Your school requires it. Your visa may require it. Here's what you actually need.
Get a QuoteIf you're coming to Canada to study, health insurance isn't optional — it's a requirement. Most Canadian universities and immigration programs require proof of adequate coverage, and the Canadian healthcare system won't cover you as an international student the way it covers residents.
Most Canadian universities require international students to have health insurance, either through a university plan or a private policy. Some provinces (like BC and Ontario) have waiting periods before you can access provincial coverage, if you're eligible at all.
In most provinces, international students are not covered by the provincial health plan (MSP, OHIP, etc.) — or there's a waiting period of up to 3 months. During that gap, you're fully responsible for any medical costs.
Emergency medical, hospital, physician, ambulance, prescription drugs, and often dental, mental health, and maternity. Student-specific plans are built for 365-day stays and include benefits that vacation policies don't — like check-ups and paramedical services.
Before you arrive. Coverage should start the day you land. If there's a gap between arrival and your policy start date, any medical issue during that gap is on you — and it could become a pre-existing condition that future policies exclude.
Get student-specific coverage that includes dental, mental health, and check-ups — not just emergencies.
Get a Quote Learn more about student plansOne night in a Canadian ICU can top $14,000 — without coverage, that's on you.
Cost reality