All international students are required to have basic and extended health insurance for the duration of their studies at UBC, as health care in Canada can cost thousands of dollars per day if you do not have valid health insurance.
You will need 2 kinds of health insurance:
- Basic insurance, which covers most medically-required services.
- iMED for your first 3 months in Canada
- MSP from your 4th month in BC until the expiry of your study permit
- Extended health insurance, to cover some fees and services which are not covered by basic insurance.
- AMS/GSS Extended Health and Dental Plan for the duration of your studies at UBC
Accompanying family members are also strongly recommended to have basic and extended health insurance.
Setting up your health insurance
- Check your student fees
After you register for in-person classes, check your fees in Workday. Confirm you are charged for iMED coverage (check the section below) and AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan fees. If you are charged, you are enrolled for your program’s coverage dates. If you can’t find the iMED fee listed in your financial summary, contact International Student Advising. If you can’t find the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan fee listed in your financial summary, contact StudentCare Centre. - Download and print your iMED card
After you register for your first on-campus (in-person) course, your iMED card will automatically be sent to you via email by David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS). Print it and keep it with you along with a copy of your study permit, if you have one. - Check your iMED coverage dates
If the start date on your iMED card is not the calendar month of your arrival in Canada, follow the instructions to change your iMED coverage dates. - Download and print your AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan card
Your AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan card is available online. Print it, add your UBC student ID number, your name and signature, and keep it with you, along with your valid UBC student card. - Apply for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP)
As soon as you arrive in British Columbia, apply for MSP online for yourself and any family members who came with you. - Extend your MSP, if required
Each time you extend your study permit or get the Post-Graduation Work Permit, you will need to extend your MSP online to maintain coverage in British Columbia.
Basic health insurance during your first 3 months in Canada
iMED program
iMED is a temporary private health insurance to cover new-to-UBC international students registered in one or more on-campus courses who are charged AMS/GSS student fees. If your program is longer than 6 months, iMED covers you while you are waiting to be eligible for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP), since MSP has a 3-month waiting period.
If your program is shorter than 6 months, such as one-term exchange students or Visiting International Research Students, you will have iMED for the duration of your studies.
The provider of the iMED health insurance is David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) with an office in Vancouver.
What iMED covers
- Doctor visits (for injuries or illnesses)
- Hospital visits
- Diagnostic, X-ray, and laboratory services
- Ambulance services
- Maternity coverage
- Pre-existing conditions (special requirements apply)
Read the full details about what is covered and what is excluded in the iMED policy.
Coverage period
You will have iMED while you are waiting to be eligible for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP) since MSP has a 3-month waiting period.
Your iMED coverage dates depend on when you start your program:
- Winter Term 1 (September to December): your coverage will start on August 1
- Winter Term 2 (January to April): your coverage will start on December 1
- Summer Term 1 (May to June): your coverage will start on April 1
- Summer Term 2 (July to August): your coverage will start on June 1
If you arrive earlier than your iMED coverage dates, you should purchase iMED advance coverage. For example, if your coverage starts on August 1 but you will arrive in July.
If you arrive the calendar month after your iMED insurance starts, you should apply to change your iMED coverage dates. For example, if your coverage starts August 1 but you will arrive in September, you will need to change coverage dates.
You will have iMED for the duration of your studies.
One-term exchange students have set iMED coverage dates for 130 days (one academic term) which cannot be changed.
Visiting International Research Students (VIRS) studying for less than 6 months have iMED coverage dates based on your research period. If you need to change your research period, check changing your iMED coverage dates.
For other non-degree-seeking students, such as unclassified, access studies, and visiting students, this depends on your program and your period of studies at UBC. You might have iMED coverage for 130 days (same as one-term exchange students above) or you might have coverage for a specific number of months instead of the whole academic term (for example, if you will be enrolled for two months). If you are enrolled for a specific number of months and need to change your period of studies, check changing your iMED coverage dates, then contact Go Global.
If you arrive in Canada before your iMED coverage start date, you should purchase iMED advance coverage.
If you plan to stay in Canada after your iMED coverage dates, contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) or another private health insurance provider for options. Ensure you always have sufficient health insurance during your stay in Canada. You also need to ensure you have valid immigration status in Canada – contact International Student Advising for support.
Insurance costs
The iMED fees are charged to your Workday account. You can check your iMED fees in Workday. Fees are subject to change.
As of August 1, 2023, iMED costs $237 for 3 months or $338 if you are a one-term exchange student.
If you are a non-degree seeking student studying less than 6 months who has iMED coverage for a specific number of months, iMED fees will cost $79 per month.
UBC will automatically assess the iMED coverage period based on your program and your period of studies at UBC.
As of May 1, 2023, if you are a Vancouver campus student, you are also charged a one-time $10.54 direct billing fee so that eligible medical expenses can be billed directly to the Claims Administrator, MSH.
Eligibility and enrolment
You are automatically enrolled in iMED as a new-to-UBC international student when you register in one or more on-campus courses. If you are charged iMED fees, you are enrolled for your program’s coverage dates. Certain exceptions exist, so check your Workday account activity to ensure you’ve been charged for the fees and will be enrolled in iMED.
If you are a returning UBC student, or if you register for off-campus (distance learning) courses only, you are not eligible for iMED and can purchase other private insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan (GCHP), if you will be enrolled in full-time studies.
If you think you should be covered but you are missing the fees, or to confirm your coverage, contact International Student Advising.
Your iMED card will be automatically emailed to the email address you provided to UBC by David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) after you register for one or more on-campus courses. During your coverage dates, print your iMED card and keep it with you in case you need medical attention, along with your UBC student ID and a copy of your study permit (if you have one). Consider saving a digital copy of these documents on your phone as well.
If you did not receive your iMED card by the start of the iMED coverage period, check your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you did not receive it, then email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com. In your email, write “Missing iMED card” as the subject line, and in the message, you must include your name, UBC student ID number, and date of arrival in BC.
You may be eligible to opt out of iMED if any of the following apply to you:
- You already have iMED, BC MSP, or another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan
- Your studies are funded by a third-party organization that provides you with basic health insurance
- You will complete your entire program of studies online while remaining physically outside of Canada
If your family (spouse, partner, and/or dependent children) will be with you in Canada, you are responsible for adding them to the iMED basic health insurance.
Basic health insurance after your first 3 months in Canada
BC MSP program
The British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the BC-government run public health insurance plan. You are required to enrol in MSP if you will be in BC for more than 6 months.
BC MSP covers doctor visits, hospital visits, and medically required services.
Review the list of medical services that MSP covers.
There is a 3-month waiting period to be eligible for MSP, starting with the balance of your month of arrival in BC, plus the next 2 calendar months.
As long as you apply upon your arrival in BC, you should be covered from the first day of your 4th month in BC until the expiry of your study permit, unless you leave BC for an extended period.
When you get a new study or work permit, you must extend your MSP online to maintain coverage. If you applied for a new study or work permit but you haven’t received it yet, ensure you request temporary coverage while on maintained status.
As of January 1, 2020, all international students with study permits must pay a $75 health care coverage fee per month. You will receive a bill from the British Columbia government and must pay the BC government directly. You can pay online and set up online services, such as seeing your balance, setting up paperless invoicing, and autopayments.
If your family is with you in Canada, they will only be charged the health care coverage fee if they also hold study permits. If they hold work permits or are here as visitors, they will not be charged the fee.
These fees are subject to change. Check the MSP website for the most up-to-date information.
You must apply for MSP online for yourself and any family members who come with you as soon as you arrive in BC. Processing your MSP application could take several months. Once processed, you will receive your BC Services Card (formerly known as “BC CareCard”) by mail.
You should register for the BC Fair PharmaCare Plan, which might provide additional coverage for prescription drugs, medical devices, and pharmacy services. Fair PharmaCare registration may be required for prescription coverage through the AMS/GSS Health and Dental plan. As of October 2022, you can register for the BC Fair PharmaCare plan at the same time you apply for MSP. It is also possible to register for Fair PharmaCare separately.
If you will be in BC for 6 months or less, you are not eligible to apply for MSP coverage.
If your family (spouse, partner, and/or dependent children) will be with you in BC for 6 months or more, they may be eligible to enrol with the BC MSP.
Extended health insurance: AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan
Most 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. Extended health insurance covers some fees and services which are not covered by basic health insurance, such as iMED, BC MSP, or the Global Campus Health Plan (GCHP).
The AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan covers what basic health insurance does not, including:
- Health Coverage (e.g., up to 80% of prescription drugs)
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Travel health coverage (coverage is not available in your country of origin)
You can also 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.
You must have MSP or equivalent basic health insurance coverage to be covered under the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan.
Once you have MSP, you might need to register for the BC Fair PharmaCare Plan to enhance your coverage for prescriptions.
- If you start your studies at UBC in Winter Term 1, you’re covered by the plan for 1 year from September 1 to August 31
- If you start your studies at UBC in Winter Term 2, you’re covered by the plan for 8 months from January 1 to August 31
- If you start your studies at UBC in the Summer Session: you are not automatically enrolled, but you may be eligible to self-enrol during the change of coverage period. If you wish to opt into the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you must opt into all other AMS fees.
The AMS/GSS Health and Dental plan fee is charged to your Workday account. You can check your extended health fee in Workday.
- Students starting in 2023/24 Winter Term 1: $338 for coverage from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.
- Students starting in 2023/24 Winter Term 2: $225.33 for 8-month coverage from January 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024.
- Students starting in 2024 Summer Session: $112.67 for coverage from May 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024.
Fees are subject to change. Check the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan webpage for the most up-to-date costs.
All AMS and GSS members are automatically enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, including full-time and part-time students, international students, and those auditing courses. However, there are some exceptions. To confirm your enrolment, please check your Workday account activity to ensure the fees have been applied.
If you are not automatically enrolled because you started or will start your studies at UBC in the Summer Session, but you wish to enrol with the extended plan, be sure to opt into the plan during the change-of-coverage period. If you wish to opt into the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you must opt into all other AMS fees.
If you think you should be covered but you are missing the fees, or to confirm your coverage, contact the StudentCare Centre.
Download, print, and fill out your Pay Direct Card, which allows your claim to be processed immediately when you fill a prescription. Consider saving a digital copy of the card on your phone as well.
If your family (spouse, partner, and/or dependent children) will be with you in Canada, you are responsible for adding them to the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan.
Exchange students
If you are an exchange student and you pay tuition at your home university, you are not automatically enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. You may, however, be eligible to apply once you arrive at UBC. You will need to fill the AMS Fee Opt-in form and submit your request during the change of coverage period. If you wish to opt into the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you must opt into all other AMS fees. It is important that you have extended health and dental coverage while you are in Canada.
If you’re covered by another extended plan
If you have a separate extended health insurance plan which is equivalent to the coverage provided by the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you may be eligible to opt out of the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. The BC MSP coverage is not equivalent to the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. If you want to opt out, you must do so within the change of coverage period or within 3 weeks of your registration date, whichever is later.
If you have questions about coverage outside of Canada or documentation to opt out, please contact the StudentCare Centre.
FAQs for international students
Get timely updates on immigration, work eligibility, and health insurance for international students.
International Student Guide
Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC’s Vancouver campus.