Each province has a set of Health Insurance Policies and several of them.
Overview
Students who seek education in Canada will be required to conduct detailed research on the availability of insurance in the province they intend to study.
Canadian international students must acquire health insurance for their Canadian stay.
International students also receive provincial health coverage free of cost or premium. Consequently, such international students will need to apply directly to the province.
If provincial health insurance isn’t available, students have no choice but to buy private health insurance through their Canadian school. Not all institutions provide health insurance to international students in provinces and students of such institutions need to opt for compulsory health plans. In contrast, the other institutions will give access to non-compulsory health coverage plans.
Available Health Insurance Policies in the provinces of Canada
| Names of Provinces | Provincial Health Insurance Coverage- International Students | Minimum Requirements | Other Essential Details |
| Alberta | Yes | Study Permit- Minimum 12-month period Residence in Alberta- Minimum 12-month period | Study permit holders for above three months and less than 12 months would be eligible if they proved their intention to live in Alberta for at least a period of 12- months.
Students under 18 years need to be added to a parent or guardian’s insurance. They must apply within 90 days of their arrival in Alberta. |
| British Columbia | Yes | study permit-Minimum six-month period | Health Insurance Coverage will begin after three months. International students are recommended to apply immediately post-arrival; coverage would begin on the 1st day of the third month. For instance, if a student arrives on August 26, his or her coverage would start on November 2. International students must expect coverage for those three months. |
| Manitoba | Yes | Study Permit -Minimum six-month period
Residency- Six-month period |
|
| New Brunswick | Yes | Residency in New Brunswick- Minimum 3-month period | International students will have to fulfill the requirements below:
|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | Study Permit- Minimum 12-month period | |
| Northwest Territories | Yes | Study Permit- Minimum 12-month period | |
| Nova Scotia | Yes | Study Permit- Minimum 12-month period | Students can apply for Health Insurance Coverage on the 1st day of the 13th month, following the arrival date in Nova Scotia as a student. The student should ensure that he is not staying outside the province for more than 31 consecutive days. If a student arrives in Nova Scotia in July they cannot apply until August of next year. To avail continuous coverage, all study permit copies must be submitted to Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI) and a declaration needs to be signed by the candidate every year. |
| Ontario | No | Most universities in Ontario actively participate in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). International students must enroll at participating universities in this plan unless absolved. | |
| Prince Edward Island | No | International students will have to acquire private insurance. Institutions might provide their own coverage plans, which will either be optional or compulsory. It will be best to confirm with the institutions about the available options and their details. | |
| Quebec | No (with exceptions) | Students from countries such as Belgium, France, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway will be considered eligible because of bilateral agreements between Quebec and the other country.
Few student scholarships in Quebec provide health insurance provision. Unless otherwise absolved, international students will require to attain private insurance. Institutions might provide their own set of coverage plans, which might be optional or compulsory. It will be better to confirm with the institutions about the available options and their details. |
|
| Saskatchewan | Yes | Study permit proof
Enrollment proof based on full-time studies. |
|
| Yukon | No |
