Introduction
The healthcare system in the United States can be a bit confusing for immigrants who may not be aware of the details such as health insurance.Having a health insurance while on the OPT or H-1B can help create a sense of security while reducing stress among international students and workers in the U.S. You can obtain health insurance on different visas including OPT, OPTX, and H-1B.In the U.S. the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000 while the cost to fix a broken leg goes up to $7500. Healthcare insurance is coverage for expensive healthcare services in the U.S.In this article, we will take you through everything you need to know about health insurance for OPT and H-1B workers.
Health Insurance for OPT Students
International students can feel secure with OPT student health insurance that is provided by universities. Many universities have made it mandatory for their students to have health insurance before enrolling in classes.For instance, the University of California-Berkeley mandates international students for health insurance coverage with the students automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), and charged a health insurance fee.OPT students must follow the rules set by their respective schools on OPT health insurance. Your school may or may not offer you to purchase school-sponsored insurance.OPT student health insurance matters for many reasons, including avoiding uncontrollable high medical bills, reducing risk of F1 visa complications, and avoidance of losing opportunities and time while sick.
Best Health Insurance Plans for OPT and OPTX Students
Choosing health insurance for international students is quite easy when you have some of the best health insurance plans for OPT and OPTX students to choose from. Some of these health insurance plans are as follows:
Student Secure
- The Student Secure health insurance plan is crafted to benefit international students and scholars studying abroad. You can choose from their various plans, including Smart, Budget, Select, and Elite.
- The plans are meant to fit the budget of the students as well as school and government requirements for OPT and OPTX students.
Atlas Travel
- Atlas Travel plan is a medical insurance package for international travelers.
- Students on OPT and OPTX can build their plan while getting a choice on deductible, coverage length, and overall maximum coverage.
- You can increase key benefits on your health insurance coverage upon purchase.
GeoBlue Student Medical Coverage
- GeoBlue Student Medical Coverage is a health insurance that offers high-quality insurance.
- The most popular plans within this medical coverage plan are Navigator, GeoBlue Navigator, and the Voyager plan.
- This health insurance plan is designed for international students who will remain outside of their home country for three or more years. Likewise, this plan also includes options for immigrant students in the U.S. who meet F1 visa requirements.
Visitors Coverage
- The health insurance for OPT students by Visitors Coverage includes all necessary aspects like medical coverage, emergency services, emergency medical evacuation, and mental health coverage.
- Insurance coverage starts right after the insurance holder leaves their home country.
International Students Insurance
- ISO is the world’s biggest student insurance provider for international students' insurance.
- OPT workers students can enjoy this insurance as long as they are on a valid OPT visa.
- Students can waive school requirements or visa status at an affordable rate with the international student's insurance.
Student Medicover
- Student Medicover is the most affordable health insurance for OPT students.
- Multiple insurance plans and flexible coverage plans
- Medical and mental health coverage
- 24-hour online professional customer service
Requirements of the Health Insurance for OPT and OPTX Students
The following are the requirements of the Health insurance for OPT and OPTX students in the U.S.:
- Sufficient Policy Maximum: As an international student, you must have a policy maximum of a minimum of $50,000 for health insurance.
- Maternity Coverage: For female students, it is mandatory to have maternity coverage with at least 80% coverage on prenatal care, delivery, and post-natal care.
- Mental Health Coverage: This coverage is essential for universities to ensure that not only are their students physically but also mentally healthy and sound.
- Pre-existing Condition Coverage: In case you have a pre-existing health condition, you should get insured for the same with pre-existing condition coverage.
- Repatriation of Remains Coverage: For OPT and OPTX students, it is necessary to have repatriation of remains coverage under the purchase of your health insurance to safely deliver your mortal remains to your home country.
- Low Deductible: To ensure minimum out-of-pocket costs, you must have health insurance with a low deductible per condition or policy period.
Health Insurance for H-1B Visa Holders
Health insurance for H-1B holders is essential because of the expensive healthcare facilities in America.It is not possible to spend less on healthcare unless you have health insurance. Therefore, it has become mandatory for H-1B visa holders to have health insurance.Though a bit tricky to understand, health insurance in the U.S. becomes clearer once you understand the types and the eligibility for each type of health insurance.
Types of H-1B Health Insurance
The two types of H1B health insurance are:
Short-term H-1B health insurance
You don’t become eligible for ACA (Affordable Care Act) compliant health insurance coverage as soon as you get your H-1B visa. This is because you are still considered a visitor or a temporary resident for the first six months of your arrival in America.However, H-1B holders can still purchase an H1B visa health insurance from private companies until they become eligible to purchase long-term H-1B health insurance.
Long-term (domestic) H-1B insurance
Once you complete 6 to 10 months in the U.S., you can enjoy long-term coverage through insurance with ACA-compliant H-1B health insurance. Even though you don’t hold a green card, you become alien to tax purposes, which makes you eligible for long-term H-1B insurance.You can get H-1B health insurance either with the help of your employer or the marketplace itself.
Requirements of the Health Insurance for H-1B Visa Holders
H-1B visa health insurance requirements depend primarily on whether you are eligible for Private Health Insurance or Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance.
Private Health Insurance
If you are a contract worker under an H-1B visa and don’t have employed-sponsored health insurance, then private health insurance is the perfect option for you.You can either purchase a policy offered by a licensed insurer or purchase insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Employers will provide employer-sponsored health insurance to full-time employees that covers the health insurance of not only the employee but also their dependents, including spouse and children (even if they are not the U.S. citizens).This type of health insurance costs less than the employer reimburses either some or all of the costs. You may be fined when submitting tax returns if this health insurance is not compliant with ACA.Employers are required to cover ObamaCare’s Essential Health Benefits (EHB). What is covered is listed below:
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient care
- Emergency services
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health services
- Prescription drugs
- Laboratory services
- Preventive care and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services for children, including dental and vision care
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services
A minimum requirement of the Health Insurance for H-1B Visa Holders is that the insurance must be compliant with ACA. If your health insurance is not compliant with ACA, then you may face a penalty when filing your tax income return.
Best Health Insurance Plans for H-1B Visa Holders
The best health insurance plans for H-1B visa holders are as follows:
GeoBlue Xplorer Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime medical maximum
- Available for travelers up to age 74
- Customizable as per traveler’s needs
- Medical benefits include inpatient and outpatient care, Medical Evacuation and repatriation, Optional Dental and Vision Care, Optional Maternity Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, etc.
IHC Secure
- From 50% up to 80% out-of-pocket amount satisfied through either Secure STM and Secure Lite
- Availability of a 10-day free look-back period with 15 days prior cancellation from the next monthly payment
- Available for applicants up to age 64
Humana
- Coverage for individuals above age 65
- Dental, hearing, and vision healthcare benefits for both individuals and families
- The same Medicaid and Medicare benefits for all regardless of where they live
Cigna
- 24-hour access to multilingual service support
- Health insurance is purchasable within 10 minutes online
- Flexible plans to cater to one’s needs and budgets
- Medical care includes hospital stays and treatments
Aetna
- Emphasis on women’s health, mental health, and health insurance rights and resources
- 24-hour access to virtual care support
- Coverage includes health screenings, mental health support, fitness reimbursement, and more.
Conclusion
International students on OPT or OPTX and international workers on H-1B visas are responsible for finding the best coverage.Hence, it is important to make an informed decision making about health insurance whether you are on an OPT, OPTX, or H-1B visa.
FAQs
Are OPT students required by U.S. law to have health insurance?
Though the U.S. law does not mandate OPT students to have health insurance, it is always wise for them to have coverage.The legal requirements for OPT students regarding health insurance coverage include the Affordable Care Act (ACA), school requirements, and employer benefits.However, in the most cases universities require to be either enrolled to health insurance they provide or to a private one that meets school's expectations.
What is the Affordable Care Act?
The Affordable Care Act or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) represents the U.S. healthcare system's expansion of health insurance coverage and the most significant regulatory overhaul after the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.
How much does an OPT insurance plan cost?
Health insurance for OPT students can cost you anywhere from $35 to $150 per month.
What factors affect health insurance for international students?
Some factors that affect health insurance for international students are visa, transitions, school, cost and coverage.
When should F1 OPT students buy health insurance?
F1 OPT students should buy health insurance before the beginning of their OPT period as they transition from an F1 student visa to OPT status.
Does the U.S. OPT insurance cover COVID-19?
Whether U.S. OPT insurance covers COVID-19 or not depends on the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. Some insurance companies included that into their plans already.
What limitations should I check with the health insurance provider?
The limitations you should check with the health insurance provider are:
- Whether you can use international student health insurance when you visit your home country.
- Does the insurance cover maternity?
- How much should you pay for hospitals after being deductible?
- What happens when you get into accidents such as a car accident?
Should I go for the cheapest plans available to me?
The cheapest plans only cover small medical expenses. Therefore, don’t go for the cheapest plans available to you.
What does H-1B health insurance cover?
Long-term H-1B health insurance covers doctor’s visits, hospitalization, emergency services, surgery along with pre-existing conditions, and maternity.On the other hand, short-term H-1B health insurance only covers doctor’s visits, hospitalization, emergency services, surgery, etc.
What are the two important periods to remember for health insurance as an H-1B visa holder?
The two important periods to remember for health insurance as an H-1B visa holder are Non-Resident Alien Status (first 6–10 months) and Resident Alien Status (after 6–10 months).