Best health insurance for F2 visa holders

What is an F2 visa?

An F2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to the dependents of F1 visa students. Eligible dependents include the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old of an international student studying in the United States on an F1 visa.

F2 dependents can stay in the U.S. as long as the F1 visa holder maintains valid status. In other words, the F2 Visa status is not valid once the principal F1 Visa holder loses his or her legal Visa status. The law does however allow F2 Visa holders to change their visa status within the country.

F2 dependents are allowed to:

• Enter the U.S. with the F1 student or join them later.
• Live in the United States for the duration of the F1 visa holder’s legal status.
• Travel in and out of the U.S. freely, as long as the primary F1 status remains valid.

Dependents on an F2 visa can purchase their own health insurance plans, even if the F1 student has a different plan. Having medical insurance is strongly recommended because U.S. healthcare costs are very high.

Do F2 Visa Dependents Need Separate Health Insurance in the USA?

Yes. If you are an F1 visa holder bringing your dependents, it is important for them to have separate F2 visa health insurance. The best health insurance for F2 dependents provides comprehensive medical coverage, routine checkups to emergency hospital visits for spouses and children.

Most university-sponsored health insurance plans do not cover dependents, which can lead your spouse or children to high medical expenses. Having a separate F2 visa holder health insurance ensures your family has access to quality medical care while staying in the US.

Key benefits of health insurance for dependents are:

• Coverage for doctor visits and routine wellness checkups
• Preventive care and child vaccination benefits
• Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
• Prescription drug coverage
• Access to nationwide PPO networks with discounted rates

With the best F2 health insurance, international students can focus on their studies while knowing their spouse and children are protected with strong, affordable health insurance in the USA.

What Are the F2 Visa Health Insurance Requirements?

The U.S. Department of State does not mandate health insurance requirements for F2 visa holders. However, most U.S. universities that mandate health insurance for F1 students also require or strongly recommend that their F2 dependents (spouse and/or children) have health insurance.

This is because that healthcare cost is very expensive in the U.S., and having a proper F2 visa health insurance plan keeps medical care accessible and affordable. Health insurance can help protect families from substantial out-of-pocket costs resulting from illness or emergencies/wellness visits.

What Does F2 Visa Health Insurance Typically Cover?

US health Insurance benefits for F2 visa holders often include coverage for various medical expenses and emergencies. Here are some common benefits typically provided by F2 visa insurance plans:

• Medical Expenses Coverage: This includes coverage for doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, prescription drugs, and other medical services deemed necessary.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: In case of a serious illness or injury that requires specialized medical care, emergency medical evacuation coverage helps arrange and cover the cost of transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility.
• Repatriation of Remains: If a covered individual passes away while in the U.S., this benefit covers the expenses associated with transporting their remains back to their home country.
• Emergency Dental Treatment: Coverage for emergency dental treatment for the relief of pain or repair of teeth damaged due to an accident.
• Maternity Care: Some plans may offer coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care, though coverage for maternity-related expenses can vary widely between insurance plans
• Mental Health Coverage: Coverage for mental health conditions and treatments, including therapy and counselling services.
• Preventive Care: Coverage for preventive services such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings.
• Emergency Assistance Services: Access to 24/7 assistance services such as multilingual customer support, medical referrals, and assistance with lost travel documents.
• Travel Assistance: Assistance with travel-related issues such as lost luggage, trip interruption, or emergency travel arrangements due to unforeseen events.

Consider factors such as network coverage, deductible amounts, and co-payment requirements when choosing an insurance plan for F2 visa.

What Is the Difference Between an F1 and F2 Visa?

The F1 Visa insurance issued for full time students enrolled in any University in the US, college, high school, private elementary school, seminary or training program in the US.

The F2 Visa insurance is issued for any dependents of F1 Visa holder, including the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old, who wish to accompany or join the F1 student in the United States.

What Are the Documents Required for F2 Visa Insurance?

• A valid passport.
• F2 Visa applicants must prove with documents that there is sufficient financial resources to meet their expenses while in the USA. Example; bank statements, affidavits of support.
• A valid Form I-20 or DS-2019. Submit this form to the International Office with all required certification. The issue date on these forms needs to be after the date of marriage in order for the spouse to apply for a visa.
• A marriage or birth certificate showing the relationship to the F-1 student.

What to look for when buying F2 health insurance?

• Comprehensive medical coverage: Look for the F2 dependent visa insurance coverage that includes doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency care, diagnostic tests, and prescription drugs.
• Maximum coverage: Choose a plan with the policy with a maximum coverage limits that the total amount the insurer will pay during the policy period. Coverage limits ranges from $50,000 to $500,000 and higher. It is recommended to get the highest maximums so you do not have a larger out-of-pocket amount to pay.
• Deductibles and Co-insurance: Determine your deductible, the amount you are responsible to pay out-of-pockets before the insurance starts paying for your medical coverage. Then consider the co-insurance terms, such as an 80/20 plan, where you pay 20% of the costs and the insurance company covers the remaining 80%. Look for insurance that balances your exposure to coverage costs with adequate coverage.
• Preventive services: Look for coverage that includes routine health checkups, vaccinations, and preventive screenings, especially for children.
• Direct billing and PPO network: Check if the plan offers direct billing through a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) network. This helps avoid upfront payments and simplifies the claims process.
• Maternity coverage: Not all F2 health insurance plans will cover pregnancy-related care including prenatal visits, delivery and newborn care. Therefore, if you plan to have a family while in the U.S., choose a plan with maternity benefits.
• Exclusions and limitations: Always review the policy exclusions, waiting periods, and limitations to avoid surprises when you need care.

What Are the Types of Insurance for Dependents of F1 Visa Holders?

F2 visa holders as dependents of F1 international students have two choices for health insurance in the U.S.- university-sponsored group health insurance plan or private health insurance plans.

Most U.S. colleges and universities provide group insurance plans for international students, and a few of these plans allow F1 students to add their F2 dependents (spouse or child) for an additional cost. These plans offer comprehensive coverage, which includes doctor visits, emergency care, preventive services, and hospitalization.

However, these plans will cost significantly more expensive for a dependent when compared to an F1 student policy. The premiums for dependents may be two to three times higher, which can be a financial burden. Also, not all schools offer dependents coverage, and even if they offer any coverage, the cost and terms may not be favorable.

Alternatively, F2 dependents can buy private health insurance on American Visitor Insurance. These plans are designed for international visitors and visa holders, offering customizable and affordable premiums than university-sponsored group plans. Our F2 health insurance plans allow dependents to choose and design plans that fit their medical needs and budget.

However, not all plans offer the same level of benefits or provider networks, and some may have exclusions or limitations, it is important to carefully compare F2 visa health insurance options.

Patriot Exchange Insurance for F2 Visa Holders

Patriot Exchange insurance, offered by International Medical Group (IMG), is an excellent health insurance option for both F1 and F2 visa holders. It is especially convenient for dependents because the F2 visa holder can purchase Patriot Exchange even if the primary F1 student is not enrolled in the same plan. The only requirement is that the F1 visa holder must have some form of health insurance either through their university or another acceptable plan.

This flexibility makes Patriot Exchange ideal for F2 dependents (spouse or children) who need reliable, affordable coverage that meets most university and program insurance recommendations. The plan provides comprehensive medical benefits, emergency services, and access to a strong PPO network, ensuring quality care anywhere in the U.S.

Which Is the Cheapest Health Insurance for F2 Visa Students in USA?

What are the best health insurance for F2 visa dependents?

What factors affect the cost of F2 visa travel insurance plans?

The F2 visa medical insurance cost depends on various factors such as:

• Age of the traveler: The cost of health insurance is directly proportional to the age of the applicant. The older the traveler and greater will be the cost of the F2 Visa health insurance in USA.
• Medical maximum: Plans with higher coverage limits (e.g., $50,000, $100,000, or $1,000,000) will generally cost more.
• Type of US travel insurance: Comprehensive plans (covering a wide range of medical services) tend to be more expensive than fixed benefit plans which has specific limit for each treatment.
• Region of coverage: US travel insurance for F2 visa depends on the coverage region. The cost for health insurance for the United States is most expensive.
• Duration of stay: The cost of the trip insurance directly depends upon the length of travel.
• Deductibles: Plans with higher deductibles are typically cheaper but require you to pay more out of pocket in case of a claim.
• Any add on benefits: Additional add-on benefits to the basic insurance for tourist plan like adventure sports coverage, coverage for pre-existing conditions… will add to the overall cost.

Is Obamacare required for F1 and F2 visa holders?

Health Insurance is essential not just for F1 Visa holders but also for F2 Visa holders (dependants of F1 visas). Given the high cost of US healthcare, the Affordable care act, commonly known as Obamacare had in fact makes it mandatory for everyone in the US to have health insurance. The cost of US healthcare has continued to increase even though F1 and F2 Visa holder are not expected to satisfy Obamacare unless living in the US for more than Five years..

Irrespective of the individual mandate, it is too risky to not have proper health insurance given the high cost of US healthcare. It is therefore strongly recommended to have proper medical insurance coverage for the spouse or children of an F1 Visa holder. The plans that we offer do not satisfy ACA requirement but are designed for F2 Visa holders to help them handle high US healthcare costs, especially in emergency medical situations.

Health Insurance for F2 Visa Holders - FAQ's

What are the restrictions of F2 visa insurance?

• Employment regulations - F2 Visa holders in the USA can not accept employment and earn income. In case the F2 Visa holder wants to work in the US then he/she will have to get a work visa. With the work Visa they can get a temporary approval to live and work in the US. It is illegal for foreigners to work in the USA without proper Visa and will be expelled from the country.
• Studying on a F2 visa - F2 spouse are not supposed to join full time university in the USA or any part time courses toward completion of degree. F2 children are allowed to participate in full-time elementary or secondary study (kindergarten through 12th grade.)

Insurance for Travelers Coming to the US on an F1 Visa