What to know before choosing a plan
Plain-language information, designed to help you compare meaningful differences.
Start with your school’s official insurance requirements
International students attending Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University or another institution must first confirm the health coverage specified by their school or program. Institutions may use different plans, fees, mandatory enrolment rules and waiver procedures.
Do not assume an Ontario study permit automatically provides OHIP coverage. Many international students rely on institution-arranged or private insurance. Always confirm your own eligibility with ServiceOntario and your institution.
What should student health insurance include?
Check emergency hospital expenses, doctor visits, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs, mental-health services, vision or dental riders, and whether referrals or preferred networks apply. Student plans can differ markedly from standard visitor emergency policies.
Compare limits and exclusions for sports, pregnancy, pre-existing conditions, travel outside Ontario and trips back home. A lower-cost plan may be appropriate for one student but inadequate for another.
Coverage gaps before classes, between terms and after graduation
Your plan may start on a fixed academic date, stop when enrolment ends or exclude family members. Students arriving early, changing institutions, taking a leave, graduating or switching immigration status should verify their exact insured dates.
A private visitor or student policy may help bridge a gap when eligible, but it is not interchangeable with every mandatory university or college plan. Obtain a copy of your school’s schedule and ask about any overlap.
Spouses and children may need separate arrangements
Do not assume dependants are automatically included in a student plan. Confirm whether spouse and child coverage can be added, whether each must apply separately, and when benefits become effective.
Our Cambridge office can help you compare private options and understand the questions to ask the school. School policy rules take precedence over any general guidance on this website.