The short answer
In Canada, health care is organised by each province and territory, so what you get as an international student depends on where you study and which institution you attend. In some places you may be able to join the provincial plan. In others, your school enrols you in a student health plan, or you must arrange private insurance yourself. Ask your institution first, because many charge a plan fee with tuition.
Why it varies
- Provinces and territories run their own public health insurance plans and decide who is eligible.
- Institutions often run or require their own student health plans, especially for international students.
- Some plans cover the whole family, while others cover only the student. Details differ.
What to find out before you pay for anything
Ask your institution, or check its international student pages, for answers to these questions:
- Is there a mandatory health plan, and is it charged with tuition?
- Can I opt out if I already have other cover, and what proof is needed?
- Is there a waiting period before I am covered by the provincial plan, and how do I bridge it?
- What does the plan cover and exclude? For example, dental, vision and prescriptions.
- How do I register and how do I get my card?
- What should I do in the first few days if I get sick?
Bridging the gap when you land
If there is a gap between your arrival and the start of your cover, consider short-term travel or health insurance for that period. Check that the policy fits the situation and covers the dates you need.
Checklist
- To do: Read your institution's page on international student health insurance
- To do: Find out your province's health ministry page on eligibility
- To do: Ask about waiting periods and how to bridge them
- To do: Keep payment confirmations and policy numbers in your document vault
- To do: Learn where the nearest walk-in clinic or campus health service is
- To do: Note the emergency number: 911
Common mistakes
- Buying a private policy before checking the institution's plan. You might be enrolled in one already.
- Assuming provincial cover starts the day you land.
- Not reading the exclusions.
- Skipping registration. Some plans require you to enrol, activate a card or confirm details.
Verify before you act
Health coverage rules are different in each province and territory and change from time to time. Use the official pages for your province, your institution's international student office and EduCanada for general information.