J-1 Scholar Pre-Arrival Guide - Office of International Education ...

E‐mail Access
Your Georgia Tech e‐mail account is the official means for the institute to communicate with
you. You should check it every day. You can set up your Georgia Tech e‐mail to be forwarded to
another e‐mail account if you choose. The administrative manager in your academic unit will
assist you with getting your Georgia Tech network access and email account.
Health Insurance
The insurance requirements are outlined on the back of your DS‐2019. You will be asked to
provide proof of your insurance to OIE upon arrival in the US. Here are some ways to provide
proof:
A. If your insurance policy is with an insurance company in your home country: You must
provide a copy of policy describing your coverage. An English translation is expected.
B. If you will be hired by Georgia Tech: You may be eligible for health insurance benefits,
and it is important to verify with your hiring department to see if you are eligible. If you
have health insurance coverage due to employment status, you will still need to provide
proof of medical evacuation and repatriation insurance since none of the Georgia Tech
health insurance plans provide this coverage. You can purchase separate medical
evacuation and repatriation insurance coverage before or upon arrival in the US.
C. If you will not have pre‐arranged insurance coverage in the US: You will must purchase a
plan that at least covers the basic requirements. J scholars are eligible to purchase the
Blue Cross Blue Shield plan available to GT students and scholars at the voluntary plan
group rate or identify another suitable plan that meets your personal needs and budget.
There are many health insurance options and a J‐1 Exchange Visitor is responsible for finding an
insurance plan that meets the Department of State requirements and personal needs. The
insurance must cover the J‐1 and any J‐2s for the entire period of stay in the US. It is not
necessary to use a US company to be insured although the NAFSA Association of International
Educators Marketplace offers a good starting point to identify insurance companies that offer
products specific to travelers to the U.S. for temporary periods.
http://nafsainternationaleducationmarketplace.com/
As a reminder, these are the current J insurance requirements. This information is also outlined
on the back of your DS‐2019:
1. Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness.
2. Repatriation or remains in the amount of $7,500.
3. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to
his/her home country in the amount of $10,000.
4. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
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