COVID-19 FAQs for international students
If you're an international student, find out more about the impact of COVID-19 on immigration, health insurance, and more.
If you're an international student, find out more about the impact of COVID-19 on immigration, health insurance, and more.
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:
Accompanying family members are also strongly recommended to have basic and extended health insurance.
Check your student fees
After you register for classes, check your fees by logging in to your Student Services Centre (SSC) and selecting “Financial Summary” under Finances. Confirm you are charged for iMED coverage (see section below) and AMS/GSS Health & Dental Plan fees. If you are charged, you are covered.
iMED is temporary private health insurance to cover you while you are waiting to be eligible for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP), since MSP has a 3-month waiting period. The provider is David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) in Vancouver.
If you are a one-term exchange student or a VIRS student, you will have iMED for the duration of your studies.
iMED covers your first 3 months in Canada. iMED coverage should start from the month you arrive in BC plus 2 months to cover the 3-month BC MSP waiting period, or cover the full duration of your program of studies if you are a one-term exchange student or VIRS student.
Your coverage dates depends on when you start your program:
If you are a one-term exchange student or a VIRS student, you will have iMED for the duration of your studies. Check your coverage dates.
If you will arrive the month before or after your coverage starts, you can request to change your coverage dates.
Effective September 1, 2020
Effective May 1, 2022
The fees are charged to your Student Service Centre (SSC) account. Fees are subject to change.
You are automatically enrolled in iMED as a new-to-UBC international student when you register for classes. Check the “Financial Summary” in your Student Services Centre (SSC) account to make sure you were charged for the fee and will be enrolled. If you think you should be covered for iMED but do not see the fees on your account, contact International Student Advising.
If you are a returning UBC student, you are not eligible for iMED and can purchase private insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan.
Your iMED card will be automatically emailed to you after you register for your first course. Be sure to download and print a copy. If you do not receive your card, contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS).
If you have family members, you are responsible for adding them to iMED.
If you already have MSP or another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan, or your studies are being funded by a third- party organization, you may be eligible to opt out of iMED.
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, plus 2 months.
As long as you apply as soon as you arrive in BC, you should be covered from 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 to maintain coverage. If you applied for a new study or work permit but you haven’t received it yet, ensure you have coverage while on maintained status.
Effective January 1, 2020, all international students with study permits must pay a $75 health care coverage fee per month.
If your family is with you in Canada, they will only be assessed 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 assessed the fee.
These fees are subject to change. Check the MSP website for the most up-to-date information.
You must apply for MSP 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 and receive an invoice each month. You must pay the government directly.
If you will be in BC for 6 months or less, you are not eligible to apply.
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 fees and services which are not covered by basic health insurance, such as BC MSP.
The AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan covers what MSP does not, including:
Once you have MSP, you might need to register for the BC Fair PharmaCare Plan to enhance your coverage for prescriptions.
You must have MSP or equivalent coverage to be covered under the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan.
The fee is charged to your Student Services Centre (SSC) account and are as follows:
Fees for the 2022/23 school year will be updated once available.
Fees are subject to change. See the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan webpage for the most up-to-date costs.
All AMS and GSS members are automatically enrolled, including full-time and part-time students, international students, and those auditing a course. Certain exceptions exist so make sure you check your Student Services Centre (SSC) account to ensure you’ve been charged for the fees and will be enrolled.
If you think you should be covered but you are missing the fee, or to confirm your coverage, contact the Care Centre.
If you have questions about coverage outside of Canada or documentation to opt out, contact Studentcare.
If you have family members, you are responsible for adding them to AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan.
If you are not automatically enrolled but wish to enrol, be sure to opt into the plan during the change-of-coverage period.
If you’re studying in or outside of Canada, there are support options available to you. Answer a few questions and find the resources specific to you.
Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC's Vancouver campus.