This page is not meant to replace the UHIP website but to give you quick answers to some of the questions we're most often asked. Please refer to the UHIP website for specific details of coverage, policy and forms you might need.
About UHIP
What is UHIP?
UHIP is a health insurance plan for basic health care such as medical doctor appointments and hospital visits. For specific details of your coverage you can:
- view the UHIP Plan Details
- contact Cowan Insurance directly at 1-833-377-8447
This information is also on the back of your UHIP card.
How do I access my UHIP Card?
Once your coverage card is available, Cowan Insurance will notify you by e-mail. You will then need to log into your UHIP account, print the card and carry it with you at all times
What if I need to see a doctor but I do not have my UHIP card yet?
If you need to see a medical doctor before being able to print your coverage card, you should take a claim form with you, pay for your appointment and submit the claim to Cowan Insurance after you can print your coverage card.
Is UHIP compulsory?
Yes, unless you are eligible for exemption from the UHIP plan as described on the UHIP website. As an international student, you are required to have UHIP coverage while you are a student of the University of Waterloo.
I have my own health plan. Can I be removed from the UHIP plan?
If you have coverage through one of the pre-approved plans listed on the UHIP website or have diplomatic status, you can provide proof of your health plan to Student Financial Services for a refund of UHIP. If your government is sponsoring your education and you are covered under a health plan they are providing, you may submit an application for exemption within 45 days of your UHIP eligibility date for review.
If I am applying to Cowan Insurance for exemption do I still need to pay for the UHIP that is charged in my fees?
Yes. All fees including the UHIP charge must be paid or arranged in full by the term due date in order to be registered without incurring a Fees Arranged Extension Charge. If you are exempted from UHIP coverage by Cowan Insurance you will receive a refund later in the term during our term refunding process.
I am Canadian but have been living outside of Canada. What do I do?
Please refer to your provincial health coverage eligibility requirements (e.g. OHIP) to determine whether you would need to apply for UHIP coverage.
If you require UHIP coverage, please contact SFS.I am from another province. Do I need UHIP coverage?
Prior to leaving your province contact your Provincial Health Plan office directly or view their website for the steps you must take to maintain your coverage while studying outside your province. Some provinces require you to fill out a form.
If you are a Canadian or Permanent Resident student
Canadians moving from one province to another are not eligible for UHIP coverage. If your provincial health plan should expire before or during your studies in Ontario, you will need to apply for OHIP coverage. You will need to purchase your own private health insurance plan to cover any gap in coverage that might occur.
If you are an International student-
After you have ensured that your provincial coverage is still in effect while studying in another province, please contact Student Financial Services with a copy of your provincial health insurance card showing the expiry date of coverage and we can remove the UHIP charge from your account. If the expiry date is not on the coverage card, documentation from your provincial health office is required. If your Provincial Health Plan should expire before you complete your degree, you must apply for UHIP coverage.
I am a grad student and will be Inactive this term. Do I still have my UHIP coverage?
Yes. As a student at University of Waterloo, you are required to have continuous UHIP coverage from the beginning to the end of your program if you do not have a Canadian provincial health plan or another plan which Cowan Insurance has approved. Since you are still a student in your program and affiliated with the University when your status is Inactive, UHIP coverage must be maintained and is compulsory during this term also.
UHIP Premiums and My Account
I am an exchange student and have paid my tuition to my home university. Why are there charges on my Quest account?
Exchange students have charges on their Quest account that are related to health plans:
UHIP provides basic health care for medical doctor appointments, hospital visits, x-rays, and diagnostic testing. For specific details of coverage view the UHIP web site.
You also have charges for the WUSA or GSA Supplementary Health and Dental plans, which cover the cost of prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental visits, travel and vision care. For details of coverage and/or how to opt out see www.studentcare.ca .
My tuition account for the new term has just appeared on Quest:
- I have previously submitted proof of OHIP but am being charged UHIP on my account.
- UHIP for my dependent(s) is not showing.
UHIP fees are automatically included with the international fees when your term tuition bill is originally posted. Adjustments for situations such as those listed above can only be done once all of the student fee bills are showing on Quest. Most adjustments are completed within the seven to ten days but please contact SFS if you do not see the update.
I can see my tuition has changed from international fees to domestic fees. What happens to my UHIP?
The Registrar’s Office or the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Office will let us know that your status has changed. Under some circumstances, you may be eligible to have UHIP coverage, please contact Student Financial Services for additional information.
I am being charged UHIP on my Quest account this term but I am on my work term. Why is this?
UHIP coverage is annual (September - August), but is charged to student accounts one term at a time.
International undergraduate students will be automatically charged for coverage under UHIP beginning with their first term in the year (usually Fall term).
You will be automatically enrolled into the UHIP coverage after you have the registered status "Fees Arranged" if you are on an active term, or once you've paid the UHIP charge on your account during a work term, Inactive term or "off" term.
UHIP coverage is compulsory for international students beginning with the first term they are in Canada each policy year (September - August), regardless of their location in subsequent terms in that policy year.
I am being charged only UHIP fees on my Quest account this term. When is the payment due?
When you are charged only UHIP fees on your Quest account, the due date is the same as the due date for students attending the academic term. You will not be enrolled in UHIP coverage until the charge is paid.
Adding/Removing Dependents
My family (spouse/family) will be joining me in Canada while I study at University of Waterloo. Do I have to enrol them in UHIP?
Yes. As an international student at University of Waterloo it is compulsory to add your spouse and children to the UHIP.
How long do I have to enrol my family into the UHIP plan once they arrive in Canada?
You must enrol your family within 30 days of their arrival in Canada. Enrolling dependants more than 30 days after they have arrived in Canada will result in a $500.00 penalty fee plus UHIP premiums retroactive to the date of arrival charged to your student account.
How quickly do I need to enrol my family into the UHIP plan if....
- my spouse is completing his/her degree at the end of the term and their UHIP coverage is expiring as of this date? OR....
- my spouse is no longer eligible for OHIP coverage?
You must enrol your family within 30 days of the termination of their UHIP/OHIP coverage. Enrolling dependants more than 30 days after the end date of their other coverage will trigger a $500.00 penalty fee and UHIP premiums retroactive to the end date charged to your student account.
How long do I have to enrol my spouse into the UHIP plan if we were recently married?
You must enrol your spouse within 30 days of him/her becoming eligible as your dependent to be a member of the UHIP plan. This would be your wedding date. Enrolling dependants more than 30 days after your wedding date will trigger a $500.00 penalty fee and UHIP premiums retroactive to the end date charged to your student account.
How do I enrol my family in UHIP?
To enroll your family in the UHIP, you need to complete the UHIP application form and provide scanned copies of your dependent’s passports to Student Financial Services.
Do I have to fill out an application form to enrol my family every term?
No. Once you've added your family to UHIP, they'll be automatically enrolled each following term unless you notify SFS of a change.
My fees have just been posted on Quest for the next term but the UHIP charge for my spouse/family is not showing. Do I need to fill out another application form?
No. Once the fees for the next term begin to show on Quest, you should see the UHIP Dependant charge on your account within approximately two weeks.
My spouse/family is leaving Canada for an extended period of time. When should I notify Student Financial Services?
If your dependent(s) is leaving Canada for an extended period of time, notify Student Financial Services once you know their date of departure. You must do this before your dependent(s) leaves Canada so that Cowan Insurance can be notified or you could be charged for extra months of coverage.
OHIP
I have changed my status. How do I apply for OHIP?
Check the OHIP web site for details on what documents will be required when you go to the OHIP office.
Where is the closest OHIP office?
Use the locater on the Service Ontario website to find the OHIP location nearest you.
Now that I have applied for OHIP, how do I terminate UHIP coverage?
To terminate UHIP coverage you must submit proof of the effective date of OHIP coverage. UHIP coverage will continue to be in effect and charged to your student account until you have informed Student Financial Services of the change.
What kind of proof of OHIP coverage do I need to show?
There are two types of acceptable proof of OHIP:
- Letter from the OHIP office which you should receive shortly after you apply, indicating the effective start date of your OHIP coverage, or
- Your OHIP card, which will be mailed to you shortly before the effective date of your OHIP coverage.
Note: We encourage you to bring the letter from the OHIP office as soon as you receive it. That way, you avoid the risk of receiving your OHIP card late and possibly having to pay for extra month(s) of UHIP coverage.
My dependant(s) and I have qualified for OHIP. Do I need to bring their letters from the OHIP office as well as mine?
Yes. We need to have a record of everyone that now has OHIP coverage and therefore no longer requires UHIP. If for some reason your dependant's effective date of OHIP will be at a later date, they would need to continue UHIP coverage until that time.
I have paid for UHIP coverage until the end of the term but my OHIP begins in the second month of the term. Will I receive a refund?
Example: You have paid for UHIP from January 1 to April 30 and your OHIP is effective February 4th. If you submit acceptable proof of OHIP to Student Financial Services before February 28th, you will receive a refund for the months of March and April.
Can I show my OHIP card, instead of the OHIP letter?
Yes, your OHIP card has the effective date of coverage on it; however, we encourage you to send your OHIP letter rather than wait for the actual OHIP card since you only receive your card close to the effective date. This may then result in your incurring charges for extra month(s) of coverage if you are then late in notifying us.
I have just received my letter from the OHIP office but I am away on my work term. How can I submit this to you?
If you are away from campus, send your letter from the OHIP office showing the effective date of your OHIP coverage to Student Financial Services.