All individuals who come to the US as J-1 Exchange Visitors must carry adequate insurance for the entirety of their stay in the US, as prescribed by the Department of State.
If you are classified as a Tulane employee, you will receive insurance as a standard employee benefit. Indicate your status as an employee when you check-in with OISS. Please check with your departmental administration if you are unsure whether you qualify as an employee for purposes of insurance benefits.
If you are non-employee J-1 Exchange Visitor sponsored by Tulane, you must purchase one of two pre-selected plans. We recommend that you purchase your insurance prior to your arrival in the United States. These plans have been preselected to meet Department of State requirements and because we have established procedures with the insurance providers to facilitate compliance.
Non-Employee J-1 Exchange Visitors may choose one of the following two plans:
TSHIP (Tulane Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan)
T-SHIP is a university-sponsored health insurance plan available through United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR). Premiums collected are paid directly to the insurance company and are non-refundable after the health insurance action deadline. The University does not receive any benefits for enrolling individuals in T-SHIP.
If you indicate TSHIP as your insurance choice, you will receive a link directly from TSHIP, which you may use to enroll in your insurance coverage.
For the coverage year, August 19, 2024- August 18, 2025, the cost is $275.17 per month for the enrolling J-1 scholar, plus dependent costs.
Tulane University Student Health Insurance Plan (T-SHIP)
GeoBlue® Health Insurance Plan (GeoBlue)
GeoBlue is an university-sponsored health insurance plan available to J-1 scholars. This insurance exceeds the federal J exchange visitor requirements but provides a lower coverage level than that offered by T-SHIP. It is best for those who are coming to the US for a shorter time and who already have insurance coverage of their own. The University does not receive any benefits from individuals enrolling in GeoBlue.
If you indicate GeoBlue as your insurance plan, you will enroll and pay directly on their portal. For the coverage year, August 19, 2024- August 18, 2025, the cost is $178.45 per month for the enrolling J-1 scholar, plus dependent costs ($535.25/month if selected)
