Health care services for students
Health Care Services for Students by Province
Health insurance policies
vary from province to province. This VISA NEXA page gives you an overview of
the various provincial policies.
Students planning to study in Canada should
investigate the availability of health insurance in their intended province of
study. International students in Canada must obtain health insurance for the
duration of their stay. Some provinces offer provincial health coverage to
certain international students, either for free or for a premium, and students
usually need to apply for this coverage.
In provinces where provincial health insurance is not
available, students must purchase private insurance, often facilitated through
their Canadian educational institution. In these cases, institutions may
require international students to subscribe to mandatory health plans, while
others may offer optional coverage plans.
Here are Health Insurance available for students in different provinces
Alberta
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
International students in Alberta studying for
at least six months are typically eligible for provincial health insurance
through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). AHCIP covers basic
health expenses but does not include dental care or prescription drugs.
Students ineligible for AHCIP must purchase a private insurance plan.
British Columbia
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
International students planning to study in
British Columbia for at least six months are eligible for the Medical Services
Plan (MSP). Applications for MSP should be submitted as soon as students arrive
in BC, but it takes about three months to process. During this waiting period,
iMED provides basic health insurance. Extended health coverage to supplement
MSP is available, and some institutions require students to purchase these
packages. If students are ineligible for MSP, they must buy private insurance.
Manitoba
Public Health Insurance Available: No
International students in Manitoba must be
covered under the Manitoba International Student Health Plan, which includes
emergency medical services like hospital stays, doctor visits, and x-rays.
New Brunswick
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
Eligible international students enrolled in
full-time studies for at least one full academic year can receive New Brunswick
Medicare coverage, which provides basic medical coverage. Students are
encouraged to explore extended health coverage through their educational
institution or private insurance providers.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
Registered international students are
automatically enrolled in the Foreign Health Insurance plan. Full-time students
studying for at least 12 months are eligible for basic coverage through the
Medical Care Plan (MCP). Ineligible students must purchase private insurance.
MCP only provides basic coverage, so extended health insurance plans are
recommended.
Northwest Territories
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
International students studying in the
Northwest Territories for over 12 months may apply for health insurance through
Northwest Territories Health Care (NWTHC), which offers free basic health care.
Students should consider extended coverage through private providers.
Nova Scotia
Public Health Insurance Available: No
International students in Nova Scotia must
purchase health coverage as they are not eligible for the provincial health care
program. Many institutions offer healthcare plans, some requiring students to
opt-in. After residing in Nova Scotia for at least 12 months, students may
apply for a Nova Scotia Health Card for free basic coverage through Medical
Services Insurance (MSI). After obtaining a health card, students may opt out
of institutional health care packages.
Nunavut
Public Health Insurance Available: Not
Applicable
Nunavut does not host any designated
learning institutions (DLIs) for international students, so international
student health insurance is not applicable.
Ontario
Public Health Insurance Available: No
International students in Ontario are not
eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Public universities
offer health insurance through the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP),
while colleges and private institutions offer plans from other providers.
Health insurance costs are typically included in university fees.
Prince Edward Island
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
International students studying in Prince
Edward Island for at least six months are eligible for public health insurance
but can only apply for a PEI Health Card after three months of residence.
Students must purchase health coverage for the initial study period from their
institution or a private provider. Once eligible for a PEI Health Card, they
may opt out of purchased insurance.
Quebec
Public Health Insurance Available: Sometimes
Quebec has reciprocity agreements with ten
countries, enabling residents of these countries to register for basic health
insurance through Quebec’s Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Students from other countries must purchase the group health insurance plan
offered by their educational institution or obtain private insurance if
ineligible for RAMQ or the institutional plan.
Saskatchewan
Public Health Insurance Available: Yes
International students studying in
Saskatchewan for at least six months may be eligible for free basic health
coverage by obtaining a Saskatchewan Health Card. Some institutions
automatically enroll students in private health insurance plans, which can be
opted out of if students have coverage from another source.
Yukon
Public Health Insurance Available: No
Yukon College, the only designated learning institution
in Yukon, automatically enrolls all international students in a mandatory group
health insurance plan for coverage during their studies.
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