Health & Dental Services

Most full-time graduate students are automatically enrolled in the Health and Dental Plan. Certain exceptions exist. Please check your student account to confirm if you have been charged the Plan fees.

Part-time and distance students are not automatically enrolled, but may be eligible to enrol themselves in the Plan.

The health and dental insurance policy year is September 1st to August. 31st. All eligible students are automatically assessed health and dental insurance fees in September. Students who become eligible part-way through the policy year (e.g. students who are admitted in January, May, or July; or students who move from part-time to full-time status in the Winter, Spring, or Summer terms) are assessed a pro-rated fee for the remainder of the current policy year.

Yes, you'll need it to be able to use the GSA Health and Dental Plan.
A provincial plan is a requirement for your insurance benefits plan to be active.

To obtain Alberta Health Care: https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-apply.aspx

Learn more about Alberta medical insurance on the UCalgary's International Student Services page here: https://ucalgary.ca/student-services/iss/resources/medical-insurance

*Any Canadian provincial healthcare card should work with the GSA Health and Dental Plan.

Among other features, the Plan covers health, dental, vision, and travel benefits

• Up to 80% for prescription drugs to a maximum of $10,000
• $1,825 for health practitioners (psychologists, practitioners with a Master of Social Work degree, registered clinical counsellor physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc.) (Please note: $1825 is broken down per service. As an example, $500 of the $1,825 is the maximum amount per year for seeing a psychologist. See the breakdown in the Your Plan at a Glance guide)
• Up to $375 in vision care (eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, laser eye surgery)
• Up to $850 in dental care (checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions, endodontics, periodontics, etc.)
• $5,000,000 in travel health coverage per incident and 120 days per trip
• $5,000 for trip interruption and $3,000 for trip cancellation in the event of a medical emergency
• Ambulances, dental accidents, medical equipment, and more!

Visit www.studentcare.ca/CalgaryGSA  for complete details.

Visit HERE for the complete Your Plan at a Glance guide.

You can further enhance your benefits by visiting health professionals who are members of the Studentcare Networks for Dental, Vision, Chiropractic, Psychology, Physiotherapy, and Massage Therapy services. You can find the Studentcare Networks listings on the Studentcare website.

You are covered for one insured portion regardless of the health professional you choose. By consulting a Studentcare Network member, you will get additional coverage.

For example, by visiting a Dental Network member, you will receive an additional 30% off dental services, enabling you to get up to 100% coverage. 

The total annual cost of the Plan is $651.00 for 12 months of coverage from September 1 to August 31 as of September 1, 2023.

Students who start their programs in January, May, or July will be assessed a pro-rated fee for their first year in program for 8, 4, or 2 months of coverage, respectively. They will then be assessed the 12-month rate in their first September in program. 

Students who become full-time part-way through the policy year will also be assessed the pro-rated fee. 

The cost of the Plan is automatically assessed to your student account. Please see the fees listed below. 

If you are covered by another extended health and/or dental plan (i.e. parent or spouse’s employee plan, not AHCIP), you can combine both plans to maximize your overall coverage and reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs.

Alternatively, you can opt out of the health portion, the dental portion, or the Plan in its entirety during the Change-of-Coverage Period.

Once the opt-out is complete, you will receive a credit to your student account for the amount of the Plan. If you are eligible, the Change-of-Coverage Period is also when you can enrol yourself and your spouse and/or dependent children in the Plan.

September 2023 Change of Coverage period: 
Students who are admitted in the Winter, Spring, or Summer terms that wish to opt-out will need to submit the opt-out request in both their first term in program, and their first Fall term in program. Students who change to full-time status part-way through the policy year will also be able to opt-out during these Change of Coverage periods: 

• September students: Sept. 4 - 21, 2023
• January students: Jan. 8 - 29, 2024
• May students: Apr. 23 - May 14, 2024
• July students: Jun. 21 - Jul. 5, 2023

For information about the opt-out process, visit this page HERE

Submit your Change of Coverage during the Change of Coverage period here

There is a Blackout Period for about two months at the beginning of the policy year. During this time, the insurance companies are not able to confirm coverage. They will not process or reimburse the claims of students who were not covered by the Plan up to the end of the previous policy year. Any expenses incurred during this time can be claimed for after the Blackout Period, so long as the student is eligible for coverage. Therefore, make sure to save any receipts you have during this period. Students who were covered by the Plan up to the end of the previous policy year are not affected by the Blackout Period. You may hold on to your claims until the end of the Blackout Period. Claims are your responsibility until received by the insurer.

Please note that practitioners and pharmacists can’t accept the Pay-Direct Card or assignment of benefits during the Blackout Period.