Getting Health Insurance for Students in Canada
Some provinces have free health cards to access health insurance for students studying in Canadian Designated Learning Institutions. Ineligible students have options for private insurance providers to choose from.
What is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is insurance coverage that takes care of the medical bills, doctors’ visits, some prescribed drugs, and dental expenses incurred by the insured student. It’s important that anyone planning to study in Canada should ensure you get international student health insurance. It is expedient that you have a health insurance plan for the duration of your program. While Canada is well known throughout the world for its quality healthcare system, it does not have health insurance coverage for all international students attending school in Canada only those studying in the designated learning institutions. Some provinces take care of the health of international students while others register them with a private firm. However, the insurance plan offers flexibility covering all medical needs, and emergency health needs; surgery, Medical evacuation, rehabilitation treatment, and hospital accommodation is also covered in many health insurance packages.
Why Do I Need Health Insurance as International Student?
It’s important for international students to get a health insurance plan. Studying outside your country of origin can be fun as you get to interact with other people, and grow at your own pace without parental supervision. However, there are unprecedented challenges ranging from a change of weather to an unexpected stomach upset due to a change of diet or even to a more grave danger like having a fatal accident or unexpected injury can get you to the hospital. You need health insurance coverage to take care of all these medical emergencies.
Benefits of International Student Health Insurance
- It saves you costs as you wouldn’t spend so much in the hospital anytime you go there.
- Students get to enjoy lower premiums compared to older folks since they are generally young and healthy. You get to enjoy more affordable plans. Plus the payment of these premiums can be broken down and paid throughout the duration of your stay.
How Much Is Student Health Insurance in Canada?
Most provinces have free health insurance coverage for International students studying in Canada. However, health insurance varies in the different provinces. Students or visitors who are not covered by free healthcare plans must have health insurance that has been made compulsory by Canadian post-secondary schools. Therefore, in line with the Canadian insurance Plan, the average yearly premium for accessing health insurance ranges from $600 CAD to $900 CAD.
The insurance packages from these companies are;
- Doctor’s charges
- Private Nurse
- Trauma counseling
- Medical appliances
- Treatment of dental accident
- Prescription drugs
- Paramedical services
- Diagnostic services
- Psychiatric treatment
- Hospital expenses and accommodation.
Health insurance services your could access are ;
- Manulife Financial
- Sun Life
- Ingle International
- Cowan Insurance Group
- Greenshield
- Alliance Global
How to Apply for Student Health Insurance in Canada?
Its obvious health insurance for international students isn’t the same in Canada; therefore, a student offered admission in a province without health insurance would need you to need to apply for health insurance by checking the said province’s website, filling out and completing an application form, and purchasing the premium amount. Or obtain an overseas health insurance plan from a private firm, before leaving for Canada.
Top Schools that offer student health insurance in Canada
If you are interested in studying in Canada, there are some post-secondary schools that offer a variety of healthcare plans. Below are some schools in Canada that offer special health coverage to their students.
- McGill International Student Health Insurance
- Saskatchewan university student health insurance
- BCIT Student health insurance
- Seneca college international student health insurance