Medical
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UHIP is a mandatory health plan for all international students studying in Ontario. Please visit 'Get Started' on the UHIP website for details.
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There are two types of health plans:
- Primary - University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
- Supplementary - Studentcare (OCAD U's health and dental plan)
Each plan covers different health services, but together they provide full and complete coverage for students.
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Provides extended health coverage for many services not covered by UHIP or OHIP
Prescription drugs, dental care, vaccinations and more
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Confirm you are covered by health insurance
- Check your student fees
After you register for classes, check your fees by logging into MyOCADU and click on 'MyOCAD U Records' (Self Service) / ‘Student Finance’.
Select Fall Term if you begin studies in September (e.g. Fall 2024)
Select Winter Term if you begin studies in January (e.g. Winter 2025) - Charges (part of your tuition fees)
Click on Charges, then ‘Health Insurance’, or ‘Expand All’. - Confirmation of Enrolment
If you are enrolled in UHIP and/or Studentcare, you will see coverage charges under Health Insurance. See example below:
| Description | Amount |
| Insurance Dental Plan | $72 |
| Insurance Health Plan | $95 |
| Insurance UHIP | $756 |
Note: Studentcare coverage (health and dental plan) is charged one term at a time.
Current UHIP Premiums
| Starting Term | Period of Coverage | Member (student) | Member +1 dependent | Member +2 or more dependants |
| Fall | September to August | $756 | $1,512 | $2,268 |
| Winter | January to August | $504 | $1,008 | $1,512 |
| Spring/summer | May to August | $252 | $504 | $756 |
Note: These prices are in Canadian dollars and include tax.
International students paying domestic fees are NOT automatically enrolled in UHIP. You must complete the UHIP Enrolment Form and email to international@ocadu.ca.
You will be enrolled for the twelve-month coverage period, from September 1 to August 31. UHIP fee will be charged to your student fees account.
To enrol your dependent(s) in UHIP, you must complete the UHIP Application Form. Completed form and supporting documents (passport page with the date of entry stamp and the picture page) must be submitted to the office of International Student Support (international@ocadu.ca).
NOTE: Dependents' UHIP must be renewed each academic year, and they must be enrolled within 30 days of your UHIP start date to avoid a late fee of $500. Your UHIP start date is the first day of the month you begin studies at OCAD U.
Your UHIP electronic coverage card will be sent to you as a link from Cowan's email (uhip.ramu@cowangroup.ca) to your OCAD U email address every year in September with information on how to access it. Be sure to check your email for a message from Cowan Group. It's important to print your card and carry this card with you at all times.
Email from Cowan:
If you are enrolled in classes and have not received the UHIP card or the UHIP fee on your Student Finance account, please contact us as soon as possible.
When you visit a clinic or hospital, you must show your UHIP card. Hospitals, clinics and medical labs in the UHIP Preferred Provider Network will submit payment requests directly to the insurance company and you will not need to pay for the medical services at the time of your visit.
If you go to a hospital, clinic or medical lab that is not part of the UHIP Preferred Provider Network, you will have to pay for the services at the time of your visit. When you make a payment, be sure to get a receipt and ask the doctor to complete a UHIP Claim Form. You should then send the receipt and the claim form to the insurance company so you can be reimbursed for your expenses.
- If you need emergency medical care, visit the emergency room at the nearest hospital, or at a hospital in the UHIP Preferred Provider Network. Otherwise, for non-emergencies, visit OCAD U's Student Wellness Centre.
- For non-emergencies, visit a walk-in medical clinic in the UHIP Preferred Provider Network. Use a walk-in clinic for medical issues that may need immediate attention but are not life-threatening. You don't need an appointment. You may not always see the same physician each time you go.
- Call Health811, Ontario's free and confidential telephone service that provides general health information and advice from a registered nurse. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is offered in English and French. Translation support is available in many other languages.
UHIP is mandatory unless you have one of the following:
- Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
- You have diplomatic status
- You are covered under a sponsored plan supported by your government (your government is paying for your education and living expenses and has purchased a health care policy that covers you in Canada)
- You are covered under one of Cowan's pre-approved plans:
Ciência sem Fronteiras (Csf) - Brazil
Embassy of Botswana - Student Program (Cowan #G0020376)
Embassy of the State of Kuwait GHIP Replacement
Interim Federal Health Program
Libyan Embassy and Scholarship Program – Canada Policy #G0068002
Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB-HDP) Policy #165069
To receive an exemption, you must complete the Proof of Health Insurance Coverage form.
If you recently became a permanent resident (PR) or you are a Canadian citizen who has been living outside of Ontario, you can be covered by UHIP while you are waiting for your OHIP coverage to take effect. There is no longer a waiting period for OHIP coverage. If you are eligible, you will have immediate health insurance coverage.
To enrol in UHIP, you must complete the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) application.
Please contact The Office of International Student Support for more information.
Your UHIP coverage remains active while you are registered in courses at OCAD U. Should you withdraw from all your courses, your UHIP coverage will be terminated from the day you withdraw from your courses.
In addition to UHIP, students registered in 1.5 credits or more are automatically enrolled in Studentcare, OCAD U’s student health and dental plan. This plan is separate from UHIP and offers coverage for many services not covered by UHIP, like dental check-ups and prescription medication.
Please visit the Studentcare website to enrol your dependent(s).
OCAD U's health and dental plan is managed by the Student Wellness Centre. For any questions, please email healthdental@ocadu.ca.
keep.meSAFE by guard.me is a mental wellness program that provides OCAD University students with free, confidential support any time of the day or night, from anywhere in the world.
Learn more and connect by calling 1-844-451-9700 or chatting with a counsellor directly via the My SSP app. You can also visit the keep.meSAFE website for more information and to access support. Get matched with a counsellor that's from your culture or speaks your language, or has a shared experience for any school, health or general life concern. Real-time support is free and available via telephone and chat. Appointment-based support is available over the phone, via video and in-person.
Primary insurance - University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)
UHIP coverage may be extended under the following circumstances:
Approved leave of absence (LOA) from OCAD U
OCAD U must approve your LOA at least one month prior to the start of your leave. UHIP coverage can be extended up to four months starting from the start date of your leave, extending to 12 months for parental or maternity leave. Your extension of UHIP coverage must be continuous, and you must pay the required premium.
To request an extension, email the Office of International Student Support with your full name, OCAD U student number and the reason for requesting an extension.
After graduation
You can request to extend your UHIP coverage for up to six months after graduation. Your extension of UHIP coverage must be continuous, and you must pay the required premium.
| End of Term | Extension |
| Fall - December 31 | May not be extended |
| Winter - April 30 | Two months after August (September to October) |
| Spring/Summer - August 31 | Six months (September to February) |
To request for an extension, please complete the After Graduation: UHIP Extension form.
Supplementary insurance - Studentcare (OCAD U's student health and dental plan)
Please contact Studentcare for details.
After your UHIP coverage and/or Studentcare (OCAD U's student health and dental plan) coverage has terminated, you are responsible for purchasing a health insurance plan from a private insurance company in Canada.
The following are just a few options for your reference only. The companies listed herein are not necessarily endorsed by OCAD University:
If you have already paid upfront and would like to get reimbursed from Cowan, please complete section 'A' only.
If you have received an unpaid bill and would like Cowan to pay the provider directly, please complete both section 'A' and 'B'.
