Updated October 2026 · 7 min read · By Life Advice Insurance Inc., independent broker in Kitchener, Ontario
Key takeaways
If you just arrived in Waterloo or Kitchener to study at the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier or Conestoga College, health coverage may be one more thing on a long list. You are not covered by OHIP. From September 1, 2026, UHIP costs $948 a year for a student. These are the rates for coverage starting in September; January and May 2027 start dates have different rates, so check uhip.ca for your start date. This guide explains what you have, what is missing and what to do first.
In this guide
International students are not covered by OHIP. Every student in Ontario needs health insurance, and most schools make it mandatory.
The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is the mandatory health plan for international students at most Ontario universities. Students are usually enrolled automatically when they register. It covers basic medical care similar to OHIP, such as doctor visits and hospital care.
From September 1, 2026, UHIP costs:
Check your school's UHIP page for the exact charge on your account.
Many Ontario colleges use their own mandatory health plans instead of UHIP. Check with your school's international office to see which plan applies and when it starts.
A private student or visitor plan is useful when:
Basic plans usually do not cover dental, vision, or most prescription drugs, and they pay very little for care outside Canada. Many student unions add a separate plan for some of these. Read what your school includes.
Usually not. If your university enrols you in UHIP, it is normally mandatory; limited exemptions exist (for example some government-sponsored plans). Private insurance is best used to fill gaps, not replace the school plan.
UHIP covers many of the same services as OHIP, including:
Coverage rules can change each year, so read your school's UHIP guide.
When you visit a clinic or hospital, show your UHIP card. Many doctors bill UHIP directly. If you are asked to pay, ask your school's international office how UHIP billing works.
If a spouse or children come with you, they can usually be added to UHIP for an extra premium. For 2026-27, a student plus one dependant costs $1,896, and a student plus two or more dependants costs $2,844 for 12 months.
Many students arrive a few weeks before classes to find housing and settle in. Check the date your school plan begins (for UHIP, your arrival date or the 10th of the month before studies begin, whichever is later). If you arrive earlier, buy a short private plan to cover the gap.
Many student unions offer an extra plan that covers prescriptions, dental, vision and paramedical services. These are separate from UHIP. Some are mandatory with an opt-out option if you have other coverage.
UHIP pays only very limited emergency amounts outside Canada. If you go home for the holidays or take a trip to the U.S., buy separate travel insurance for that trip.
After graduation, your school plan usually ends. If you stay in Canada on a post-graduation work permit, you may become eligible for OHIP once you meet the requirements. Until then, buy a private plan to avoid a gap.
Many schools offer free counselling and mental health services to all students. Check your school's student services page. Your student union plan may also cover sessions with a psychologist or counsellor.
Add UHIP and any student union plan to your yearly budget. The 2026-27 UHIP rate of $948 is a noticeable cost for many students, so plan for it early.
Hypothetical example: Imagine a student from India who arrives in Waterloo on August 1 for classes that start September 5. UHIP starts on the arrival date or the 10th of the month before studies begin, whichever is later, so her UHIP starts August 10. To cover the nine days before, she buys a short private visitor plan. In October, she sprains her ankle playing sports and visits a walk-in clinic, which bills UHIP. In December, she plans to visit family in the U.S. for the holidays and buys a separate travel plan because UHIP pays very little outside Canada.
Asking these questions early helps you avoid surprise medical bills during your studies in Ontario.
International students are not covered by OHIP. Your school plan is your main coverage.
We sell short gap plans and visitor plans for families. Our office is at 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, ON N2E 0B6. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Sunday). Call 1-855-500-5041.
In your first week:
Parents who come for move-in or graduation are visitors. They are not covered by OHIP or by your school plan. Ontario hospitals bill visitors at non-resident rates. Buy visitor insurance for them before they fly, starting on their arrival date.
Life Advice Insurance Inc. offers student and visitor plans for coverage before your school plan begins and for visiting family. Call 1-855-500-5041 for a free quote.
We help two groups of students: international students studying in Kitchener-Waterloo and across Ontario, and Canadian students studying out of province or outside Canada. Students and parents ask us most about refunds if a study permit is refused, monthly payments for a full school year, and coverage for stable medical conditions. Help in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Get a free quote
Get a student medical quote for the period before your school plan starts, or for a gap it does not cover on our student insurance page. Call 1-855-500-5041 or visit 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Help in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Compare quotes online Call 1-855-500-5041$948 for a student for 12 months, starting September 1, 2026.
Usually not. If your university enrols you, the plan is mandatory; limited exemptions exist.
No. UHIP covers basic medical care. Dental, vision and most prescriptions are not covered.
Yes, if you add your spouse as a dependant for an extra premium.
Buy a private plan to cover the gap until you leave Canada or become eligible for OHIP.
Some do, but many colleges use their own mandatory health plans. Check with your college's international student office to confirm which plan you have and when it starts.
No. UHIP covers students and enrolled dependants only. Visiting parents are not covered by OHIP either. They need their own visitor insurance.
Many Ontario colleges use their own plans instead of UHIP. Check with Conestoga's international office to confirm which plan applies and when it starts.