Health Resources

Health Insurance

Students

Georgetown mandates that international students must accept the University’s Premier Insurance Plan offered through the Student Health Insurance Office. Please review the plan on the office’s website for cost and coverage information. After reading through the plan, you must accept the plan online in order to activate your access to it. The Student Health Insurance Premier Plan is required for J-1 Students but is not an option for J-1 Scholars (those in the Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Specialist or Student Intern categories). 

  • Complete the Premier Plan Acceptance or Waiver Form. For Fall 2024, Open Enrollment begins in mid-June 2024.
  • Only under very limited and specific circumstances will an international student in F-1 or J-1 status be permitted to waive the plan. You must provide proof of alternative coverage to the Student Health Insurance Office for approval. This documentation must be in English and prove your plan benefits equal or exceed the coverage provided by Georgetown University. Most insurance plans do not meet this requirement. You can submit your insurance plan to the health insurance office for waiver review. Waivers are not guaranteed.

***The Georgetown insurance plan offers some medical prescription coverage but does not cover any dental care or prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Furthermore, students should be aware that most plans have a “deductible” or amount that must be paid before the insurance company begins to cover any medical expenses. Insurance costs will increase significantly when a spouse and/or children are added to the plan.

J-1 Health Insurance Requirements

F-1 Post-Completion OPT and J-1 Post-Completion AT Health Insurance Options (PDF)

Scholars

J-1 Student Interns and J-1 Scholars should review the J-1 Health Insurance requirements.

If you will be in a full-time paid position, you may be eligible to participate in one of the insurance plans offered by the University for its employees.  If you wish to sign up for one of these insurance plans, you must do so within 60 days of beginning work. Benefits begin on the 1st of the month. If you are not starting on the 1st, you will need to purchase temporary insurance until you can be covered under Georgetown insurance. The Georgetown University insurance plans offered to paid employees meet the requirements outlined above, except for the CareFirst BlueChoice Advantage CDHP with HSA plan. You will need copies of your family members’ passports and dependent visas to add them to your health insurance. Review Health Insurance Options for J-1 Scholars (PDF).

Immunizations

Dependents

Current students are able to add dependents onto their university health insurance plan. However, dependents are not able to utilize the Student Health Center or Counseling Center, even when using university insurance as these services are limited to current students. Alternative health resources for dependents are listed below, and remember to check your health insurance plan and coverage with these resources before making an appointment. 

J-2 Dependent Health Insurance Options (PDF)

How U.S. Health Insurance Works

US Healthcare System Overview from International Student Insurance on Vimeo.

Your health insurance may not cover the full cost of your doctor’s visit, hospitalization or medication.  Please review the rules related to the plan you choose to understand fully what is covered.  Here are some of the terms defined:

Premium

The amount you pay to your insurance company for your insurance policy. This is paid on a monthly or a yearly basis, depending upon your insurance plan.

Co-Pay

The co-pay, or co-payment, is the amount you are expected to pay directly to the health care provider at the time you receive medical treatment. This is usually a small amount and varies depending on your insurance plan.

Deductible

The deductible is a part of the medical bill that you are expected to pay in addition to the co-pay. Insurance plans usually specify the amount of a medical bill they cover and the amount you must pay. The deductible is usually described as a flat amount or as a percentage, depending upon the policy. Generally, higher premiums have lower deductibles while lower premiums have higher deductibles.

In many cases, the doctor’s office or hospital where you seek treatment may not bill your insurance directly. They may require you to pay them directly and be reimbursed by your health insurance company. 

Mental Health Resources

George Washington University Community Counseling Clinic

The GW University Community Counseling Clinic provides mental health services to adults, adolescents, and children in the Washington, DC, area who may otherwise not have access to needed care. These services include individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy, as well as psychological assessment. 

The Women’s Center

The mission of The Women’s Center is to significantly improve the psychological, career, financial and legal well-being of women, men and their families, regardless of their ability to pay. The Center offers immediate and affordable counseling, accepts most insurance plans and fees are based on financial need.

The Pro Bono Counseling Project

The Pro Bono Counseling Project (PBCP) ensures that Maryland families and individuals with limited resources in need of mental health care are linked with licensed mental health professionals who provide care on a volunteer basis at no cost.