Unpaid J-1 Scholars and J-2 Family Members

The University of Iowa requires all J-1 and J-2 family members to have adequate health insurance coverage during their stay in the United States. This protects you from the high costs of healthcare and ensures your financial wellbeing. Unpaid J-1 scholars must purchase health insurance through the University of Iowa. Dental insurance is optional.

Available Medical Plans

You and your family must be on the same health plan. These options cannot be waived, and the University will not accept alternate plans. Your coverage will always begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day.

To review a detailed side-by-side comparison of the available medical plans, please visit the accordion below:

Health Insurance Plan Comparison

Plan/Plan Provisions	SHIP (Student health insurance plan)	uiselect	uichoice
Providers	Any provider from the Alliance Select PPO network	Level 1 - UI Health Care Providers, Washington County Hospital and Clinics, Iowa One PC, Des Moines Level 2 - Providers in the Wellmark Blue HMO network Level 3 - Not covered except in emergencies	Level 1 - UI Health Care Providers, Washington County Hospital and Clinics, Iowa One PC, Des Moines Level 2 - all other providers that are not UI Health Care Level 3 - Participating providers from the BlueCard network and non-participating providers outside of the network
Annual Deductible	$500 single $1,000 family	Level 1 - $500 single $1,000 family Level 2 - $950 single $1,900 family	None. Deductible for inpatient care only for Levels 1, 2, and 3. See inpatient care deductible.
Annual Inpatient Care Deductible	See deductibles above	See deductibles above	Level 1 - $500 deductible, followed by 10% coinsurance Level 2 - $750 deductible, followed by 10% coinsurance Level 3 - $1,000 deductible, followed by 40% coinsurance
Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum (OPM)	Medical + Pharmacy OPM $5,000 single $10,000 family	Medical Level 1 - $2,300 single $4,000 family Medical Level 2 - $3,500 single $7,000 family Pharmacy $2,450 single $4,900 family	Medical Level 1 and Level 2 - $2,000 single $4,000 family Medical Level 3 participating and non-participating providers $2,500 single $5,000 family Pharmacy $1,850 single $3,700 family
Coinsurance	In-network - 20% coinsurance Out-of-Network - 40% coinsurance	Level 1 - 15% Level 2 - 25%	Level 1 - 10% Level 2 - 20% Level 3 - varies based on location and service
Preventive Care	In-network - plan pays 100% Out-of-network - 40% coinsurance	Level 1 - $0 copay Level 2 - $0 copay not subject to deductible	Level 1 - $0 copay Level 2 - $0 copay Level 3 - Participating providers - $0 copay Non-participating providers - 0% coinsurance (balance billing may apply)
Doctor on Demand	$0 copay	$0 copay	$0 copay
UI QuickCare	$25 copay per provider per date of service	Level 1 - $10 copay Level 2 - N/A	Level 1 - $10 copay Level 2 - N/A Level 3 - N/A
Urgent Care	In-network - $25 copay per provider per date of service Out-of-Network - 40% coinsurance	Level 1 - $15 copay Level 2 - $40 copay	Level 1 - $15 copay Level 2 - $30 copay Level 3 - 50% coinsurance
Emergency Room Services	$150 copay per visit for facility and physician(s) combined	Level 1 - $150 copay followed by 10% coinsurance Copay waived if admitted and Level 1 deductible applied followed by Level 1 coinsurance. Level 2 - $150 copay followed by 10% coinsurance Copay waived if admitted and Level 2 deductible applied followed by Level 2 coinsurance.	Level 1 - $125 copay followed by 10% coinsurance Copay waived if admitted and Level 1 inpatient deductible applied followed by Level 1 coinsurance. Level 2 - $125 copay followed by 10% coinsurance Copay waived if admitted and Level 2 deductible applied followed by Level 2 coinsurance. Level 3 - $125 copay followed by 10% coinsurance Copay waived if admitted and Level 3 deductible applied followed by Level 3 coinsurance.
Routine Eye and Hearing Exams	Not Covered	Level 1 - $40 copay Level 2 - $55 copay	Level 1 - $15 copay Level 2 - $30 copay Level 3 - 50% coinsurance
Office Visits	In-Network - Primary Care - $25 copay Specialist - $50 copay per provider per date of service Out-of-Network - 40% coinsurance	Level 1 - Primary Care - $15 copay Specialist - $25 copay Level 2 - Primary Care - $40 copay Specialist - $55 copay	Level 1 - $15 copay Level 2 - $30 copay Level 3 - 50% coinsurance
Mental Health Care Visit	In-Network - $0 copay per provider per date of service Out-of-Network - 40% coinsurance	Level 1 - $0 copay Level 2 - $0 copay	Level 1 - $0 copay Level 2 - $0 copay Level 3 - 50% coinsurance

Available Dental Plans

Dental insurance is optional and depends on what health plan you elect. If you elect dental coverage, the Student Dental Plan is available for those enrolling in SHIP, and the Dental II plan is available for those enrolling in UIChoice or UISelect.

To review a detailed side-by-side comparison of the available dental plans, please visit the accordion below:

Dental Plan Comparison

PLAN / Plan Provisions	STUDENT DENTAL	DENTAL II
Providers	Any Provider 3 Tiers: PPO - Preferred Provider Organization network PREMIER - Premier Delta Dental network NON-PAR - Dentists who do not participate with Delta Dental	Any Provider 3 Tiers: PPO - Preferred Provider Organization network PREMIER - Premier Delta Dental network NON-PAR - Dentists who do not participate with Delta Dental
Benefit Period	Calendar Year	Calendar Year
Annual Deductible	PPO $15 single $45 family Premier and Non-participating $25 single $75 family Deductible does not apply to check-ups and teeth cleanings	PPO - None Premier - $15 Non-participating - $15 Deductible does not apply to check-ups, teeth cleanings, or orthodontics
Coinsurance	Review the specific Dental plan details page.	Review the specific Dental II plan details page.
Maximum Annual Benefit	$1,000	Per member *$2,000, up to $4,000 with annual carryover
Diagnostic & Preventative Care ^{Dental Cleaning, Oral Evaluations, X-rays, Sealant Applications, Space Maintainers, Diagnostic Tests, Biopsy of Oral Tissue, Maintenance Therapy}	Deductible: None Coinsurance: 0% Max Annual Ben: $1,000	Deductible: None Coinsurance: 0% Max Annual Ben: Two per year
Routine & Restorative Care ^{Emergency Treatment for Pain, General Anesthesia/Sedation Anesthesia or Analgesia, Restoration of Decayed or Fractured Teeth,} ^{Limited Occlusal Adjustment, Routine Oral Surgery, Consultations,} ^{Antibiotic Drug Injections}	Deductible (single/family): PPO - $15 / $45 PREMIER - $25 / $75 NON-PAR - $25 / $75 Coinsurance: PPO - 10% PREMIER - 20% NON-PAR - 20%	Deductible (single/family): PPO - None PREMIER - $15 NON-PAR - $15 Coinsurance: PPO - 0% PREMIER - 20% NON-PAR - 20%
Endodontic & Periodontal Services ^{Root Canals,}^{Apicoectomy, Direct Pulp Cap} ^{Pulpotomy, Retrograde Fillings, Root Canal Therapy} ^{Gum and Bone Diseases,}^{Conservative Procedures} ^{Complex Procedures}	Deductible (single/family): PPO - $15 / $45 PREMIER - $25 / $75 NON-PAR - $25 / $75 Coinsurance: PPO - 20% PREMIER - 20% NON-PAR - 20%	Deductible (single/family): PPO - None PREMIER - $15 NON-PAR - $15 Coinsurance: PPO - 10% PREMIER - 20% NON-PAR - 20%
High Cost Restorations & Prosthetics ^{Crowns, Inlays, Onlays, Posts and Cores} ^{Bridges, Dentures, Denture Relining, Implants}	Deductible (single/family): PPO - $15 / $45 PREMIER - $25 / $75 NON-PAR - $25 / $75 Coinsurance: PPO - 50% PREMIER - 50% NON-PAR - 50%	Deductible (single/family): PPO - None PREMIER - $15 NON-PAR - $15 Coinsurance: PPO - 10% PREMIER - 20% NON-PAR - 20%
Orthodontic Care ^{Treatment necessary for the proper alignment of teeth}	Not Covered	Deductible: $0 Coinsurance: 50% ^{Orthodontic benefits are paid quarterly}

Enrollment Information

New and returning scholars must check in and attend the mandatory orientation hosted by the International Students & Scholar Services (ISSS) office. At the required check-in, this is where you will complete your health insurance paperwork.

U.S. immigration law requires that every J-1 exchange visitor and J-2 dependent maintain health insurance coverage for their stay in the United States. J-2 dependents must maintain continuous insurance coverage throughout the J-1 scholar program as indicated on the DS-2019. No exceptions will be allowed by International Programs or University Benefits.

How to Enroll

You will enroll in your plan(s) during the J-1 scholar check-in and orientation with the International Students & Scholar Services (ISSS) Office. Once your enrollment has been approved and authorized by ISSS, your form will be sent to University Benefits for processing. It may take 2-3 weeks to receive your insurance cards at your Iowa address. Please ensure your address is current in the system to avoid delays.

Paid J-1 Scholars: Enroll through your department.
Unpaid J-1 and J-2 Family Members: Fill out the pdf enrollment form below and submit it to the ISSS Office for processing.

Unpaid J-1 and J-2 Family Members Enrollment Form

Dental Insurance Enrollment

Enrolling in a dental insurance plan is optional. It can only be added and/or cancelled during the following situations:

At the check-in/orientation with ISSS when you arrive
Student open enrollment periods that occur at the start of each semester
- Fall Semester: August 1 to September 9
- Spring Semester: January 1 to February 9
- Summer Semester: May 1 to June 9
Employee Annual Open Enrollment, which occurs every fall with a coverage effective date of January 1.

Dental coverage must be maintained throughout the semester and cannot be dropped outside of an open enrollment period.

Please note: The dental plan available to you is based upon the health plan you elect. The Student Dental plan is available for those enrolling in SHIP, and the Dental II plan is available for those enrolling in UIChoice or UISelect.

Enrolling your J-2 Dependent(s)

Scholars who are already in the U.S. and invite J-2 dependents to join them must add the spouse and/or children to their UI insurance plan within 10 days of their arrival in the U.S. You must contact ISSS to complete this process. This process is also in effect if a Scholar gives birth here in the United States.

Paying for Insurance

Insurance premiums are billed monthly. Rates for student insurance plans are effective from September 1 to August 30, while UI employee health and dental plan rates are effective from January 1 to December 31.

You can pay for insurance by:

You receive a university bill sent to your Iowa address and pay it monthly by check, cash, or money order.
Automatic withdrawals from a local bank or credit union can be set up by filling out the University Billing Office's Authorization for Automatic Withdrawal U-Bill Payment Agreement (pdf).

The university is not able to access international addresses or financial institutions.

University departments and programs may choose to pay for J-1 Scholar and/or J-2 family insurance premiums even if the scholar is not on a paid appointment. Interested departments should contact ISSS for more information.

Note: University health insurance premiums cannot be prorated. If a J-1 Scholar arrives mid-month, they will be responsible for paying the whole premium for the entire month of coverage since it is mandatory to have health insurance coverage immediately upon arrival according to the appointment start date. This will also apply when the scholar departs mid-month; They will be responsible for paying the whole health insurance premium for that entire month to maintain coverage throughout the scholar's duration here.

Cancelling Insurance

Scholars or their dependents who cancel their UI coverage before their program ends will lose legal status as per U.S. law.

Your coverage will be continuous unless one of the following occurs:

Coverage will terminate at the end of the month in which you are no longer affiliated with the University of Iowa.
Coverage can only be terminated through the International Student & Scholars Services Office.
University Benefits will cancel coverage for non-payment of premium, which could result in losing visa rights!

If you enroll in dental insurance, you must maintain that coverage throughout the semester. You cannot cancel until the next student open enrollment period (beginning of each semester) or the University employee annual open enrollment period in the fall.

All enrollments and changes for unpaid J-1's must be authorized by ISSS. Questions should be directed to the International Student & Scholars Services Office at isss@uiowa.edu.

_{ABOUT OUR SITE: Our website's information describes only the plans' highlights and does not constitute official plan documents. Additional terms and conditions apply. If there are any discrepancies between the information contained herein and the official plan documents, the plan documents will govern.}

Unpaid J-1 Scholars and J-2 Family Members

Available Medical Plans

Medical Plan Comparison

Health Insurance Plan Comparison

Available Dental Plans

Dental Plan Comparison

Dental Plan Comparison

Enrollment Information

How to Enroll

Dental Insurance Enrollment

Enrolling your J-2 Dependent(s)

Paying for Insurance

Cancelling Insurance