If you’re new to UBC
As a new international student, you have temporary health insurance coverage for your first three months through iMED. Once you’ve arrived in Canada, if you will stay in the province for more than 6 months, you must apply for the BC Medical Service Plan (MSP) to cover your remaining time at UBC. Learn more about health insurance.
STUDENTS STARTING THEIR PROGRAM IN WINTER SESSION 2021 (SEPTEMBER 2021 TO APRIL 2022) OR LATER
You will automatically receive your iMED card by email.
If you are beginning studies in Winter Term 1 (September to December), your coverage will automatically start on August 1. You should purchase advanced coverage if you will arrive earlier or apply to change your coverage dates if you will arrive in September or later. Learn about changing coverage dates.
One-term exchange students have distinct coverage dates that cannot be changed. If you are arriving before your coverage begins we strongly recommend that you purchase advanced coverage.
Students who started their program in Winter Session 2020 to Summer Session 2021 (September 2020 to August 2021) - Confirm your arrival date
You should have received an email from David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) with information related to your temporary iMED health insurance and instructions on how to confirm your arrival date in Canada. You must confirm your arrival date with DCIS.
We strongly recommend that starting 3 weeks before your travel date, you confirm your arrival date before travelling by providing your scanned flight tickets to DCIS.
You can also confirm your arrival with DCIS up to 3 weeks after you’ve arrived in Canada by providing your scanned flight tickets, boarding pass(es), study permit, passport stamp, or landing documents.
Once you confirm your arrival with DCIS, you will receive your iMED card by email.
Get your virtual iMED card
If you don’t receive your iMED card, please email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com.
Confirm the iMED coverage period on your iMED card is correct. iMED coverage should start from the month you arrive in BC plus two months to cover the BC MSP waiting period. One-term exchange students and VIRS students are covered for the entire duration of their program studies.
If your plans change
If your travel plans change, request an adjustment of your iMED coverage period as soon as possible by contacting DCIS to inform them that you will come to Canada at a later date. Once you know your new arrival date, submit an Arrival Date Confirmation / Coverage Dates Change Form by email. If you started your program in Winter Session 2020 to Summer Session 2021, you must do this before July 21, 2022. You will then receive a new iMED card with your new coverage period.
Returning students
Before you travel, check whether you have valid BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage.
If you've been outside of Canada for six months or less
If you have been outside of Canada for less than six months and you did not cancel your MSP, ensure your MSP coverage has not expired. You should be able to be covered under MSP, however you must contact BC MSP to confirm. You may be asked to pay MSP fees for the time you were covered.
If you've been outside of Canada for more than six months
If you have been outside of Canada for more than six months, contact BC MSP to confirm your eligibility for coverage. If you can still be covered under MSP, no further action is required until your MSP expires. You may be asked to pay MSP fees for the time you were covered.
If you don’t have MSP
Before you travel to Canada, contact BC MSP to check if you are eligible for temporary coverage.
If you are not eligible to be covered under MSP, you will need to get private health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan, to cover the three-month MSP waiting period. Make sure the private health plan you choose has adequate coverage as some private health insurance companies are no longer covering COVID-19 testing and treatment.
As soon as you re-enter BC, apply for MSP online. See the Medical Service Plan Response to COVID-19 for the latest updates.