Health insurance

The guard.me plan provides emergency medical insurance coverage for international students who are new to UVic. 

This plan covers required medical services to address new and unexpected illness or injury. It does not cover pre-existing conditions.

For detailed policy information, visit the guard.me@UVic website.

Most new international students are automatically enrolled in the guard.me@UVic plan upon course registration at UVic.

If you are automatically enrolled, you will receive an email from guard.me to access your ID Card and policy information electronically.

Research students: You will not be automatically enrolled, but you can purchase comparable coverage on the guard.me/uvic website. We strongly recommend this option for research students who do not already have emergency medical insurance.

If you are automatically enrolled in the guard.me@UVic plan, you will be assessed a Mandatory Temporary Medical Insurance (MTMI) fee of $265 in your UVic student account.

Instructions for how to pay tuition and student fees are available on the Accounting Services website.

Fee deadlines are available in the UVic Calendar.

Exchange students:  The options available for paying the MTMI fee are the same as those listed for paying UVic tuition fees. 

The effective dates of coverage provided by the guard.me@UVic plan are determined by when you will begin your program of study at UVic.

The policy start date on your ID card (which you will receive via email from guard.me) will be either September 1, January 1, or May 1.

However, it is important to note that all students who are automatically enrolled in the guard.me@UVic plan receive a 14-day grace period, which provides emergency medical insurance coverage while travelling to Canada, settling in, and attending orientation events.

• If you begin your program of study during the first term of winter session, your coverage will be effective August 18 through December 31.
• If you begin your program of study during the second term of winter session, your coverage will be effective December 18 through April 30.
• If you begin your program of study during summer session, your coverage will be effective April 17 through August 31. 

Visit the guard.me/uvic website, click Dependents and follow the instructions to purchase emergency medical insurance coverage for family members who will accompany you to Canada.

Note: You can only submit the form to purchase coverage for your family members after you receive the ID Card and policy information for your own coverage.

Enrolment in the guard.me@UVic plan is mandatory unless you are covered by one of the following for the whole duration of your first term at UVic (i.e. September 1-December 31, January 1-April 30, or May 1-August 31):

• BC Medical Services Plan (BC MSP)
• Canadian provincial or territorial public health plan
• Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau-sponsored plan
• Libyan-North American Scholarship Program-sponsored plan
• African Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Program-sponsored plan
• Corbett British Columbia-Washington International Exchange & Fellowship Program

If you are already covered by one of these plans, visit the guard.me/uvic website, click Opt Out and follow the instructions.

If your BC MSP coverage expires during your first term at UVic, please contact the International Centre for Students for the opt-out procedure and criteria.

To demonstrate proof of coverage in one of these plans, you must provide a copy of each side of your identity card. Copies of your passport, UVic ONECard, etc. will not be accepted as proof of coverage.

You can only submit the form to opt out after you receive your ID Card and policy information. In addition, your opt-out request will only be approved if you have not used the guard.me@UVic plan.

Opting out for a 100% refund:

• The opt-out deadline for the first term of winter session (September - December) is September 22. 
• The opt-out deadline for the second term of winter session (January - April) is January 22. 
• The opt-out deadline for the summer session (May to August) is May 22.

If you submit the form before your opt-out deadline and your request is approved, the MTMI fee will be removed from your UVic student account.

Opting out after the 100% opt-out deadline:

If you would like to opt out after the deadlines noted above, you may be eligible for a partial reimbursement of the unused portion of your insurance if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You have not used the guard.me@UVic plan
• You have active coverage with one of the eligible plans noted above
• Your opt-out request is received before the last month of the term

If your application for a partial reimbursement is approved, guard.me will send you instructions on how to receive your refund directly.

If you will be outside of Canada for the summer session (May - August) 2023, you will be eligible to opt out, regardless of whether you are currently covered by a similar health plan. Visit the guard.me/uvic website, click Opt Out and follow the instructions. The opt-out deadline is May 22, 2023. 

If you submit the form before your opt-out deadline and your request is approved, the MTMI fee will be removed from your UVic student account.

If you miss your opt-out deadline, or have difficulty submitting the form, please contact the International Centre for Students.

You may be eligible to opt out of the guard.me@UVic plan if you have a chronic condition and proof of alternative coverage. To request to opt out due to a chronic condition, you must complete an appeal form and submit it along with supporting documentation to the International Centre for Students (ICS) at UVic on or before the 100% opt-out deadline for your first term at UVic: 

• The opt-out deadline for the first term of winter session (September - December) is September 22. 
• The opt-out deadline for the second term of winter session (January - April) is January 22. 
• The opt-out deadline for the summer session (May to August) is May 22.

If your appeal is approved, the MTMI fee will be removed from your UVic student account.

For more information on this process, contact the ICS at icsinfo@uvic.ca.

You should only purchase emergency medical insurance coverage that extends beyond the policy end date of your guard.me@UVic plan if you are not eligible to enrol in the British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP).

Check out the section below to learn more about the Medical Services Plan (MSP) in British Columbia.

If you are not eligible to enrol in the BC MSP, visit the guard.me/uvic website, click Extend Coverage and follow the instructions to purchase additional emergency medical insurance coverage.

If, after purchasing additional coverage for yourself, you also want to purchase additional coverage for your family members, visit the guard.me/uvic website, click Dependents and follow the instructions.

Note: You can only submit the form to purchase additional coverage for your family members after you receive the ID Card and policy information for your own additional coverage.

For non-emergency assistance, send an email to admindept@guard.me.

For emergency assistance dial:

• 1-888-756-8428 (toll-free in North America)
• 1-905-731-8291 (collect call outside North America)

Multi-lingual help is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP) covers required medical services provided by physicians, specialists, diagnostic facilities, laboratory facilities, and hospitals. 

Visit the BC MSP website for information about benefits.

If you intend to stay in British Columbia (BC) for fewer than six months, you are not eligible for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP).

All other international students must submit an application for enrolment when they arrive in BC.

The application for enrolment is available online.

If you have difficulty submitting the online form, try one of the other application options.

You will receive a Non-Photo BC Services Card in the mail with a personal health number (PHN) which will allow you to access required medical services.

You will receive an invoice for your monthly fees and instructions for how to pay.

The health fee for international students is $75 per month per student.

Please refer to the BC Ministry of Health’s Questions and Answers: Health fee for international students document for more information.

Please note that international students are not eligible for MSP premium assistance. 

After you apply for the British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP), there is a waiting period before your coverage begins.

The waiting period consists of the balance of your month of arrival in BC plus two more months. For example, if you arrive in BC any day in April your coverage will begin on July 1, but if you arrive in BC any day in May your coverage will begin on August 1.

Most new international students are automatically enrolled in the guard.me@UVic plan, which covers required medical services to address new and unexpected illness or injury during the BC MSP waiting period. Once your BC MSP coverage takes effect, you may be eligible to opt out of the guard.me@UVic plan if you meet certain requirements. Please see “I am already covered by a similar plan. Can I opt out?” in the above section (The guard.me@UVic plan) for more information.

Your BC MSP coverage expires when your study permit expires. As a result, you will need to update your MSP account to renew your coverage after you extend your study permit. For details, see “How can I extend my coverage?” below.

If you are moving to British Columbia (BC) from another Canadian province or territory contact Health Insurance BC by phone and ask to speak with an enrolment specialist about your options.

Submit an MSP Account Change Request online or contact Health Insurance BC by phone to provide your new mailing address.

Your British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage expires when your study permit expires. This date appears on your study permit, and will also be indicated on your BC Services Card.

It is very important that you start the process of extending your study permit in Canada at least four months before it expires to avoid a lapse in your BC MSP coverage.

Effective May 1, 2022, eligible individuals living in BC with maintained status while waiting for a study permit or work permit extension may be eligible for temporary MSP coverage. If your study permit and BC MSP coverage have expired while you are awaiting processing of your study permit extension application, you may be able to temporarily extend your BC MSP. For details, visit the BC MSP Maintained Status Holders webpage.

If, when you receive your new study permit, your BC Services Card has not yet expired, or has been expired for less than six months, submit an MSP Account Change Request online to extend your BC MSP coverage.

If, when you receive your new study permit, your BC Services Card has already been expired for more than six months, contact Health Insurance BC by phone for instructions.

Some basic information is available on the BC MSP website.

If your BC Services Card is still valid, contact Health Insurance BC by phone and ask to speak with an enrolment specialist about your options.

Some basic information is available on the BC MSP website.

If your BC Services Card is still valid submit a Permanent Move Outside British Columbia form online or contact Health Insurance BC by phone to cancel your coverage.

Instructions for contacting Health Insurance BC are available on the BC MSP website.

Extended health insurance covers a portion of the cost of medical services that are not already covered by primary health insurance (e.g. guard.me or BC MSP). This includes vision care, dental care, travel benefits, prescription drugs, and services provided by chiropractors and psychologists.

The University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS) health and dental plan provides extended coverage for undergraduate students. Visit the UVSS website for information about benefits.

The Graduate Students' Society (GSS) health and dental plan provides extended coverage for graduate students. Visit the GSS website for information about benefits.

The coverage offered by these plans does not replace the need for primary health insurance. Without the guard.me@UVic plan or the BC Medical Services Plan you may not be able to access all the benefits associated with your UVic health and dental plan.

Most students are automatically enrolled in the appropriate plan upon registration at UVic for the fall (September to December) or spring (January to April) term. If you begin your program of studies in the summer session (May to August), you should contact your student society (UVSS or GSS) to inquire about your eligibility for the extended health and dental plan.

Visit the UVSS website to learn more about the extended health and dental plan for undergraduate students.

Visit the GSS website to learn more about the extended health and dental plan for graduate students.

Exchange students:  You will not be automatically enrolled, but you may be eligible to opt in during the change-of-coverage period if you choose to purchase a UVSS or GSS membership package.

Research students:  You will not be automatically enrolled, but you may be eligible to opt in during the change-of-coverage period if you choose to purchase a UVSS or GSS membership package.

PharmaCare can help you cover the cost of eligible prescription drugs, medical supplies, and pharmacy services not already covered by your primary and extended health insurance.

If you are already enrolled in the British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP) you are encouraged to register for Fair PharmaCare.

If you have already filed a Canadian income tax return, you can register online.

If you have not yet filed a Canadian income tax return, follow the instructions for new residents of Canada.

UVic Health, located in the Health and Wellness Building, provides full-service primary medical care for UVic students. We encourage students to use UVic Health as their primary point of health care while at UVic.

The UVic Sports Injury Clinic is located on the ground floor of the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA). This on-campus clinic is open to Victoria community members, including UVic students, staff and faculty. Services provided by accredited practitioners at the clinic include physiotherapy, massage therapy and sports injury therapy.

UVic Counselling, located in the Health and Wellness Building, provides individual and group counselling for personal issues and career exploration.

SupportConnect is a free, confidential mental health support service for UVic students. Get connected with qualified counsellors, consultants, and life coaches anytime, anywhere. This service is available 24/7 by phone and online. Video and in-person options are also available. You can reach out for any reason - big or small!

Finding a balance between your school, work, social, and personal lives is key to having academic success at university. UVic offers numerous resources, supports, and opportunities to promote student mental health.

HealthLink BC is the gateway to non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia (BC).

It is a phone number (8-1-1) and a website, both of which can be accessed at any time of day or night.

Interpreter services are available on request.

Trans Care BC supports the delivery of equitable and accessible care, surgical planning, and peer and community support for trans people across the province.

Heart Pharmacy, located in the Student Union Building, offers a wide range of health and beauty products plus prescription medications.

Campus Dental Centre, located in the Student Union Building, is a full service dental practice.

Victory Therapeutics, located in the Student Union Building, offers appointments with massage therapists, acupuncturists, dieticians, and naturopaths.

Background

As of October 17, 2018, the use of recreational cannabis became legal for adults in Canada.

In Canada, the Cannabis Act (Bill-C45) was passed to accomplish following goals:

• keep cannabis out of the hands of youth
• keep profits out of the pockets of criminals
• protect public health and safety by allowing adults access to legal cannabis

 (Original source: Government of Canada Department of Justice)

Impaired driving and cannabis-related offences

You should not drive while you are under the influence of drugs (including cannabis) or alcohol. Impaired driving is considered a very serious crime in Canada. On December 18, 2018, the Government of Canada announced new impaired driving and cannabis-related penalties. We also recommend that you visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for information about inadmissibility and the serious consequences to one’s temporary resident status or immigration applications in Canada due to impaired driving and cannabis-related offences.

Travelling within Canada

Even though cannabis consumption is legal in Canada, each province and territory has its own rules for cannabis including the legal minimum age (19 years or older in BC), where you can buy, where you can use, and how much you can possess. Visit the Government of Canada’s website for provincial and territorial regulations on cannabis.

Leaving and re-entering Canada

Keep in mind that the legalization of cannabis in Canada does not change Canada’s border regulations or the laws in other countries. Taking cannabis across the Canadian border is illegal, whether you are entering or leaving the country. It can result in serious penalties both in Canada and abroad. We strongly recommend that you review the information on the Government of Canada’s website about cannabis and international travel.

Cannabis in your home country

The change in cannabis laws and regulations in Canada does not affect the laws and regulations in other countries. To this date, cannabis remains illegal in most countries. For citizens of countries where cannabis is illegal, the use of cannabis overseas may result in negative impacts or severe penalties back home. That’s why we want to caution you that, as an international student, you must also understand the laws and regulations on cannabis in your home country.

Cannabis on campus

UVic’s approach towards cannabis is inclusive of prevention, harm reduction, and health promotion using evidence-based information. We encourage students to be self-reflective and self-aware about substance use. If you have questions about cannabis on campus, visit the Office of Student Life’s website or attend a workshop to get answers. There are also resources for parents and caregivers.