At approved institutions, The Standard's GME program provides insurance to individuals in or completing a residency or fellowship in an approved American Council of Graduate Medical Education program. Completion of a medical school or osteopathic education is a base requirement for GME eligibility.
The Standard frequently receives inquiries about these occupations:
- Chief Resident or Chief Resident Assistant. Individuals in these positions are eligible to participate in the GME Program.
- Resident Physician Assistant, Resident Nurse Practitioner, Resident Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Physicians Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are not eligible to participate in the GME Program. Other specialty programs are subject to underwriting reviews.
- Students with a Ph.D. in medical field. Residents who have completed medical school and are an MD are eligible. Completion of a Ph.D. alone is not sufficient to qualify for the GME program.
- Resident Pastoral Education. Only residents in these programs who have attended medical school and become a licensed physician are eligible for inclusion in the GME program. These programs serve as a residency for individuals who wish to work in spiritual care and assessment in hospitals and hospices.
- Podiatrists or Podiatric Surgeons. These are not medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy, are not licensed as physicians by the AMA and aren't eligible to participate in the GME program. These occupations have separate institutions and training programs.
- Transition-Year, Preliminary-Year and Single-Year Residencies. Individuals serving a transition- or preliminary-year aren’t eligible for a policy until they are admitted into a full categorical residency program with an assigned medical specialty.
- Dentists. (DDS and DMD) are not eligible to participate in the GME program unless they are currently accepted into an Oral and Maxillofacial medical resident program at the sponsoring GME institution.
- Military Service. The following are ineligible for participation in the GME program:
- Military personnel on active duty
- Individuals who have call-up orders
- Residents or fellows who are currently in, or have been accepted into, a military residency or fellowship at a military hospital
GME Offer
Individuals in residency or fellowship programs at approved ACGME institutions with an active GME program with The Standard may enroll at any time during their training.
Eligibility for all GME policies under The Standard's GME program ends 62 days after completion of a residency or fellowship program. In all cases, applications must be submitted within 62 days of completion of residencies, completion of ACGME fellowships or leaving a GME program.
Residents leaving an institution with an active GME program to pursue a fellowship at another institution and wishing to purchase a policy must do so within 62 days of leaving their residency.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Non-U.S. citizens may be enrolled subject to certain conditions:
- There will be a 12-month foreign residence limitation for benefits paid outside of the United States for H-1B visa holders.
- A Foreign Travel Exclusion will be added to policies purchased by individuals with J-1, H-2B, F-1 or other nonimmigrant visa types.
- The FTX and limitation will be added as a delivery requirement.
- These policy limitations and exclusions may be removed from a policy if the policyowner becomes a permanent U.S. resident.
- These rules do not apply to Canadian citizens in residency or fellowship.
Producers may submit a census to The Standard, so GME administrators can remove non-U.S. citizens from the pool of eligible lives. This will allow the producer to better meet participation standards. Please contact The Standard for more details about this process.
Effective Dates
The default effective date is the first of the month after receipt of an application by The Standard. Applicants can request a later effective date of up to 122 days after the application is signed. Submit the Producer Information Report with the application to request a later effective date. The Standard will not back date or save an age on a GME policy.
The earliest effective date of each program year is Oct. 1.
- Example #1: Two applications, one submitted on May 2 and the other on May 28, both receive June 1 effective dates.
- Example #2: An application is submitted May 7 and the applicant requests postponement of last effective date due to summer travel plans. Policy is made effective Sept. 1.
