Who Needs F2 Visa Insurance?
Health insurance for F2 visa holders should be considered for dependents of F1 visa holders. An F1 visa allows an international student to study in the U.S. Dependents, such as a spouse and/or unmarried children under 21 years of age, can join the student in the U.S. on an F2 visa. Even though international student insurance for someone on an F2 visa is not mandated by the U.S. government, it is extremely important for everyone to have medical insurance for their entire duration in the U.S. Medical expenses are very high in the U.S. Health insurance is essential, as you would be solely responsible for unaffordable expenses without it.
Potential Difficulties With F2 Visa Insurance
Many schools in the U.S. offer health insurance to students studying on an F1 visa. Since 2014, Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant (Obamacare compliant) health insurance plans are the insurance plans being offered by these schools. These plans will have no policy maximum, as well as provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, maternity and preventive care, among other benefits.
The majority of F2 visa holders tend to be females of child-bearing age, and may be looking for F2 visa maternity insurance. They could have checkups, maternity and delivery claims, or other types of claims. Maternity and delivery expenses are very high in the U.S. Therefore, the schools that offer health insurance to dependents of international students will typically charge two to three times more than the F1 visa person rate. Such premiums are simply unaffordable to most people on an F2 visa.
Some schools only offer medical insurance to the student, and not to the dependent(s).
Looking at very high claim rates, many international student medical insurance plans also provide insurance only to an F1 visa holder, but not to the dependents on an F2 visa. Some plans provide F2 visa insurance coverage only if the F1 visa holder is buying the same plan. Even in that case, the premiums for the dependent spouse are much higher; often three to four times higher.
Solution
Many schools require full-time students and their dependents to enroll into an ACA compliant health insurance plan offered by the school. In that case, F1 and F2 visa holders have no choice but to do so, no matter what the price is.
However, if the school does not have such requirements, many international travel medical plans can provide excellent F2 visa benefits.
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ExchangeGuard
This is a great plan for F2 visa holders. It is available for durations as little as five days, and up to 4 years. You can choose the deductible and co-insurance that works best for you. After you pay the chosen deductible, the plan pays either 100% or 80% of eligible expenses up to the policy maximum. It is very popular for families with young children, because for every parent insured under the plan, a dependent child 9 years of age and younger is covered at no additional cost. For this reason, it is considered a family-friendly plan. Complete Details
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Atlas Essential America
It is available for any duration up to 12 months. After you pay the deductible, it pays 70% up to the policy maximum. Complete Details
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Atlas America
This plan is very similar to Atlas Essential America, except that it will cover 100% up to the policy maximum, after you pay the deductible, of course. Complete Details
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Patriot America Lite and Patriot America Plus
In both the plans, after the deductible, within the PPO network, it will pay 100% up to the policy maximum. Outside the PPO network, it will pay 90% for the first $5,000 and 100% up to the policy maximum after that.
Both the plans are available up to two years.
Restrictions
F2 visa insurance plans will generally cover any medical conditions, injuries or accidents that may occur after the effective date of the policy. They will not cover any expenses related to maternity, delivery, preventive check ups, immunizations or pre-existing conditions. Some of the plans will cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Please look at the details of each plan for more information.
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