health insurance policies, including those offered to employees of Portland State University, do not cover medical evacuation and repatriation, and the exchange visitor must purchase this additional coverage separately. All of the PSU insurance options lack at least two components required by your visa status:
- expenses associated with the medical evacuation to the home country ($10,000),
- and repatriation of remains ($7,500).
Please see attachment for more details. When you meet with the Human Resources staff after you arrive to select your PSU insurance option, you will want to share this document with them to make sure that insurance plan option you choose meets the US State Department requirements outlined at the top of this page.
To review a policy that provides medical evacuation and repatriation benefits only, and can be purchased as additional coverage to you’re a PSU insurance plan, please visit