University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

You are eligible for UHIP if you are:

• a full-time student with a valid study permit or temporary resident visa issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, registered in a degree program at University of Waterloo and pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or post graduate degree; 
• a part-time student who was previously enrolled as a full-time student and who has a valid study permit or temporary resident visa issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You must be registered in a degree program at University of Waterloo and pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or post graduate degree.  
• You are eligible for UHIP coverage during a maximum of six part-time terms.
• You are eligible for UHIP coverage during one four-month medical leave of absence during any twelve-month period.
• You are eligible for a maximum parental leave of twelve months. 

International undergraduate students will be automatically charged for coverage under the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for the first time once they have enrolled in

• more than two .5-credit "on-campus" courses, or
• an "on-campus" graduate program.
• regardless of your location

Continuous coverage must be maintained throughout your academic career at the University unless/until you can provide proof of having obtained OHIP coverage. So, your student account will continue to be charged for UHIP during every academic term you are taking at least one .5-credit on-campus course after that.

International undergraduate students

Undergraduate students in Regular programs are charged a higher amount in the Winter term to ensure continuous health coverage to the end of August. Undergraduate students in Co-op programs are charged the higher amount during every academic term to ensure continuous coverage during work terms.

International graduate students

Graduate students are charged the UHIP fee during every term, including Inactive terms, to ensure continuous coverage for the duration of your program.

Canadian or Permanent Resident students not covered under a provincial health plan

For most students attending UWaterloo from other provinces, your provincial health care plan can be used in Ontario.  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.

Canadians moving from one province to another are not eligible for UHIP coverage.  If your provincial health plan expires before or during your studies at UWaterloo, 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 have applied for Permanent Resident status in Canada and have received your "Approval in Principle" letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, you may be eligible for OHIP coverage. Please see the OHIP website to determine your eligibility.

UHIP coverage is compulsory for dependants in Canada. Your dependants must be enrolled in the plan within thirty days after they become eligible for coverage (i.e. the date of their arrival in Canada, the date of your marriage in Canada or the date of expiry of comparable coverage under another pre-approved plan), to avoid having a $500.00 penalty fee and premiums retroactive to the date they became eligible charged to your student account. Eligible dependants include

• a spouse
• a common-law partner
• children

How do I enrol my dependants?

You will need to contact The Centre in Needles Hall with original passports for each dependant, to enrol them. The additional charge for enrolling dependants will be posted to your student account:

Changes affecting UHIP coverage require you to submit a new form outlining the change:

• contact The Centre 

If you receive a letter from OHIP indicating you qualify for OHIP coverage, you need to provide a copy of that letter before the OHIP coverage becomes effective so adjustments can be made to your UHIP coverage.:

• e-mail a scanned copy of the letter to The Centre 

If we receive your letter confirming OHIP coverage after it's effective, you will only be entitled to request a refund of UHIP premiums as of the first day of the month following the date Sun Life receives the Request for Refund Form.

UHIP provides a web and mobile version of the UHIP card.

Once you have become “Fees Arranged”, you will be included on the next UHIP enrolment list. Sun Life will email your UHIP coverage card to you at your uWaterloo email address within two weeks after that. You can access the Sun Life member website for more services. If you're accessing the Sun Life website for the first time, please review the Sun Life Member Website UHIP registration

Note:  The password is your University of Waterloo Quest e-mail address. The certificate/member ID is UW0 (zero) followed by your eight-digit student ID number.

You must apply for your extension

• only once
• while your UHIP coverage is still in effect (except in the case of emergency hospitalization)
• by completing the application form and attaching proof of payment of the extension premium
• by the extension deadline for the term
  • Fall term - December 31
  • Winter term - April 30
  • Spring term - August 31
• and enroll any eligible dependants for the same extension period

UHIP extension coverage

• begins the day after your UHIP coverage would have terminated
• requires you to meet the eligibility criteria outlined on the UHIP website
• is emergency care only
• cannot be changed once it has been purchased
• will depend on the reason for the extension: 
  • To attend convocation--Your coverage ends on the last day of the month you graduate/convocate (up to the six-month maximum).  The documents you require to remain in Canada must be in effect during the extension period.
  • To travel in Canada (incoming exchange students)--You may extend your UHIP coverage up to two months effective the day after your UHIP coverage would have ended. If you are travelling outside of Ontario, travel insurance should also be considered.
• refer to the schedules below for extension deadlines for students meeting degree requirements

*If you are a graduate student and you expect to complete your degree requirements some time during the first three weeks of the new term, your UHIP coverage will be terminated as of the end of the current term; you will need to apply for your UHIP extension by the deadline for the current term. If you are not able to complete the degree requirements in the first three weeks of the new term, contact Student Financial Services to have the UHIP extension premium removed from your student account.

For more information about UHIP, please visit the UHIP website. You may also find these answers to Frequently asked UHIP questions helpful.

You can access the Sun Life member website for services such as checking claims and setting up for direct deposit. If you're accessing the Sun Life website for the first time, please review the Sun Life Member Website UHIP registration

Sun Life's Customer Care Centre can be reached at 1-866-500-8447 any business day from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. E.T.