Relocation Resources: Medical Insurance

For students relocating outside of BC -- either within Canada or abroad.

Emergency/ Medical Insurance

You will need to ensure that you have adequate medical coverage for the period of time that you are outside British Columbia. Most students are covered under a provincial health plan but you must still contact your health insurance agency before leaving the country. If you do not, any claims you make many be invalid. Make arrangements to maintain your provincial insurance while you are away and to reactivate it when you return. Check to ensure that you will be covered while a resident in the country / province of your work term. Please see the Medical Services Plan website at www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben as it will describe what coverage you have (and do not have) while you are outside the province. You can also obtain a copy of the brochure “Guide to Hospital Coverage outside British Columbia” from the BC Medical Services Plan (www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/leavingbc.html). It will describe the coverage you have (and do not have) while you are outside the province.

Extended Medical Insurance

Extended medical coverage is required; some employers will require Co-op students to purchase a specific medical insurance plan before beginning employment. If you are enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you can request them to extend your Travel Insurance to cover you while you are on your work term. See www.studentcare.net/displaypage.ch2 for more information. You will need to request the Co-op Office to write you a letter confirming that you are traveling for academic purposes. If you are not enrolled in the AMS?GSS Health and Dental Plan, you will need to purchase your own medical insurance. Reasonable rates can usually be found through BCAA (www.bcaa.com), Travel Cuts (www.travelcuts.ca), Davic Cummings Insurance (www.david-cummings.com), or other travel companies. Carefully read each insurance company’s coverage to understand what will and will not be covered while away from Canada. For example, many companies will not cover accidents incurred while participating in extreme sports, or varsity sports, or will not cover pre-existing conditions. You should determine that your out-of-country medical insurance includes the following:

• Hospitalization costs (or a certain percentage of the costs)
• Evacuation or travel home in a medical emergency
• A deductible amount

Many students are covered under their parent’s insurance policy, but this is something that you will have to look into. Carefully read each insurance company’s coverage to understand what will and will not be covered while away from Canada.