A group of students sitting at desks wearing blue, turquoise and white medical scrubs

Health insurance

As an international student, health insurance is mandatory to attend any programs at 小优短视频. You must be registered into courses in an academic semester or registered for a work term/co-op term in Banner (小优短视频鈥檚 student information system) for health insurance coverage to begin for that term.

If you鈥檙e planning to arrive in Canada earlier than the insurance聽coverage date, you must purchase an appropriate insurance plan to cover any medical expenses from the day you arrive. To purchase early arrival health insurance at a discounted rate, visit the .

guard.me International Insurance

Health insurance is provided through a company called聽. This insurance coverage is for emergency health conditions and new (flu, sore throat, rash, etc.) that starts after your insurance coverage begins (the plan does not cover pre-existing conditions).

If you don鈥檛 register into courses in an academic semester or do not register for a work-term/co-op term in Banner, you won鈥檛 be covered by health insurance. If you鈥檙e out of the normal program progression, you may have to pay additional health insurance fees.聽It is your responsibility to ensure you have health insurance while in Canada by checking with the International Centre.

It is important that you download the guard.me insurance card once you receive it in your college student email (ex: 200*@student.georgianc.on.ca). Failure to bring your insurance card when visiting the medical facility could result in having to pay for your medical expenses out of your pocket.

Health insurance coverage dates

English language studies (EAPC and ESLG)

YearTermInsurance start dateInsurance end date
2024WinterJan. 1, 2024April 30, 2024
2024SummerMay 1, 2024Aug. 31, 2024
2024FallSept. 1, 2024Dec. 31, 2024

Postsecondary students

YearTermInsurance start dateInsurance end date
2024WinterJan. 1, 2024Aug. 31, 2024
2024SummerMay. 1, 2024Aug. 31, 2024
2024FallSept. 1, 2024Aug. 31, 2025

What鈥檚 included in your health insurance plan

As an international student enrolled in a postsecondary program at 小优短视频, you have health insurance coverage from 驳耻补谤诲.尘别听补苍诲听a health and dental plan from 小优短视频 Students鈥 Association/mystudentplan.

guard.me international insurance logo

guard.me International Insurance

This health insurance coverage is for emergency health conditions and new (flu, sore throat, rash, etc.) that starts after your insurance coverage begins. The plan does not cover pre-existing conditions.

Services

Services include:

  • hospital and walk-in clinic visits
  • x-rays and lab testing
  • physician/surgeon
  • psychiatric hospitalization
  • psychotherapy
  • eye exams
  • paramedic services
  • physiotherapy/speech therapy
  • private nursing
  • ambulance
  • prescription drugs
  • dental 鈥 accidental injury
  • dental 鈥 emergency
  • medical equipment and supplies
  • accessibility
  • immunization
  • maternity
  • family transportation
  • air evacuation/return home
  • trauma counseling

Check your student email to access your benefit card (often found in your junk mail folder).

You also have the option of purchasing insurance for your dependents.

小优短视频 Students' Association (GCSA) my student plan logo

GCSA mystudentplan

This health and dental plan is for most non-emergency health and dental needs (dental check-up, physiotherapy, massage therapy, etc.).

Health

Services include:

  • physiotherapist
  • speech therapist
  • psychologist/social worker
  • registered massage and athletic therapist (requires a doctor鈥檚 note)
  • chiropractor
  • naturopath
  • vision
  • orthopedics

Dental

Services include:

  • annual exams
  • recall exams
  • diagnostic
  • preventative
  • minor restorative
  • extractions
  • oral surgery
  • endodontic
  • periodontic
  • major restorative

EAP students do not have this coverage.

You also have the option of purchasing health and dental coverage for your dependents.

For details, visit the Benefits Plan Office in A159 at the Barrie Campus.

Additional student support

Through guard.me, international students have access to great resources including mobileDOCTOR and keep.meSAFE.

mobileDOCTOR

If you have a medical concern that isn鈥檛 urgent and is not an emergency, mobileDOCTOR聽lets you connect with a doctor from the comfort of your home through a mobile device or computer without going to the clinic.

Available anytime, anywhere through your computer or mobile device, mobile doctors can provide advice, diagnosis and prescriptions online.聽聽*When outside of Canada mobileDOCTOR is for advice purposes only.

Treatment can be provided for asthma, cold and flu, cough, earache, hives, infection, migraine, pink eye, sinus infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection, vomiting, diarrhea and many more.聽

You鈥檒l need your guard.me policy number.

keep.meSAFE

Keep.meSAFE聽offers free service in your preferred language for help with many things including; stress, anxiety, feeling alone, culture shock, feeling homesick and more.聽

It is a聽safe聽补苍诲听confidential service that you can access for FREE at any time of the day or night from your聽mobile device聽or聽computer.聽

聽to see how it works.聽

Rexall partnership

for an exclusive benefits program for all inbound students in Canada covered by Guard.me insurance.

Students will receive benefits such as automatic savings on filling prescription medications, medical interpretation services in over 240 languages, 20% off regular-priced exclusive brands, and much more!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What if I arrive in Canada before my health insurance begins?小优短视频 Chevron

If you arrive before the insurance start date, it is important that you purchase your own health insurance from the date of arrival in Canada up to the insurance start date. Please visit聽聽to apply for insurance coverage for additional days. Please note that an Early Arrival policy can only be purchased up to 4 weeks prior to the semester start date.鈥

What can I do for my family members? Can they purchase health insurance?小优短视频 Chevron

Dependents (spouses and children) of registered students are able to purchase health insurance through guard.me at a discounted rate. Visit the聽聽and click on 鈥淒ependents鈥 to proceed. You鈥檒l need your policy number to purchase insurance for dependents.

If you need to access medical facilities for your dependents while you鈥檙e waiting for your insurance card, you鈥檙e encouraged to do so. You鈥檒l have to pay for the expense upfront, and make sure you keep the receipt and related notes of these visits.

滨尘辫辞谤迟补苍迟:听One you receive your policy number, you have until the end of the month to add your dependents to be able to back-date your insurance. Here are the deadlines to add your dependents to allow back-date:

  • Fall: Sept. 30
  • Winter: Jan. 31
  • Summer: May 31

Will I receive a health insurance card?小优短视频 Chevron

You鈥檒l receive an email to your 小优短视频 email account after the add/drop period in your first semester at 小优短视频*. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder. The email will include a link to access your policy details and personalized Healthcare Access Card. You won鈥檛 receive a physical card, so you must print the card on your own.

Keep the ID card with you in your wallet for proof of health insurance coverage. You鈥檒l also receive a temporary password you can use to log in your account at the guard.me website to allow you access to your ID card and view the status of any claims.

Once you鈥檙e registered into courses in an academic semester or you鈥檙e registered for a work term/co-op term in Banner, your coverage for health insurance will begin for that term. Even though you receive your card after the start of your first semester, you鈥檙e covered from the first day of your first month. If you need to seek medical care before you receive your card, make sure you鈥檙e familiar with what is covered. Keep all of your receipts so that you may submit your claim online once you receive your card.

If you still cannot find your policy information a week after add/drop, please email聽intlinsurance@georgiancollege.ca聽or visit your Segal International Centre on campus.

* EAP students will receive a new digital health card at the start of each semester.

When do I receive a health insurance card?小优短视频 Chevron

In most cases, you鈥檒l receive an email to access your digital health card in your student email after add/drop date. If you do not receive the insurance card by the end of the week after add/drop, please contact us at聽intlinsurance@georgiancollege.ca.

If you鈥檙e on a co-op term, the timing will be different.

Do I need health insurance for co-op semester?小优短视频 Chevron

Yes. All registered international students at 小优短视频 are required to have guard.me insurance. As long as you鈥檙e registered on Banner, you鈥檒l be insured. This means although you do not pay tuition fee in co-op semester, you鈥檒l have to pay for the insurance fee.

Expect a charge on your Banner account once you register for your co-op. This could mean that if you register late, even if it is after add/drop, you can have a health insurance charge on your Banner account at that point. When you鈥檙e on co-op, you鈥檒l have until the next course registration to pay off your balance.

What if I do not receive an email from guard.me to my student email account?小优短视频 Chevron

If you do not receive an email from guard.me with your health insurance card, check to make sure you鈥檙e registered on Banner. If you鈥檙e registered in courses or co-op/work term and don鈥檛 have a health insurance card, please drop by the Segal International Centre (C279) and let us know. If you鈥檙e are not registered in courses or co-op/work term, please register on Banner or visit the Office of the Registrar. Don鈥檛 forget to check your spam or junk email folders for the email.

How can I find a medical clinic near me?小优短视频 Chevron

To find the clinic closest to your home,聽. Once you fill in your address, it will give you a list of the closest clinics. The clinics listed are all direct billing locations.

You can still visit a clinic that isn鈥檛 on the list, but you鈥檒l have to pay for the service up front.

What is a claim?小优短视频 Chevron

If you visit the doctor鈥檚 office without your guard.me card or visit a health facility that does not provide direct billing, you鈥檒l be asked to pay up front for your medical expenses.聽Keep your receipt聽and related medical documents so you can make a claim with guard.me and be refunded.

How do I submit a claim?小优短视频 Chevron

You can make a claim online if the receipt is under $1,000 by visiting聽聽and clicking on聽My Claim,听迟丑别苍听Making a Claim. You鈥檒l be asked to enter your policy number and date of birth. Click聽Submit聽and continue the steps through the claim process. On the last page, you鈥檒l be asked to fill in your address. Please ensure your address details are accurate as this is where the cheque will be mailed. You鈥檒l also be asked to scan and attach your receipt(s). If your receipt is over $1,000, you鈥檒l have to submit your claim by mail.

Can I opt out of my guard.me health insurance?小优短视频 Chevron

guard.me health insurance is mandatory for all international students who are registered for courses or a co-op/work term in Banner. That means that if you鈥檙e currently in courses or on a co-op/work term, you can鈥檛 opt-out, and this includes students with OHIP coverage.

How can I learn more about my 小优短视频 Students鈥 Association (GCSA) insurance?小优短视频 Chevron

Get more information on聽GCSA insurance coverage. This coverage applies to postsecondary students in a full-time diploma, degree, or certificate program.

What if I have a break between my studies, e.g. between EAP and the start of postsecondary?小优短视频 Chevron

If the coverage date on your guard.me card is expiring and you鈥檒l be coming back to study at 小优短视频, you can purchase health insurance for the gap between programs. Visit聽and follow the steps for 鈥済ap student.鈥

Please refer to the coverage dates above to be sure that you don鈥檛 purchase health insurance for longer then you need.

Common coverage inquiries小优短视频 Chevron
  • Dermatologist: To visit a dermatologist, you鈥檒l likely have to be referred by a doctor which means you鈥檒l need to visit the doctor鈥檚 office first. Remember, guard.me doesn鈥檛 cover any pre-existing conditions (including acne).
    If you鈥檙e unsure whether your dermatologist visit will be covered, email customercare@guard.me.
  • Dentist: guard.me International Insurance will only cover a visit to a dentist if it鈥檚 an emergency or immediate relief of pain or suffering. If you鈥檙e a postsecondary student, you may be eligible under .
  • Eye doctor: You鈥檒l be covered for one non-emergency eye exam per year up to a maximum of $120. There is no insurance coverage for contacts or glasses.
  • Immunizations: You鈥檒l be covered up to $150 for聽program/course required immunizations.聽Any immunizations that are not required for your program/course won鈥檛 be covered.
  • If you鈥檙e unsure what us covered by guard.me, contact the guard.me claims department at 1.888.756.8428 or email customercare@guard.me.
Will I have health insurance after I graduate?小优短视频 Chevron

Your guard.me insurance is valid until the expiry date, even after your graduation.

It is strongly recommended to extend your guard.me insurance if you鈥檙e not going to have any other insurance coverage.

In order to be covered under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), you鈥檒l need the physical copy of your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Because of this, it may be a while before you鈥檒l be eligible for OHIP coverage. For more information, check the and read the .

You must extend your guard.me insurance within 30 days from the expiry of your current guard.me policy. You can purchase up to maximum of six months. Please visit and click on 鈥淕rad student鈥 to purchase the insurance.

What if I withdraw from 小优短视频?小优短视频 Chevron

If you officially withdraw from the college (or transfer to another institution) after the add/drop deadline, your health insurance coverage won鈥檛 be terminated and fees won鈥檛 be refunded. Your health insurance will expire on the date indicated on your health card.

What if I don鈥檛 register for courses/co-op in Banner?小优短视频 Chevron

If you do not register into courses in an academic semester or do not register for a work-term/co-op term in Banner, you won鈥檛 be covered by health insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure you have health insurance while in Canada by checking with the International Centre. If you鈥檙e out of the normal program progression, it is your responsibility to ensure you have health insurance by checking with the International Centre. You may have to pay additional health insurance fees due to your irregular program progression.

Why am I being charged twice for the insurance fee more than once in the same academic year?小优短视频 Chevron

Students can be charged insurance in more than one semester, in an academic year, due to program changes, progression changes/being out of sequence or co-op registration.

If the charge has not been removed, please contact聽intlinsurance@georgiancollege.ca

Want to learn more?

小优短视频 Canada

@icgeorgian

Whether you鈥檙e an applicant interested in studying at 小优短视频, an international student in need of guidance, or an individual looking to explore opportunities abroad, don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out to our International Education and Development office. We鈥檙e here to support you throughout your academic journey!

Contact information

Segal International Centre
C279, Barrie Campus
705.722.5158

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