Understanding your insurance
The US Department of State requires every J-1 participant to have health insurance for the full length of their program, and the coverage has to meet minimum standards. Your Resort Leaders plan meets and exceeds those requirements.
Your policy starts on the date of your flight to the USA and ends on the date you arrive home. It is your responsibility to make sure your insurance dates match your travel dates.
Your insurance provider
Your policy is provided and managed through Envisage Global Insurance (EGI). Once your policy is active, you manage everything through the EGI Student Zone, where you can:
- View your plan details and coverage summary
- Download your insurance card and policy documents
- Use the Virtual Doctor service, where available
- Find a doctor or hospital near you
- Submit and track claims
- Access wellbeing support and healthcare guidance
If your sponsor is Greenheart
If your visa sponsor is Greenheart Exchange, your insurance is arranged by Greenheart rather than EGI. It is issued automatically about two weeks before your DS-2019 start date, and you will find the details in your Greenheart GEO account. Contact the office if you cannot find it within two weeks of your flight.
What's included
Your program fee includes the Standard Plan, which covers up to 120 days and up to $250,000 per illness or injury.
You can choose the Upgrade Plan for an extra $2 per day. The Upgrade Plan raises your medical coverage to $2,000,000 per illness or injury, lowers your deductible, and adds personal liability cover, baggage and personal belongings cover, and natural disaster evacuation and emergency lodging.
For the exact differences between the plans, see the Benefit Summary and the plan brochures:
Standard Plan brochure · Upgrade Plan brochure
Pre-existing and chronic conditions
Pre-existing and chronic medical conditions are not covered. If this applies to you, you should buy your own additional insurance to cover any related treatment. See Pre-existing conditions for more.
Work-related injuries
If you are injured while carrying out your duties on shift, you are covered by your resort's workers' compensation insurance, not your EGI medical policy. Your resort takes care of work-related treatment, so you do not need to worry about deductibles in that case. If you are not sure whether a treatment is work-related, contact the Resort Leaders US office.
Getting medical care in the US
In the US, where you get care affects what you pay. The EGI Student Zone has a short Overview of the US Healthcare System video that is worth watching before you travel.
Deductible
A deductible is the fixed portion of a medical bill you pay yourself before your insurance covers the rest. The amount depends on your plan and the type of facility you visit. Your exact deductibles are listed in your plan's Benefit Summary.
Emergency room
The emergency room is only for serious or life-threatening situations. If you need it, get treated first, then notify EGI and the Resort Leaders US office as soon as you can. ER visits are the most expensive option, so for anything that is not life-threatening, use urgent care instead.
Urgent care and walk-in clinics
For an illness or minor injury that is not life-threatening, an urgent care center or walk-in clinic is faster and far cheaper than the ER. You can find your nearest provider through the Student Zone.
Direct billing
Where a provider works directly with EGI, your treatment can be billed straight to the insurer after you pay your deductible, so you do not have to submit a claim yourself. Always carry your insurance card, and use the Student Zone to find a provider in network.