Health Insurance for Scholars and Employees
U.S. health care differs from many countries and can be expensive—insurance is essential. Federal and Massachusetts rules impose insurance requirements for students, residents, and J‑1 visitors. ISSO provides guidance, but you are responsible for confirming any plan meets applicable requirements.
Massachusetts requires minimum health coverage for all residents; failure to maintain it can lead to tax penalties. See the Massachusetts Attorney General’s website for details.
Health Insurance Benefits for Boston University Employee
Eligible employees may join the BU health plan regardless of immigration status. Note that BU coverage typically begins the first of the month on or after your hire date. Human Resources offers weekly new-employee orientation with benefits details.
Important for J-1 employees: J-1 employees must meet additional J-1 insurance requirements. BU’s health plans do not cover medical evacuation or repatriation of remains. You must purchase supplemental coverage for those benefits. You may also need to purchase short-term coverage for the period before your BU coverage is effective. The following companies offer supplemental plans that include medical evacuation and repatriation of remains (listing is informational only and not an endorsement). These providers also offer plans for non–benefits-eligible employees and affiliates that combine this supplemental coverage with basic travel insurance:
ISSO also recommends J-1 employees choose the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plan, as BU’s other plan does not meet J-1 deductible requirements.
Health Insurance for Visiting Researchers, Non-Benefits-Eligible Employees & Other Affiliates
Requirements for Massachusetts residents and J-1 exchange visitors apply regardless of BU affiliation. Review these options to obtain required coverage:
- Home-country policy: Some countries provide policies valid abroad that may meet J-1 requirements. If you use a foreign policy, confirm it is accepted in the U.S., meets all J-1 criteria (including medical evacuation and repatriation), and does not lapse after absence from the home country. Purchase a supplemental policy if evacuation/repatriation are not covered.
- Direct purchase / ACA-compliant plans: ACA-compliant plans meet broader “minimum essential coverage” requirements and can be a good option. ACA plans typically do not include evacuation/repatriation, so you would need a supplemental policy for those benefits. New J-1 scholars may be exempt from the ACA mandate for the first two calendar years of their program (unless they have prior U.S. visa history). See the Massachusetts Health Connector for enrollment options. Beware low-cost MassHealth programs, which may create public-charge concerns affecting future immigration benefits.
- Private insurers: Many private carriers offer plans that meet or exceed J-1 minimums and may include evacuation/repatriation and ACA-level coverage. If your chosen plan lacks evacuation/repatriation, buy a supplemental policy.
Examples of providers offering J-1–compliant plans (informational only, not an endorsement):