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Insurance
When students come to Canada to study, they must have health insurance.
The following provinces cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:
Alberta
Under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, students must register within three months of their arrival. Coverage costs approximately $44 CDN per month and is available for the term stated in the student authorization, which must be valid for more than three months. A letter from the student or educational institution confirming the intent of 12-month residency is required to determine eligibility. For more information, contact: Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan,
P.O. Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N3
Canada
For telephone inquiries, in Alberta dial 310-0000 then 780-427-1432 (Edmonton).
British Columbia
Under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), a student must hold a student authorization upon entering Canada to be eligible for medical coverage. As of January 1st, 1998, new medical regulations state that international students with student authorizations for six months or longer must be covered under the province's medical service plan. There is a three month waiting period and students should apply immediately upon commencement of studies. The cost is roughly $36 per month. Students should take out private medical insurance for the first three months OR if they will be studying for less than six months in total. Those studying for longer than six months should not acquire private medical insurance for any longer than this time period as it will still be mandatory for them to be covered by MSP. For more information contact: BC Medical Services Plan,
PO Box 1600
Victoria, BC V8W 2X9
Canada
For telephone enquiries, call 1-800-663-7100.
Saskatchewan
Under Saskatchewan's medical plan, students must register immediately upon arrival. Coverage, which is free, is available for students and their dependants for the duration of the student authorization or visa. For more information, contact:
Saskatchewan Health, Registration
T.C. Douglas Building, 3475 Albert Street,
Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 6X6
Canada
For telephone enquiries, call 1-800-667-7551 or (306) 787-3251.
The following provinces and territories do not cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
- Yukon
International students studying in these provinces must arrange for private medical coverage through private insurance companies. Please note however that international students attending an Ontario university or affiliated college will be required to purchase the compulsory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). NOTE: All Ontario universities and their affiliated colleges, with the exception of the University of Windsor, require that international students and their dependents as well as international employees and their dependents studying and/or working at their institution purchase on a compulsory basis the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). For more information on this compulsory plan, please contact the Ontario university that you will be attending or visit the following Web site: http://www.uhip.mercer.ca.
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