Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

All new international & exchange students admitted for the Spring 2013 term and onwards will be automatically enrolled in the guard.me@SFU plan upon registration and fees will be assessed on your student account.

All others (e.g. dependent family members, visiting graduate research students, non-degree students,  international post-doctoral fellows etc.) can enrol online. 

If your dependent family members will be accompanying you to Canada, you may purchase coverage for them online through https://www.guard.me/sfu.

Your coverage begins automatically in your first term at SFU and is valid for the first four months only: September 1, January 1, or May 1. Upon enrolment, you will receive a confirmation email from guard.me to your SFU email address. Please check your student account online at sis.sfu.ca to confirm if you have been charged for the Plan fees. 

You will initially only be enrolled in a 4 month plan, which will begin on the first of the month of your first term at SFU (September 1, January 1, May 1). However, SFU requires that you have medical insurance for the duration of your studies.

As soon as you receive your CareCard, you must provide proof of MSP enrollment to guard.me. Failure to do so will result in your continued enrollment in the guard.me@SFU plan for your second term, and related fees assessed on your student account.

The guard.me@SFU Plan is valid for four months and begins each term (January 1, May 1, and September 1). If you arrive before any of those dates and need to purchase medical insurance before your plan begins, you may purchase daily coverage though the guard.me website.

Undergraduate & exchange students: Your ID & Policy is sent to your SFU e-mail address. If you have not received it within 2 weeks of ther term start date, please contact SFU's International Services for Students.

Graduate students: Your ID and policy details must be picked up from International Services for Students (Maggie Benston Centre, Room 1200, Burnaby campus).  They will be available two weeks after the beginning of term.

Logon to www.guard.me, select "Clinic Search" and enter your details.

For claims such as prescription drugs, doctor or hospital visits, and for all claims information, logon to www.guard.me, select "Making a Claim" and follow the instructions.

To track your claim, logon to www.guard.me, select "Making a Claim" and follow the instructions.

To obtain copies of your ID card, Policy Wording or Policy Summary, logon to https://www.guard.me/sfu and follow the instructions.

Call the emergency assistance number located on the back of your ID card. Multi-lingual help is available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

Download the summary (brief overview of your benefits) and the policy (full details) below. For more information, visit the www.guard.me/sfu website.

If you already have a valid Carecard under the BC Medical Services Plan or are studying at SFU under specific government sponsored scholarship programs, you may be able to opt out of the guard.me@SFU Plan. Only certain plans are eligible and you must have proof of coverage under the other plan at the time you apply to opt out.

Please go to www.guard.me/sfu for the list of eligible alternate plans and the opt-out application. If you qualify to opt out by the deadline (you may opt out until the 30th of the first month of your first term) the vendor will advise SFU of your eligibility and the charge will be reversed on your SFU account. 

If you are eligible to opt out of the guard.me@SFU Plan, you will need to complete the opt out application online and upload proof of coverage under an eligible plan. Please visit www.guard.me/sfu.

A scanned copy of your valid BC Carecard/Services Card* or a letter confirming coverage under the eligible opt out plan is required.  Copies of your SFU student ID, passport etc.. are not eligible.

*If you have not yet received your valid Carecard under the BC Medical Services Plan but received an invoice, then you may show proof of coverage by uploading your recent MSP invoice together with proof of payment/transaction receipt.

Undergraduate and exchange students are not eligible for partial refunds.

Graduate students ONLY: You may be eligible for a refund of the unused portion of your insurance if you have not made a claim and there is more than 1 month of coverage remaining when you apply through guard.me.

All students: As soon as you receive your CareCard, you must provide proof of MSP enrollment to guard.me. Opt out online at https://www.guard.me/sfu. Failure to do so will result in your continued enrollment in the guard.me@SFU plan for your second term, and related fees assessed on your student account.

The SFSS/GSS Health & Dental Plan is a secondary plan which you may be automatically enrolled in. You will pay for this plan on your student account but you must have a primary plan (either guard.me@SFU or MSP) to use it. The plans work together to help you avoid unexpected costs.  For example, you would use your Carecard (MSP) to visit a doctor, and use your Student Society Plan to purchase medicine prescribed by the doctor at a reduced cost.

When you visit SFU’s Health and Counselling Services, or any doctor's office or hospital in BC,  simply show your valid Carecard to receive treatment (at no additional cost for benefits covered by MSP.)

If you have recently extended your study permit, you must fax or mail a copy of your renewed study permit, along with your CareCard number, to the MSP office to ensure that your medical insurance does not expire. You must continue to pay your monthly premiums and keep your address up to date. If you have applied for MSP through HR (i.e. as a TA or RA), you must bring your renewed study permit to Human Resources for forwarding to Health Insurance BC.

You must renew your CareCard right away. Apply with a new application form and a copy of your study permit. Phone BC Medical Services Plan at 604-683-7151 to find out how long it will take to process your application. In some cases, it may be possible to backdate your account. If it is not possible, you may have to apply for private insurance while you are waiting for your new CareCard to be issued. Speak to an International Student Advisor if you have any questions or concerns

You can find answers to common questions on the BC Medical Services Plan website: see BC Resident's Frequently Asked Questions.

Undergraduate and graduate students can call the StudentCare Member Services Centre at 1 866 369-8795, Mon. - Fri. from 9 am to 5 pm. or visit the undergraduate website or graduate website for more information.

You may also wish to refer to your respective student society's website for more information about your plan. Undergraduate students: Simon Fraser Student Society website. Graduate students: Graduate Student Society website

You can find answers to common questions on the Human Resources website: see TSSU Benefit Plan FAQ and RA Benefit Plan FAQ.

New TA/TMs may be eligible to receive a reimbursement for a portion of the cost for single, couple, or family guard.me@SFU coverage. You will need to take proof of payment (electronic invoice from guard.me for family enrolments) and a copy of your and your family's guard.me (if applicable) cards to Human Resources for partial reimbursement.

For more information, visit http://www.sfu.ca/human-resources/tssu/benefits/tssu-member-benefit-plan.html

SFU's Health and Counselling Services (HCS) runs a number of clinics across all three SFU campuses. The Burnaby and Vancouver campus clinics offer students confidential access to nurses, physicians, counsellors and psychologists. At the Surrey campus, HCS offers counselling services only.

If you are feeling ill, stressed-out, want to discuss birth control, need vaccinations, feel overwhelmed, or are generally concerned about anything to do with your health and wellness, you are encouraged to make an appointment at HCS.  See complete list of contact information to make an appointment.

HCS also operates a physiotherapy clinic at the Burnaby campus. Many students complain that back pain and/or other injuries have an impact on their academic performance. The staff physiotherapist can help students reduce pain and prevent further injury.

You are encouraged to make an appointment at HCS, but you may also be seen on a walk-in basis. Students with no BC MSP health insurance will have to pay for the services received at the time of the visit. For more information about HCS services please visit the website  or call the Burnaby campus clinic at 778-782-4615.

See the International Student Handbook for some useful tips.