Health insurance in canada for international students

Canada is known for its stunning landscape, historical wonders, incredible culture, sumptuous food, cultural diversity, and world-class educational facilities and institutions.

International students choose Canada as their preferred destination for further studies due to its reputation as a safe and stable country renowned for offering exceptional courses and fostering an exceptionally inclusive and accepting atmosphere towards diverse cultures.

Health insurance in Canada for international students revolves around getting complete medical health coverage and protection from sports injuries plus medical emergencies. In this regard, note that only 60% of international students in Canada apply for permanent residence visas, while 74% of them apply for work permits after the completion of their courses.

Read on to learn more!

Understanding the Canadian Healthcare System

Canada is famous across the globe for its excellent educational facilities and publicly funded healthcare system. However, Medicare is not available to international students. International students do not pay taxes, so instead of having free access to Medicare, they need private healthcare to access the system.

If you don’t get relevant health insurance as a student, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for medical services. For example, a simple MRI can cost a Canadian student approximately CAD 900-2400. A doctor visit can cost around CAD 120; for hospitalization, the room charges can be around CAD 3700. So, to ensure peace of mind and reduce the financial burden, you must get health insurance before you join your classes.

There are several health insurance plans for international students in Canada you can opt for:

• Medical insurance offered by your respective universities

• You can purchase private insurance from an insurance company.

• If you plan to work, you can take the medical insurance that your employer offers.

Health Insurance Requirements of Various Provinces

There are 13 provinces in Canada, and you must invest in a healthcare policy depending on where you are. You must get medical services in the province where you have purchased the healthcare services in.
 

• Alberta helps you with a medical card within a few weeks, while British Columbia medical insurance can even take a month to be active. Hence it is recommended that you get Health insurance in Canada for international students before you reach Canada for your studies.

• You can purchase medical insurance prior to arriving in provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

• You must get extended health insurance from your home country if you will be traveling to provinces like Quebec and Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and Yukon. These places do not offer health insurance in Canada for international students.

Here is an overview of Health insurance in Canada for international students requirements in different provinces:
 

Province	Requirement of Medical Insurance for international students?	Criteria
Alberta	Yes	12-month residence or study permit in Alberta
British Columbia	Yes	6 months of study permit
Manitoba	Yes	6 months of study permit
New Brunswick	Yes	3-month residence.
Newfoundland and Labrador	Yes	12-month study permit
Northwest Territories	Yes	12-month study permit
Nova Scotia	Yes	12-month study permit
Ontario	No
Prince Edward Island	No
Quebec	No, with exceptions
Saskatchewan	Yes	Full-time study permit proof
Yukon	No

 

Relevance of Health Insurance for International Students

Health insurance in Canada can be highly beneficial since paying out of pocket can get extremely expensive, considering the rising costs of medical facilities.
Here are a few points that you need to note here:

• Health insurance covers any injuries or diseases you may acquire while studying in Canada.

• There is no need to renew your medical insurance every year, as Canadian health insurance for international students is applicable for the entire study tenure.

• You can access affordable health insurance that can also cover family members who visit you during your stay in the country.

It reduces the financial burden of medical expenses for the entire tenure of your studies. The medical insurance provided by universities ends only after you finish your course. You have the leverage to extend such plans.
 

Benefits of Applying for Healthcare Insurance

Here are some of the key advantages of applying for health insurance in Canada:

• Out-of-province Healthcare Coverage

The insurance ensures you are financially covered for all healthcare facilities across all provinces. This is specifically for students who have to travel from one area to another.

• Basic Medical Facilities Covered

All doctor appointments, hospitalization expenses, emergency expenses, prescriptions, and lots more are covered by private healthcare plans for international students. It is also applicable to cover pandemics and outbreaks.

• Reduced Financial Burden

Getting health insurance reduces your out-of-pocket expenses, promotes social equity, and encourages preventive and prescribed medical care at low costs.

Types of Medical Insurance Plans for International Students

Given below are the different types of insurance plans available for international students in Canada:

• Pre-arrival health and travel insurance

This plan can help you with health financial costs in Canada, cover the waiting period, and even cover travel-related losses like flight cancellations, delays, or vehicle coverage.

• International student health insurance

Most of your medical costs, including doctor visits, injuries, and emergency hospitalization, are covered under this plan, which applies until your study tenure ends.

• Major International Medical Insurance

This plan is for people who travel a lot to international locations, need coverage for the entire family, and are ready to renew their insurance plans every year based on requirements.

• Medical Insurance with Add-Ons

You can get additional coverage based on specific requirements.

Coverage of Health Insurance Plans for Foreign Students in Canada

Here is a list of general inclusions and exclusions of medical coverage provided by various health insurance plans:

Inclusions under health insurance in Canada	Exclusions under health insurance in Canada
Pre-existing Injuries	Self-induced Injuries
Hospitalization	Mental Disabilities (Can be taken as an add-on or could be provided by major international medical service)
Prescriptions	Dental or Vision services (Can be taken as an add-on, or could be offered by a few universities)
Physician Charges	Maternity Expenses
Diagnostic Services	Cosmetic Treatments
Emergency Medical Care

 

How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan?

Here are some important factors that you must consider before choosing your health insurance plan:

• Cost

Go for affordable health insurance in Canada that is valid for the entire tenure of your study and is available at reasonable premiums.

• Coverage

Check for coverage that includes emergency services, ambulance services, basic health plans, doctor visits, hospitalization expenses, and even additional services like dental, hearing, and visual aid.

• Network of providers

Pick a provider that offers a vast network of providers, so you have multiple options to refer to when in an emergency.

• Deductibles

Try to opt for health insurance plans that come with the least out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles. The idea is to get financial security against medical expenses.

• Additional benefits

It would help if you got plans wherein you can get add-ons like out-of-province coverage, travel coverage, etc.

Step-by-step Guide to the Health Insurance Application Process?

Here is the step-by-step procedure to apply for medical services in Canada:

• Step 1 – Visit the province’s website/university website/ website of the private health insurer and fill out the required application
• Step 2 – Scrutinize all plans available and choose the one that suits your needs
• Step 3 – Submit documents like your study proof, university/residence proof/your ID. 
• Step 4 – Pay the Premium amount online and get your insurance document instantly

Consult an insurance expert or advisor or Affiniks if needed. The agency helps international students apply for health insurance and other key requirements before they start their study abroad sessions in Canada and several other countries.

Conclusion

Health costs are rising, and it is important to protect yourself from any unexpected medical expenses you may have to bear while studying in Canada.

There are various types of health insurance plans available, and you can choose from acquiring the best plan from your University, province, or a private healthcare insurance firm.

Explore Affiniks’s services and expertise to learn more and make an informed choice regarding suitable health insurance coverage while studying abroad.

FAQs

1.  What is the health insurance cost in Canada for international students?
The health insurance cost in Canada for international students ranges between CAD 600 – CAD 900.

2.  Is it possible to use a medical card from one province in other provinces of Canada as well?
No, the medical card purchased in one province applies only to that particular province and not to others.

3.  What is the benefit of medical insurance for international students in Canada?
Medical insurance helps you to meet the costs of any emergency expenses on healthcare. Life-saving emergency medical services are free across the country, irrespective of whether you have insurance or not.