Patriot Exchange vs Student Health Advantage Insurance

Patriot Exchange Insurance is a plan from IMG (International Medical Group), which is designed for international students and scholars coming to the US. International students coming to the US on F1 visa can buy F1 Student visa while research scholars, professors and exchange visitors coming to the US on the J1 Visa can buy J1 Visa Insurance.

J1 Visa holders also come to participate in programs that promote cultural exchange and to get medical and business training in the US. J1 visa holders are required according to the US immigration authorities to have J visa insurance. International students on the F1 Visa who are enrolled in an US University usually need to have a health insurance plan according to University rules.

The plan pays 10% of the first $10,000 with an out of pocket maximum of $1,000 within the provider network in the US, and the plan pays 20% with no cap (besides the maximum of the plan; so it’s a straight 80/20 plan) in outside the network in the US. Outside the US, there is no coinsurance. It offers $5 co-pay per visit to Student Health Center.

This student plans must satisfy rules and requirements that the University states. The University will have a health insurance plan that they recommend to students, or in some cases allow students buy private health insurance plan as long as it satisfies certain requirements. Students may also have their own unique requirements from the plan and each individual might need a particular benefit to be available on the plan. In this situation, it is a good idea to find student insurance plans online from reputed US companies.

International Students can buy Student Health Advantage and Patriot Exchange from IMG for international student insurance coverage for Covid illness.

Patriot Exchange

• Patriot Exchange student health insurance plan has been designed keeping the US Universities and their requirements for F1 and J1 Visa holders in mind. This plan satisfies typical university F1 and US immigration authorities J1 Visa requirements. This plan is unique when compared to other student plans, as it also allows the F2 and the J2 visa holders (dependants of F1 and J1 visa holders) to buy the plan without the F1 and J1 being on the plan respectively.
• The plan allows a maximum coverage starting from $50K, $100K, $250K and $500K with a lifetime maximum of $5000, 000. This is a per injury sickness plan. In a per injury sickness plan, the deductible is charged every time there is an expense is incurred for a new sickness. Another aspect with a per injury sickness plan is that the policy maximum amount will be reset to the same amount after an expense is incurred. There is no co-insurance with this plan.
• This plan covers all the requirements such as evacuation, repatriation…listed in the brochure of the plan. But this plan does not cover maternity and preventive care.

Student Health Advantage

• Student Health Advantage is another student plan from IMG that is designed to the needs of international students coming to the US for higher education. It meets the J1 visa requirements and is also suitable for F1 Visa holders and their dependents. There are two types of Student health advantage plans namely Standard and Platinum.
• The Standard plan has a maximum limit of $500K for the student and $100K for their dependent per period of coverage. The per injury illness maximum for this plan is $300K for student and $100K for their dependent. The deductible is $100 per injury and sickness. With this plan, outside the US, there is no co-insurance and within PPO network within the US, there is no co-insurance. Outside of the PPO network and within the US there is an 80% co-insurance that is applicable for the first $5K of the expense incurred.
• The Platinum plan has a maximum limit of $1M for the student and $100K for their dependent per period of coverage. The per injury illness maximum for this plan is $500K for student and $100K for their dependent. The deductible amount works a little different from the standard plan.
• The deductible for the expense incurred outside of the US is $25. Within the US and with a PPO provider, the deductible is $25 and for a Non PPO provider, the deductible is $50. This is a per injury illness deductible. The co-insurance works the same way as in the Standard plan. Platinum plan provides coverage for Maternity and new born care which is not available in the Standard plan.
• Both the standard and the platinum plans cover Sports, mental health... Both the plans also cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions. The standard plan has a 12 month waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions and the Platinum plan has 6 month waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Compare the benefits of Patriot Exchange and Student Health Advantage and select a plan that best satisfies your needs.