University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

Medical services in Ontario, including physician fees and emergency visits at a hospital, can be very expensive. UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) is a mandatory basic coverage plan that helps cover these expenses. Students who are required to be covered under UHIP include:

• International students with a valid study permit who are registered as active in a degree program,
• Incoming exchange students,
• Dependent(s), spouse and/or children, of eligible students, 
• International Visiting Research Trainees with a valid work permit, and
• Some Visiting Scholars 

Please note that dependents must be enrolled in UHIP within 30 days of their eligibility. You must enrol your dependents each September that you are registered at York. Dependents enrolled after 30 days will be subject to a $500 late fee.

Renewing your dependents: If you added your dependent(s) under your UHIP last year, you must renew their coverage within 30 days of their coverage expiry date via our UHIP application form, or a late fee of $500 will apply. You must do this each year that your dependents require UHIP coverage.

Please note that your dependent(s) are covered under your UHIP till August 31st, 2024 (end of current coverage year). You will need to renew their coverage for the Fall 2024 semester. Please ensure that you submit your renewal application before September 30th, 2024, or a late fee of $500 will apply.

Please check the UHIP website for detailed information about your dependent(s)’ coverage.

NOTE : UHIP does not cover prescriptions, dental, eye care, or physiotherapy. These services are covered through your extended health and dental plan, which is administered by your student union (YFS if you are an undergraduate student or GSA if you are a graduate student). For information regarding your extended health and dental plan, please contact your student union: http://www.yfs.ca/healthplan or http://yugsa.ca/services/health-plan/.

Not sure whether you are eligible for UHIP? Take the quiz here to find out!

International Students

All eligible international students are automatically enrolled under UHIP. Once enrolled under UHIP, you will receive an email notifying you that you have been enrolled under UHIP as well as pertinent and important information regarding UHIP coverage, how to use UHIP, etc.

Process for Winter 2025 academic term:

• • Once you enroll in courses for the Winter 2025 and are registered active students, we will enroll you into UHIP. No further action is required from your end.
  • Your coverage will be active from January 1st, 2025 till August 31st, 2025. In case of Medical Emergencies, you can use your UHIP card starting from December 10th, 2024 to seek medical attention.NOTE : If you enroll in courses after December 20th, 2024, you will get your UHIP Welcome Email when the university re-opens (the week of January 6th, 2025)
  • You will see a UHIP charge of $504 in your student account by the end of this week. This is your total UHIP fees for the remaining academic year based on the premium of $63 per month, per person
  • You'll receive an email from Cowan/Manulife to your @my.yorku.ca email address. Please check this for your Welcome email which will include instructions on how to access your UHIP card and other info about your UHIP coverage.
  • Log into the Cowan portal and make sure you can easily access your UHIP card.

If you are in Canada, please make sure that you have your UHIP Card. For information regarding how to get your UHIP card, click here.

Exchange Students

All eligible exchange students are automatically enrolled under UHIP. Once enrolled under UHIP, you will receive an email notifying you that you have been enrolled under UHIP as well as pertinent and important information regarding UHIP coverage, how to use UHIP, etc. 

Process for the 2024/25 academic year:

You will only be enrolled under UHIP if you are in Canada during the 2024/25 academic year.

Visiting Scholars and short-term international employees

If you are a post-doctoral fellow, please contact Pensions & Benefits to enroll under UHIP. Their email address is askpb@yorku.ca.

If you are a short-term Visiting Scholar or a short-term international employee, please complete the form here.

International Visiting Research Trainees (IVRTs)

If you are an IVRT, please complete the form here with document attachments.

Dependents (spouse and/or children)

You can add your dependent(s), spouse and/or children, under your UHIP. To add new dependent(s) under your UHIP or renew your existing dependent(s)’ coverage, please complete the form here. Dependents should be re-enrolled each year that you are at York. Please note that you must add new dependent(s) under your UHIP within 30 days of their eligibility; otherwise, there is a $500 late fee applicable.

School of Continuing Studies

If you are a student at the School of Continuing Studies, please contact the department directly to get your health coverage details. Their email address is regscs@yorku.ca.

Other non-degree students

If you are a non-degree international student who is enrolled in a certificate or diploma at a Faculty at York University, you are not eligible for UHIP. It is highly recommended that you purchase a private health plan for your studies in Canada.

If you take a semester off from your studies and are still in Canada, it is important to remain covered under UHIP!

To be covered under UHIP during your leave of absence, approval must be granted at least one month prior to taking the leave of absence. Therefore, you are required to apply for UHIP under leave of absence at least one month prior to taking the leave.

You may be covered under one of three types of leave of absence:

1. Medical leave of absence: In this case, your UHIP coverage may be continued for a maximum of 4 months per academic year. If you are unable to continue your studies for another semester due to medical reasons, you may be able eligible for an extension of the leave of absence. However, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis. You will need to submit medical documents to support your reason for taking another semester off.
2. Non-medical leave of absence: Your UHIP coverage may only be continued for a maximum of 4 months per academic year.
3. Maternity/paternity leave of absence: For a maternity or paternity leave of absence, your UHIP coverage may be continued for a maximum of 12 months.

Please click here to apply for UHIP under a leave of absence.

NOTE: Taking a semester off could affect the status of your study permit. To find out more information, please be sure to contact an International Student Advisor here.

You may be eligible to extend your UHIP coverage for up to six months after your last month of studies if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have approved your stay. Below is the maximum you can extend your UHIP coverage based on your convocation month:

• • June Convocation: You should already be covered until August. You may extend your UHIP for 2 more months (September and October) if the IRCC has approved your stay.
  • October Convocation: You may extend your UHIP for 6 months after your Summer term ends, maximum until February. 
  • February Convocation: You are automatically enrolled under UHIP for 12 months if you are registered for the Fall term. If you graduate in February, you may request a refund for the Winter and Summer term of UHIP. To request a refund for February graduation, please click here. Deadline for refund request is March 1st.

The process to apply for a UHIP extension for graduation is as follows:

Step 1: Submit an application to extend your UHIP here. Documents that you will need to provide are: the UHIP application form and a copy of your study permit.

Step 2: Once we receive the application form, we will need to process a payment for the UHIP extension. We will contact you via email to arrange payment via Zoom shortly following your application. Alternatively, you can attend our drop-in QLess hours on Fridays in person (details listed below).

NOTE: Your coverage will be continuous and retroactive from Sept 1st.

After you have extended your UHIP for the maximum number of months, you will need to look into private health plans until you become eligible for the provincial health plan (OHIP). For information regarding how to become eligible for OHIP, click here.

In Canada, there are two types of plans that make up your total health coverage: Basic plan and extended (sometimes known as supplementary) plan.

Your basic plan, as an international student, is through UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan). This plan is specifically tailored for international students to provide them with similar coverage to the government plan.

Your extended health plan is administered by your student union. Below is where you can get information regarding your extended health plan and who you can contact if you have questions:

• Undergrad students: Your student union is York Federation of students (YFS). For information regarding the plan, please visit: http://www.yfs.ca/healthplan. If you have further questions, you may contact yfshp@yfs.ca.
• Grad students (non-TA): Your student union is Graduate Student Association (GSA). For information regarding the plan, please visit: http://yugsa.ca/health-plan. If you have further questions, you may contact health@yugsa.ca.
• Grad students (TA): If you are a TA, your extended health plan will be provided through CUPE as an employee. For information regarding your extended health plan, please visit: https://3903.cupe.ca/extended-health-benefits-fund/.

For a detailed infographic showing the difference between basic and extended health plans, click here.

What UHIP covers: UHIP covers basic medical costs such as doctor’s visits, emergencies, lab tests, etc. Generally, if you visit a clinic or hospital or lab, it will be covered under UHIP. Please note that some exceptions apply – for example, doctor’s notes are not covered under UHIP and are an out-of-pocket cost.

What UHIP does not cover: UHIP does not cover prescription medicine, dentist fees, eyeglasses or contact lenses, physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychologists, therapists, etc. These medical costs are covered through your extended health plan, which is administered by your student union.

For a detailed infographic showing the difference between basic and extended health plans, click here.

For details about your UHIP coverage, please visit https://uhip.ca/Enrollment/PlanDetails. You can also find the UHIP coverage booklet here.

The premium for the 2024/25 academic year is $63.00 per month, per person ($756.00 for 12 months). 

Once you are enrolled in UHIP, your UHIP fees will appear on your student account. When you see the charges on your student account, you will be responsible for the outstanding balance. Payment for UHIP fees is made the same way tuition is paid. For more information on how and when to pay, please visit: https://sfs.yorku.ca/fees/your-student-account/how-and-when-to-pay

Note: It is your responsibility to check your student account and ensure payment of your outstanding balance.

Step 1: Check your @my.yorku.ca email.

• Undergrad students: Click here to access your @my.yorku.ca email with your Passport York. You should see an email titled “Welcome to the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)”.
• Grad Students: Contact your Faculty on how to access your yorku email.

NOTE : The insurance company can only send your UHIP details to your YorkU Email Address hence, it is very important that you activate your YorkU email address.

Step 2: Print your UHIP card and keep it with you in case of medical emergency.

Don’t see the email with your UHIP Card? Here is what you can do:

Find out whether you have UHIP coverage, check your student account. 

• If your student account shows the UHIP charge under the description (e.g. UHIP2425), this means that you should have UHIP coverage.* In this case, get your UHIP card by registering on the Cowan website. If the registration asks for your member ID and policy number, it is as follows: Member ID is YU plus your student number (e.g. YU123456789) and policy number is 150150.
• If you do not see the UHIP charge on your student account, then email UHIP with your student number or stop by our QLess drop-in (listed below).

*NOTE: If you dropped your courses, your UHIP will be terminated. In this case, you will see a UHIP reversal on your student account. This means that you do not have UHIP coverage. Please see the Leave of Absence section to inquire about getting covered under UHIP while taking a semester off.

You can also complete the Getting your UHIP Card quiz to find out how to get your UHIP card.

Preferred providers are clinics, hospital, and labs that accept UHIP. This means that if you visit these providers with a paper copy of your UHIP card, you do not need to pay anything - they will bill the insurance company (Manulife/Cowan) directly. The only exception to this is the Appletree clinics, where you pay a $15 admin fee. The preferred provider list can be found here. 

The table below shows the process for a preferred provider visit vs a non-preferred provider visit.

*Note: It is recommended that you visit a preferred provider whenever possible to avoid any out-of-pocket costs and avoid having to file a claim.

Please note that preferred providers should not ask you to pay if you provide them with a paper copy of your UHIP card (except the $15 admin fee at Appletree clinics). If you visit a preferred provider clinic or hospital or lab and they ask you pay, please email case.mgmt@cowangroup.ca and cc uhip@yorku.ca with your member ID (YU + student number) in the subject line. In the email, please state the name of the clinic/hospital/lab you visited, the person you spoke with and events that occurred. If you made the payment, please attach your receipt.

If you visited a non-preferred provider, you may file a claim for the doctor’s fees within 12 months of visiting the clinic/hospital/lab if you still have the receipt. The claim form can be found here.  The instructions on how to fill out the form can be found here. Using your yorku email, you can submit scanned copies or photographs of the claim form and accompanying invoices/receipts via Cowan's online secure portal.

Please note that you may not get 100% of your money back. This is because there is a limit as to how much Manulife can reimburse you. If the clinic/hospital/lab charged higher than that limit, then you may have some out-of-pocket costs.

UHIP is mandatory for international students who are currently registered in a degree program and exchange students. The following are the reasons for which you may be eligible for a UHIP refund:

• Deregistration: If you decide to deregister from your program and do not attend any classes, your UHIP will be automatically terminated and will be refunded through your student account. The deadline for refund requests is March 1st.
• Withdrawn: If you enroll and attend some of your classes but decided to drop them later, your UHIP will be automatically terminated. However, you will only be refunded a partial amount depending on the date you dropped your courses. The deadline for refund requests is March 1st.
• OHIP coverage: If you become eligible for the provincial government health plan, you may be eligible for a full or partial UHIP refund. To apply for a UHIP refund, complete the form below. The amount of UHIP refund that you are eligible for will be communicated once you submit the OHIP document or card.
• Alternate government plan: If you have an alternate government plan such as the IFHP, the Saudi government plan, Libyan government plan, etc., please complete the form below to request a UHIP refund.
• Alternate private plan: If you have an alternate private plan, you are not eligible for a UHIP refund.
• February Convocation: You are automatically enrolled under UHIP for 12 months if you are registered for the Fall term. If you graduate in February or you are not taking Winter courses, you may request a refund for the Winter and Summer term of UHIP. Deadline for refund request is March 1st.

To request a UHIP refund, click here.

Please note that the refund deadline for most eligible reasons is March 1st of your coverage year. Most requests received after this deadline will not be eligible for refund.

Students in Ontario can speak with a counsellor at the York Keele campus. To find out information about how to speak with a counsellor, click here. If you are a student at the Glendon campus, please click here for information regarding how to access a counsellor. 

• All counsellors at Student Counselling, Health & Well-being are registered clinicians who have experience working with a diverse student population. Please note that counsellors at York can only practice on Ontario.
• SCHW provides more support than just counselling services (e.g. 2SLGBTQIA+ and Racialized Student support groups, process groups, and peer-led workshops)
• Other departments that provide counselling/personal support on campus: Graduate Student Wellness Services, Student Success and Wellness Counselling at Osgoode Hall Law School, Centre for Indigenous Student Services

Good2Talk is a free, confidential helpline for Ontario post-secondary students, providing professional counselling and information, and referrals for mental health, addictions, and well-being. It operates 24 hours every day of the year.

Phone: 1-866-925-5454
Text: GOOD2TALKON to 686868

For campus resources on stress management and mental health as well as immediate support and hotlines, please visit: https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/stress-management-mental-health/

Stay active to maintain good health! York Athletics and Recreation has activities for you to engage in to stay active. Visit their website for more information.

Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential phone service that you can call at any time: night or day. They can be reached at 1-866-797-000. You can get health advice from a nurse, who will help you decide if you should:

• Take care of yourself at home
• Make an appointment with your doctor
• Go to a clinic
• Go to a hospital emergency room

For your extended health plan details, please see the contact information for your student union below:

Undergraduate students: York Federation of students 

Graduate students (non-TA):Graduate Student Association

Graduate students (TA):

Website: https://3903.cupe.ca/extended-health-benefits-fund/

Email: askpb@yorku.ca

For details about your UHIP coverage, finding a doctor/clinic/lab, how to submit a claim form and more, visit: https://uhip.ca/

Want to find out whether you are eligible for UHIP? Complete the form below to get your answer! If you are unable to access the form below, click here.

Find out how to get your UHIP card below. If you are unable to access the form below, click here.

To apply for/extend UHIP for yourself or for a dependent (including coverage renewal), please complete the form below:

Apply for/extend UHIP

To request a UHIP refund, please complete the form below:

Request a UHIP Refund

You can email us at uhip@yorku.ca. Please include your student number in the subject line when emailing us.

In-person drop-in support is available via QLESS during specified hours for students seeking answers regarding UHIP coverage, enrollment, extensions, etc.

HOW TO JOIN QLESS

1. Join the Virtual Kiosk OR download the app on your smartphone from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.
2. Open the app and select “York International”
3. Join the UHIP queue.
4. Select the topic you are seeking more information about.

What You Need to Know When Accessing Drop-in UHIP Advising via QLESS:

After signing up to join the queue you will receive updates regarding the wait time for your appointment at various intervals. You will also receive notifications to prepare for your appointment when your turn to meet with an advisor at 200 York Lanes is approaching.

Appointments are offered on a drop-in basis and wait times will be determined by the number of students in queue. The queue will close for the day once it reaches capacity. You may try logging back into QLESS after a few minutes to check if the queue has decreased and appointment slots have become available.

QLESS HOURS OF OPERATION

Fall term hours will be updated in mid-late July. Check our Events Calendar for more information.

LOCATION

The York International office is located on the Keele Campus inside York Lanes Mall on the second floor, room 200.

We're also available online!

To schedule a 1:1 appointment with the UHIP Administrator: Please email uhip@yorku.ca or visit weekly drop-in QLess advising (listed in the YI Calendar)

For up-to-date calendar of events regarding your health and wellness as well as other topics, please visit the YI Events Calendar. Upcoming events specific to health and wellness are below:

All international students who are registered in courses for the Fall/Winter 2024/25 term(s) are automatically enrolled in UHIP. If you have not yet enrolled in your courses, please do so as soon as possible. If you have dependents (partner/spouse or children) with you in Canada, they can also be added to your plan. Visit the UHIP website for more details.

UHIP coverage officially begins on September 1st, but it can start as early as August 10th. If you have already completed the form and your information remains the same, no additional action is required.

Once UHIP enrolment is complete, your UHIP card will be emailed to your @my.yorku.ca email address. Please check your Junk or Spam folders if you don’t receive the notification message by mid-August. Students will continue to be enrolled throughout the summer and fall terms.

For info on how to access your Yorku email, check out UIT's website.

UHIP will pay up to $1,000,000 (Canadian dollars) per policy year for eligible health services and medical treatments you and your family might need to maintain your health while living in Canada. This includes: Hospital Services, Physician Services, and Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests.

UHIP is comparable to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), rather than identical. Other types of services, such as prescription drugs, are covered through your student union supplemental health plan.

Please note: While most services are fully covered under the plan with no additional cost to you, some medical professionals may bill you for more than the UHIP reimbursement rate. In these cases, you will be responsible to pay the difference
between the two amounts. You can check Cowan’s Preferred Provider Network at UHIP.ca starting August 10th, for a list of providers who will send the bill directly to Cowan, and not charge you more than the UHIP reimbursement rate.

You have 12 months from the date the claim was incurred to submit for reimbursement.

Visit UHIP Forms & Important Documents for info on how to submit your claims online.

Your UHIP Member ID is YU + your student ID (e.g. YU123456789) and your policy number is 150150.

1. Print your UHIP card (sent to your YorkU email)
2. Present your UHIP card at a preferred clinic/hospital/lab (use uhip.ca to find a preferred provider)
3. They will bill UHIP directly

If you visit a non-preferred provider, pay for services out of pocket and apply for a reimbursement from UHIP (instructions on Submit a claim - UHIP/RAMU)

UHIP covers basic medical costs such as doctor’s visits, emergencies, lab tests, etc. Generally, if you visit a clinic or hospital or lab, it will be covered under UHIP.

UHIP does not cover prescription medicine, dentist fees, eyeglasses or contact lenses, physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychologists, therapists, etc. These medical costs are covered through your extended health plan, which is administered by your student union.

Your extended health plan is administered by your student union.

• Undergrad students: York Federation of students (YFS)
  • Email: yfshp@yfs.ca
• Grad students (non-TA): Graduate Student Association (GSA)
  • Students who were previously out of Canada and are now returning for the first time this academic year must contact the health plan office within 30 days of their arrival to get enrolled in the YUGSA plan.
• Grad students (TA): provided through CUPE as an employee