As an international student, you must have basic and extended health insurance for your entire period of study in Canada. We only acknowledge the guard.me and the Medical Service Plan (MSP) of B.C. as a valid form of insurance. International insurance is not acceptable.
If you are a short-term visiting or exchange student, please read about your specific medical insurance requirements.
Basic health insurance
Permanent basic health insurance: B.C. MSP
As an international student, you must sign up for the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia if you will be living in the province for more than six months.
At $75/month, B.C. MSP covers the cost of medically-necessary insured doctor services.
Apply online for MSP as soon as you arrive in B.C. and before you start your studies at CapU.
In order to apply online for MSP you will need:
- a Canadian address and phone number;
- a passport (arrival date information);
- a digital copy of your study permit; and
- internet access
On your first day at CapU, during the New International Student Orientation, we will provide more information about B.C. MSP. However, it is your responsibility to apply and send your payment directly to Health Insurance B.C., which administers the MSP on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
For newcomers to B.C., there is a Wait Period and your coverage may start three months after your arrival date in BC.CapU will automatically enrol you in guard.me, a private basic health insurance while you wait.
Temporary basic health insurance: guard.me
Effective date and duration
CapU's Centre for International Experience will automatically enrol you in guard.me to provide temporary health insurance to cover your MSP Wait Period. The duration of your guard.me coverage is three months from the first day of the month you start your program. For example, if you start in the Fall term, your guard.me coverage will begin on September 1.
If you will be arriving to Canada before the first day of the month you start your program, please purchase early arrival coverage. Early arrival is a one-time purchase only and it cannot be purchased after the first day of the month you start your program. You can apply for insurance for up to eight weeks prior to the first day of the month you start your program.
Please refer to guard.me to submit any medical expenses claims incurred during this period.
Cost
The cost of guard.me is $188 for three months, payable to Capilano University through your myCapU account. This charge will appear on your myCapU account approximately two weeks after the start of the term.
Adding dependents to guard.me
You can also add your dependents such as a spouse or children to your guard.me plan.
How to opt out of guard.me
You can opt-out and avoid being charged for the guard.me insurance plan if one of the following options applies to you:
- You have valid B.C. MSP Coverage: complete online opt-out application
- You are studying outside of Canada for your first semester: complete Out of Canada Declaration and Waiver and email inted@capilanou.ca. If you decide to come to Canada after choosing this option, you will be required to purchase late arrival coverage, which will be available after the end of add/drop period.
The opt-out deadline is the end of add/drop period. If your application to opt-out is received prior to the opt-out deadline and is submitted successfully, you will not be charged for guard.me.
Note: All student accounts with an outstanding balance are subject to late payment fee penalty and students will not be able to access and or renew their U-Pass BC (transit pass).
Extended health insurance
Extended health insurance: StudentCare
The Capilano Students' Union (CSU) Health and Dental Plan provides extended medical coverage for services not covered by B.C. MSP, including:
- prescription drugs and vaccinations;
- accidents and emergencies;
- health practitioners (physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.);
- vision care;
- dental care; and
- travel coverage.
Extended medical coverage is also mandatory while you are studying in Canada. Favorable rates have been negotiated by the CapU Student Union, making this a cost-effective option for your extended health and dental insurance.
Starting in the fall term?
If you are starting at CapU in the Fall term, CapU will automatically enroll you in the CSU Extended Health and Dental Plan. The charges will already be included in your fees and will appear in your myCapU account.
Note: if you already have this level of coverage with another plan, you can opt-out of StudentCare.
Starting in the spring or summer term?
If you are starting in the spring or summer terms, you will not be automatically enrolled. Instead, you will need to self-enrol into the CSU Health and Dental Plan when you register for the spring or summer term.