Purchasing Medical Insurance

In accordance with Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Policy Memorandum 11-32, dated August 2011, International Military Students (IMS) and their authorized dependents must have compliant and approved medical insurance if medical costs are not covered by their government or through their training case.

Authorizing Dependents on the Invitational Travel Orders (ITO): Family members are not authorized to join you in the U.S. unless their medical care is covered. Proof of medical insurance must be provided to the Security Cooperation Officer (SCO) at the U.S. Embassy in your country prior to placing your dependents information on the ITO. The SCO must upload any purchased commercial healthcare policy so that it can be approved through the Medical Insurance Review page of the SC-TMS.
Once insurance has been purchased, uploaded and approved, (or confirmed as covered by your government or training case,) your dependents and their medical coverage type will be updated on your ITO. Pending other issues, your dependents then become authorized to join you in the U.S.

Minimum coverage in DSCA Memorandum 11-32 is defined as:

• Medical Maximum benefits of at least $400,000 per year, ($500,000 if there is no $400,000 option.) This dollar amount is required for all IMS attending the US Army War College because there is no military hospital or 24-hour emergency facility at Carlisle Barracks.
• Deductibles may not exceed $1,000 per year for the entire policy (not per person or per incident). (Example: If you are insuring a total of four family members, the deductible may not exceed $250.00.)
• Reparation of remains in the amount of at least $50,000, should a death occur in the US. NOTE: This would provide for the preparation and transportation of remains to home country.
• Medical evacuation in the amount of at least $250,000 in the event the insured must be returned to his/her home country due to a serious medical condition.
• U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Facilities: Insurance must pay benefits to a DoD medical facility, if appropriate.
• Pregnancy: If a female spouse or female dependent is accompanying the IMS, the policy must also include coverage for pregnancy to include post-natal care of the infant. If the policy does not provide for pregnancy coverage, all of the IMS’ female dependents, (18 and older,) will be required to sign a Pregnancy Acknowledgement Form that states that in case of pregnancy one of three options would be enforced:
  Current Health Insurance covers all pregnancy costs. (You cannot buy a new policy with pregnancy coverage There is no company that offers pregnancy coverage unless you have been a client for at least 12 months.)
  b.) Home country agrees to cover all pregnancy costs. (The ITO must be amended to reflect this change.)
  c.) If dependent is or becomes pregnant following arrival in the U.S. and lack or lapse of health care coverage for pregnancy is discovered, the return of female spouse/dependent to home country is automatic.
• English Translation and U.S. Point of Contact (POC): The Insurance policy must be translated into English. The ITO must list the name of the company, a U.S. POC, telephone number and an address where claims can be sent.