Health insurance

As a full-time international student at the University of Waterloo, you have two health plans that cover different health related issues. You'll need to print out two health cards. 

1. University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

As a full-time international undergraduate student in your first term, your student account will be automatically charged for UHIP coverage. Full-time and part-time graduate students in on-campus programs are automatically charged for UHIP coverage on their student account.

Your registered status on Quest must be “Fees Arranged” for Student Financial Services to activate your coverage with Cowan Insurance. Cowan Insurance will email your UHIP coverage card to your UWaterloo email address within two weeks after that. Please have this card accessible at all times in case of a medical emergency.

2. Your supplementary Health and Dental Plan

Your WUSA/GSA student Health & Dental Plan is additional to the UHIP coverage and covers medical services that the UHIP plan does not, including prescriptions, physiotherapy, chiropractor, massage therapists, visits to the dentist or eye doctor, and travel insurance. 

3. Next steps after graduation

If you're completing you studies at UWaterloo, you may still be eligible for UHIP by extending covergae by up to 4-6 months, depending on your program completion date. Learn how you can extend your UHIP coverage.

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 visit the OHIP website to determine your eligibility.

If you have exceeded your UHIP extension and are not yet eligible for OHIP, then you will need to find alternate health insurance coverage via other insurance providers.