Basic health insurance
If you’re a domestic student, you must have basic health insurance, such as the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP) or health coverage under another provincial or territorial basic health plan during your studies at UBC. British Columbian residents are not charged for BC MSP.
Health care in Canada can cost thousands of dollars per day if you do not have valid health insurance. Basic health insurance covers doctor visits, hospital visits, and medical tests. Your health coverage runs for as long as you remain enrolled and eligible for MSP or your home province or territory health plan.
How to enrol
Before enrolling, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for the plan.
Some things to consider before you enrol:
- You can enrol with BC MSP directly.
- You may already be covered under one or both of your parents’ plans.
- You do not need to switch to MSP if you are covered under another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan, as long as you remain a student.
- If you are Canadian but don’t have a provincial health plan, you will need to enrol in the Global Campus Health Plan so you have health coverage while you wait for your BC MSP.
Extended health insurance
AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan
All UBC students are automatically enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan each year. You may also enrol in a similar extended health insurance from another source if it provides equivalent coverage to the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. If you are covered under another extended health insurance, you can opt out of the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan during the opt-out period.
Under the plan, you can submit claims up to a certain amount for services from a licensed psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, or therapist with a Master’s in Social Work. Learn how to find a private mental health professional for your concerns.
The AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan covers the following at an annual rate:
- Certain health care (e.g., up to 80% of eligible prescription drugs)
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Health Practitioner care
- Travel health coverage (outside of the home country)
Coverage period
- If you enrol in Term 1, the fee is $338 for 12 months of coverage from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.
- New students beginning in Term 2 (January 2024) pay a prorated fee of $225.33 for coverage from January 1 to August 31, 2024.
Check your Account Activity in Workday to make sure you’ve been charged for the fees and will be enrolled.
If you think you should be covered but you are missing the fee, contact the Care Centre.
BC PharmaCare
If you’re a resident of British Columbia, the BC PharmaCare program helps pay for the cost of certain prescription drugs, pharmacy services, and medical supplies.
In most cases, your AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan will cover up to 80% of eligible prescriptions. You may also choose to apply for BC Pharmacare to cover more expensive prescriptions for chronic health conditions that are not covered by the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. It is recommended for most students to apply for the “Fair PharmaCare Plan”.