Lifestyle

Types of International Student Health Insurance in the USA

Published

4 years ago

July 13, 2022

Millions of international students come to the US annually because it is a land of excellent opportunities. The country offers you a lot, from seeking higher education and hands-on training to pursuing your goals and working in your dream company.

Nevertheless, individuals must purchase a health insurance policy when they come here as international students. They can buy medical insurance from their school/university or a private insurance company. As there are different international students health insurance plans for distinct categories of students, here are a few to be discussed.

J1 visa health insurance

As the name suggests, J1 visa health insurance plans are designed for J1 visa holders in the US. Now, who are J-visa holders? They are scholars or international students in the US for a brief stay to participate in student exchange or study-based programs. J1 visa holders can bring their dependents (spouses and children) on J2 visas.

J1 is a non-immigrant, short-term visa issued for international visitors who come to the US for work, research, receive training, teaching students, and more. Health insurance for J1 visa holders must meet specific requirements laid down by the US State Department. The insurance must cover a medical benefit of $100,000 per accident or illness, $25,000 for repatriation of remains, $50,000 for medical evacuation, and a $500 deductible per illness or injury.

Plus, the plans underwritten by an insurance company must receive ‘A-’ or above from the A.M Best rating, or ‘A-I’ or above from the Insurance Solvency International Ltd, or ‘A-’ or above from the Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability, or B+ or above from the Weiss Research Inc. In addition to these requirements, the sponsor might have additional requirements to meet.

Students coming to the US on exchange visas (J1 and J2) can find various plans on our site. NRIOL.net provides affordable and quality J1 visa health insurance policies that meet US State Department requirements and international students’ needs. Contact us and get quotes.

F1 Visa Health Insurance

An F1 visa is meant for full-time academic students who come to the US to receive education from an accredited college, university, language training program, elementary school, and other educational institutions. Students must enroll in a program that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate. F1 students may not be allowed to participate in off-campus employment during the first academic session. But after the first year, they can take part in Curriculum Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) OPT Extension.

The F1 visa is also a non-immigrant visa and is the most popular one among international students. However, you can only apply for this visa after an accredited US institution accepts your application. The duration of your stay depends on the program you enroll. Your university will provide you with an I-20 form stating the program’s expiration date.

After attaining a degree, you may apply for OPT, allowing you to work in the US for 12 months. Students graduating with a STEM degree can request two additional work years in the US. And if you do not have any extension or other work years after graduation, you will have to return to your home country within 60 days.

Though students can purchase health insurance from their schools and universities, they get the option to buy a plan from insurance companies, for which they need to fill in waiver forms. If you are planning to get coverage from outside, we would be glad to help you out. Check out our F1 visa insurance plans and pick one.

OPT health insurance

In OPT training, students can expand their knowledge, enhance their skills, and receive training in their field of study. The learning experience you receive overseas becomes unbelievably valuable in the future. OPT students need health insurance to work and live abroad because it provides financial security and peace of mind.

You can purchase OPT health insurance from us. The plans can be renewed monthly to get coverage until you receive employer’s insurance plan. Besides covering your eligible medical expenses, the plan can cover you for emergency hospitalizations, personal liability, medical evacuation & repatriation, and some travel-related benefits.

You may not get coverage for maternity, dental and vision care, pre-existing conditions, preventive health care, and more. Hence, it is essential to go through the brochure before choosing a plan. We offer plans with the best A.M Best Ratings. Call us to discuss this in detail.

Conclusion

International students come to the US with lots of ambitions and dreams. Undoubtedly, people get to learn and master different skills and techniques, but one should not forget that the medical costs in the US are expensive. A visit to a doctor can cost your hundreds of dollars. So, without adequate insurance coverage, it becomes difficult for students to continue their education and care for their medical expenses.

Lifestyle

Kat Marie Alvarez: Where Innovation Meets Regulation

Published

3 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Michelle Langton

Regulation is often thought of as a limitation, yet in healthcare, it also serves as a foundation for building models that endure. For Kat Marie Alvarez, Founder and CEO of KATALYST & CO, the framework of rules established by agencies like CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) and the OIG ( office of the Inspector General) create opportunities to design systems that are compliant, ethical, and transformative. Her approach demonstrates that regulation can be a platform for innovation when it is interpreted with both technical rigor and vision.

Kat’s 25-year career reflects this philosophy. A former nurse who advanced into executive leadership and strategy, she has led $2.7B+ P&L operations, advised on over $5B in healthcare transactions, and guided value based organizations including Innovacare, Cano Health, WellMed, Centene, and Humana through periods of exponential scaling. Her perspective combines clinical, financial, and regulatory experience, giving her a unique ability to design structures that support integrity and accountability while driving measurable outcomes.

Turning Statutes into Strategy

For Kat, regulation serves as a framework for building smarter and more ethical models. She interprets CMS guidance and OIG rules as levers for innovation, using them to advance integrity and accountability. With the CMS V28 risk adjustment model, Alvarez refined coding practices, strengthened clinical documentation, and structured risk frameworks that reward accuracy and elevate standards of care. In addressing RADV audits, she crafted strategies that protect stakeholders while keeping patient outcomes at the forefront. She aligns compliance, cost, and care in equal measure. Her current work as a contributor to the CMS IDea Challenge, an initiative focused on strengthening the foundation of trust in our system, further echoes her commitment to advancing regulations in ways that unlock innovation while safeguarding the integrity of care.

Her interpretive approach brings discipline and vision to every challenge. She engages stakeholders to redesign workflows that meet regulatory requirements and enhance the patient experience. Each policy becomes a mechanism to strengthen accountability and operational precision, shaping a system that is both compliant and humane.

Innovation Built Within Boundaries

At KATALYST & CO, this interpretive approach is carried into every project. Kat has integrated predictive analytics and AI-driven tools into care models, with safeguards that ensure interventions remain clinician-led and ethically sound. For example, AI flags in chronic disease management are connected to human-led actions that improve patient care. The result is a model that benefits from technology while preserving accountability and clinical integrity.

Staffing and infrastructure provide another example of her philosophy in action. By leveraging offshore BPO operations in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, KATALYST & CO extends capacity for health plans and providers. These expansions are carefully designed to meet data security, licensure, and jurisdictional requirements, ensuring that global reach is paired with local compliance. It is a system that balances scale with responsibility.

The Art of Influence Through Alignment

Kat often describes her role as translating complexity into clarity. Whether she is working with payers, providers, or investors, she builds consensus by grounding ambitious strategies in the language of statute. Value-based care models, utilization management programs, and clinical frameworks are designed to prove compliant ROI for stakeholders while maintaining patient focus.

Her approach begins with people. In integrations, partnerships, and platform builds, she respects legacy strengths, listens to frontline voices, and creates systems that are not only efficient but also trusted. This ensures that compliance does not feel like restriction, but like a structure that supports innovation and adoption.

Redefining the Future of Compliance and Care

KATALYST & CO is scaling with $10M in initial funding, expanded international operations, and a growing advisory portfolio. Under Kat’s leadership, the firm is showing how regulation can be a foundation for both innovation and durability. She demonstrates that lasting progress in healthcare is achieved by leaders who know how to design systems that are bold, ethical, and deeply human.

By approaching regulation as a guide rather than a limitation, Kat Alvarez is building models that prove compliance and innovation can move forward together. Her formula ensures that the future of healthcare is shaped not only by ambition, but also by trust and responsibility.