Medical Insurance > Exchange students

Medical insurance - Exchange & Study Abroad students

As a student studying in Canada, you must have medical insurance. Find out how to get it by following the links below.

If you are a visiting post-doctoral fellow, faculty member or scholar at SFU, you should also have medical insurance for the entire duration of your stay. Follow the links below for details.

As an exchange or study abroad student, you must have primary medical insurance for the entire duration of your studies at SFU. The number of terms you are studying at SFU (1 term or 2 - 3 terms) will determine what kind of insurance you need to apply for.

* Applying for Health Insurance - Exchange and Study Abroad Students.pdf
checklist for exchange & study abroad students

Choose the category that best describes you

1 Term International Exchange Student (from SFU partner institution, paying tuition and fees to home institution)

Step 1

Effective January 1, 2013, if you are a new international student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate exchange program at SFU, you will be automatically enrolled in a mandatory 4 month primary medical insurance plan for your exchange term through guard.me@SFU.

The cost for this Plan is $353.00/term and must be paid to SFU. Please check your student account online at sis.sfu.ca to confirm if you have been charged for the Plan fees.

This Plan provides interim coverage during the waiting period for the BC Medical Services Plan. You must have coverage under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) if you will be a resident of BC for longer than 6 months.

If you already have MSP (or acceptable equivalent coverage), you must opt out online before the end of the first month of your first term.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

* Guard Me SFU Plan Summary.pdf
guard.me@SFU brochure
* GuardMe_Policy_Wording__English.pdf
guard.me@SFU policy wording

2 or 3 Term International  Exchange Student (from SFU partner institution, paying tuition and fees to home institution)

Step 1

Effective January 1, 2013, if you are a new international student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate exchange program at SFU, you will be automatically enrolled in a mandatory 4 month primary medical insurance plan for your first term through guard.me@SFU.

The cost for this Plan is $353.00/term and must be paid to SFU. Please check your student account online at sis.sfu.ca to confirm if you have been charged for the Plan fees.

This Plan provides interim coverage during the waiting period for the BC Medical Services Plan. You must have coverage under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) if you will be a resident of BC for longer than 6 months.

If you already have MSP (or acceptable equivalent coverage), you must opt out online before the end of the first month of your first term.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

* Guard Me SFU Plan Summary.pdf
guard.me@SFU brochure
* GuardMe_Policy_Wording__English.pdf
guard.me@SFU policy wording

Step 1a

As soon as you arrive in BC, apply for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) by yourself.

To apply for MSP, mail the application form with a copy of your study permit (and copies of your dependents' immigration documents). Do not send any payment. Your MSP coverage may take effect 2-3 months after your arrival date in B.C.; therefore there may be a few weeks of overlap in coverage between the two plans.

You will receive your Carecard/Services Card in the mail with a bill for payment of the monthly fees.

  • As soon as you receive your CareCard/Services Card: 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.
  • If you move: Don't forget to update your address with MSP.
  • If you renew your Study Permit: Your Carecard/Services Card will expire on the same date as your study permit. Ensure you send a copy of any new immigration documents to the BC Medical Services Plan to maintain your coverage

1 Term International  Study Abroad Student (from SFU partner institution or Ciencia sem Fronteiras program, paying tuition and fees to SFU)

Step 1

Effective January 1, 2013, if you are a new international student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate study abroad program at SFU, you will be automatically enrolled in a mandatory 4 month primary medical insurance plan for your study abroad term through guard.me@SFU.

The cost for this Plan is $353.00/term and must be paid to SFU. Please check your student account online at sis.sfu.ca to confirm if you have been charged for the Plan fees.

This Plan provides interim coverage during the waiting period for the BC Medical Services Plan. You must have coverage under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) if you will be a resident of BC for longer than 6 months.

If you already have MSP (or acceptable equivalent coverage), you must opt out online before the end of the first month of your first term.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

* Guard Me SFU Plan Summary.pdf
guard.me@SFU brochure
* GuardMe_Policy_Wording__English.pdf
guard.me@SFU policy wording

Step 2

If you enroll in 3 or more units at SFU in September or January, you will be automatically enrolled in the SFSS Health and Dental Benefit plan. The fees will be assessed on your student account.

If you begin your academic year in May you will not be automatically covered, but you have the option to enroll yourself during the opt-in period.

The plan gives you the option to enroll your family (spouse and/or dependants) by completing an enrollment process and by paying an additional fee, over and above your individual fee as a plan member. Common law and same-sex couples are eligible.

For information on benefits and opt-outs, visit the SFSS Health and Dental Plan website.

*Post-Graduate Level Study Abroad Students: If you are registered in a graduate program at SFU in September or January,  please refer instead to the Graduate Student Society Health and Dental Plan website.

2 or 3 Term International Study Abroad Student (from SFU partner institution or Ciencia sem Fronteiras program, paying tuition and fees to SFU)

Step 1

Effective January 1, 2013, if you are a new international student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate study abroad program at SFU, you will be automatically enrolled in a mandatory 4 month primary medical insurance plan for your first term through guard.me@SFU.

The cost for this Plan is $353.00/term and must be paid to SFU. Please check your student account online at sis.sfu.ca to confirm if you have been charged for the Plan fees.

This Plan provides interim coverage during the waiting period for the BC Medical Services Plan. You must have coverage under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) if you will be a resident of BC for longer than 6 months.

If you already have MSP (or acceptable equivalent coverage), you must opt out online before the end of the first month of your first term.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

* Guard Me SFU Plan Summary.pdf
guard.me@SFU brochure
* GuardMe_Policy_Wording__English.pdf
guard.me@SFU policy wording

Step 1a

As soon as you arrive in BC, apply for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) by yourself.

To apply for MSP, mail the application form with a copy of your study permit (and copies of your dependents' immigration documents). Do not send any payment. Your MSP coverage may take effect 2-3 months after your arrival date in B.C.; therefore there may be a few weeks of overlap in coverage between the two plans.

You will receive your Carecard/Services Card in the mail with a bill for payment of the monthly fees.

  • As soon as you receive your CareCard/Services Card: 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.
  • If you move: Don't forget to update your address with MSP.
  • If you renew your Study Permit: Your Carecard/Services Card will expire on the same date as your study permit. Ensure you send a copy of any new immigration documents to the BC Medical Services Plan to maintain your coverage

Step 2

If you enroll in 3 or more units at SFU in September or January, you will be automatically enrolled in the SFSS Health and Dental Benefit plan. The fees will be assessed on your student account.

If you begin your academic year in May you will not be automatically covered, but you have the option to enroll yourself during the opt-in period.

The plan gives you the option to enroll your family (spouse and/or dependants) by completing an enrollment process and by paying an additional fee, over and above your individual fee as a plan member. Common law and same-sex couples are eligible.

For information on benefits and opt-outs, visit the SFSS Health and Dental Plan website.

*Post-Graduate Level Study Abroad Students: If you are registered in a graduate program at SFU in September or January,  please refer instead to the Graduate Student Society Health and Dental Plan website.

Domestic Exchange Student (from SFU partner institution located in Canada)

As a domestic exchange student within Canada (including students who are international students at their home institutions), you are expected to maintain primary medical insurance in your home province. You are advised to inform your home province's medical plan that you will be studing out of province to ensure that your coverage will be sufficient for the duration of your studies at SFU. See list.

If you are an international student and are unable to maintain coverage through your home province, you may purchase the guard.me@SFU plan by enrolling directly online.