University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

• UHIP covers COVID-19 testing for students who have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. UHIP does NOT cover COVID-19 testing for any other reason.
• UHIP covers hospitalization or other treatment for COVID-19
• For more information,
  • visit the Campus Wellness site
  • contact Cowan Insurance directly at 1-888-509-7797 

UHIP coverage is annual.

• If you will not be in Canada during the Fall term, you can opt out of the UHIP for Fall term by agreeing to the declaration in the optional fees section on Quest during the opt out period for Fall term.
• If you were not enrolled in UHIP for Fall term and also will not be in Canada for Winter term, you will have the opportunity to opt out of the UHIP for Winter term by agreeing to the declaration in the optional fees section on Quest during the opt out period for Winter
• If you were not enrolled in UHIP for Fall term and Winter term, and also will not be in Canada for Spring term, you will be able to opt out of the UHIP for Spring term by agreeing to the declaration in the optional fees section on Quest during the opt out period for Spring
• If you are enrolled in UHIP beginning Fall term, you will be charged for and enrolled in the plan for Winter term and Spring term, regardless of your location during those terms.
• If you are enrolled in UHIP for Fall or Winter term, you will be charged for and enrolled in the plan for Spring term regardless of your location during Spring term.

You are eligible for UHIP coverage:

• 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; 
• if you are a part-time student who was previously enrolled as a full-time student and you have 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. 
• during a maximum of six part-time terms.
• during one four-month medical leave of absence during any twelve-month period.
• for a maximum parental leave of twelve months. 

International students will be automatically charged for coverage under the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) beginning with their first 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.

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 dependents in Canada. Your dependents 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 dependents include

• a spouse
• a common-law partner
• children

How do I enrol my dependents?

Please contact Student Finance at our help desk to add your dependents. The additional charge for enrolling dependents 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 Cowan Insurance 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. Cowan Insurance will email your UHIP coverage card to you at your uWaterloo email address within two weeks after that. You can contact Cowan Insurance by email for more services.

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 dependents 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

Students who are graduating effective December 31 are eligible for a maximum of 6 months UHIP extension until June 30 to attend convocation and travel purposes.

Students who are graduating effective April 30 are eligible for a maximum of 4 months UHIP extension to attend convocation in June and travel purposes.

Students who are graduating effective August 31 are eligible for a maximum of 4 months UHIP extension to attend convocation in October and travel purposes.

Exchange students are eligible for a maximum of 2 months UHIP extension for travel purposes.
 

*If you are a graduate student and you expect to complete your degree requirements 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 contact Cowan Insurance for services such as checking claims and setting up for direct deposit.

Cowan Insurance's Customer Care Centre can be reached at 1-888-509-7797 Monday to Friday from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. E.T.