Insurance for international students in Canada
Coming to Canada to study? Your health coverage depends on the province, and almost everyone has a gap to fill. Here's what's covered where, and how to get insured from the day you land.
The short answer
International students in Canada need health insurance, but who provides it depends on the province. Ontario and Manitoba don't cover international students; schools enrol you in a mandatory plan instead (Ontario universities use UHIP, $948 a year for 2026-27). Quebec covers students only from countries with an agreement. Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador cover eligible students for free, and British Columbia covers them through MSP for a $75 monthly fee, after a wait of about three months. Nova Scotia needs a school or private plan for the first year. In most cases you still need private insurance for the first weeks or months, for a spouse or children, and for prescriptions, dental care and trips outside your province.
Public health coverage for international students, by province
Rules as published for 2026. Each province sets its own; check with your school's international office too.
| Province | Public plan? | Details | When coverage starts | What private insurance fills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | No | Universities enrol international students in UHIP automatically ($948 a year for a single student from September 2026). Colleges and private schools use their own plans. | From arrival, through the school plan | Cover before the school plan starts, family members, and anything the school plan leaves out |
| British Columbia | Yes, MSP | Mandatory for study permits of 6 months or more. A $75 monthly international student health fee applies. | Rest of the arrival month plus 2 months | The waiting period (about 3 months) |
| Alberta | Yes, AHCIP | With a study permit of 12 months or more, or 6 to 12 months with a school letter confirming you will live in Alberta for 12 months. No premium. Apply within 90 days. | From entry, if you apply within 3 months | Programs under 12 months; prescriptions, dental and travel |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | Full-time students with a valid study permit. No premium. | Coverage may not start right away | The first weeks after arrival |
| Manitoba | No | Provincial coverage for international students ended in 2018; schools enrol students in a mandatory plan. | From the school plan start | Gaps before the school plan starts; family members |
| Quebec | Only some countries | RAMQ covers students from countries with a social security agreement; others need a school plan. | Depends on status | Students not covered by RAMQ |
| New Brunswick | Yes, full-time | Full-time international students can get Medicare; exchange students are not eligible. No premium. | Apply after arrival | Exchange students; time before the card is active |
| Nova Scotia | After 12 months | A school or private plan is needed for the first year; MSI eligibility can start in month 13 with a qualifying study permit. | About 12 months | The whole first year if your school plan does not cover it |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | Students with a qualifying study permit can register with Health PEI. | Apply after arrival | Time before the card is active |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | Students with a qualifying study permit can apply for MCP. | Apply after arrival | Time before the card is active |
The territories have few or no designated learning institutions for international students. Rules and fees change; the provincial health ministry has the final word.
Coverage gap checker
Tell us where and when you're arriving. We'll show what covers you and the dates you need private insurance for.
What student insurance usually covers
- Emergency hospital and doctor bills after a sudden illness or accident
- Prescriptions for an emergency, and ambulance transport
- Emergency dental care after an accident
- Return home (repatriation) if you can't continue your studies after a medical emergency
- Side trips outside your province or Canada, depending on the plan
- Optional extras: mental health support, routine care, vision, or coverage for a spouse and children
What to check before you buy
- Start date: the day you land, not the day classes start.
- School plan overlap: don't pay twice; buy only for the gap or the extras.
- Coverage amount: at least $100,000 is common; more if you travel to the US.
- Pre-existing conditions: whether stable conditions are covered.
- Refunds: what happens if your provincial card arrives early or you leave Canada.
- Family: a spouse on an open work permit and children usually need their own policy.
Three common situations
Priya, Vancouver
She lands on August 20 with a two-year permit. MSP starts November 1, so she buys a private plan from August 20 to October 31 and then pays the $75 monthly MSP fee.
Arjun, Toronto
His university adds UHIP to his fees, so he's covered. His wife joins him in January on an open work permit; she needs her own private policy until she qualifies for OHIP.
Lucas, Montreal
He's in a 4-month language course with no school plan and isn't from an agreement country, so private student insurance covers his whole stay.
International student insurance: FAQ
Is health insurance mandatory for international students in Canada?
Yes, in practice. Every province expects international students to have health coverage, either through the provincial plan where they qualify or through a school or private plan.
Many schools enrol students in their plan automatically and add the cost to tuition.
Are international students covered by OHIP in Ontario?
No. A study permit is not on the OHIP eligibility list. Ontario universities enrol international students in UHIP instead, and colleges use their own plans.
UHIP costs $948 a year for a single student for the policy year starting September 1, 2026.
How long is the MSP waiting period in British Columbia?
The rest of your arrival month plus two full months, which is close to three months. Arrive in August and MSP starts on November 1.
You need private insurance for that gap. Once enrolled, students pay a $75 monthly health fee.
Why do I need private insurance if my province covers students?
Most provincial plans have a waiting period or only start once you apply and receive a card, and they don't cover prescriptions, dental, vision or travel outside the province.
A private plan covers the gap from arrival and can add the extras.
Can my spouse and children be covered?
Usually not by a school plan, and often not by the provincial plan unless they have their own permits. Private visitor or student insurance can cover them.
Family policies are available from several insurers in the quote form on this page.
How much does international student insurance cost?
Private plans are priced by age, length of stay, coverage amount and deductible. A healthy student under 30 usually pays much less than a parent visiting on a Super Visa.
Compare live prices in the quote form; UHIP is $948 a year in Ontario for 2026-27.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
It depends on the plan. Some student plans cover stable conditions; others exclude them for a period.
Tell Pankaj about any condition before you buy, so the plan fits.
I am a Canadian studying abroad. What do I need?
Your provincial plan pays little outside Canada and may end if you are away too long. You need an out-of-country student plan for the full study period.
Pankaj can quote student travel plans for Canadians studying in the US or overseas.
Written by Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA
Licensed insurance & financial advisor · Insure In Canada Inc. · Mississauga & Cambridge, Ontario
Pankaj has helped international students and their families find health insurance in Canada for 11 years, from his offices in Mississauga and Cambridge. He compares student, visitor and new-immigrant plans from several Canadian insurers.
Call 647-640-2222 · WhatsApp · About Pankaj · Google reviews
Not sure what your school plan covers?
Send Pankaj your school, province and arrival date on WhatsApp. He'll tell you whether you need private cover and for how long.
Sources and related pages
General information. Provincial eligibility, waiting periods and fees are summarized from government and school sources as of October 2026 and can change; the provincial health plan and your school decide your coverage. The gap checker is a planning aid, and private plans are governed by their policy wording.