Student Health Insurance Canada — Compare Plans

Yes. International students in Canada need health insurance from day one. Some provinces (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland) cover students under their public plan after a waiting period; others (Ontario, Quebec) require private insurance.

Private student health insurance in Canada typically costs CAD $40–$120 per month. Plans like guard.me, Manulife Student VIP, and Ingle StudentCare offer cover from arrival until provincial coverage starts (or for the entire stay).

It depends on the province. BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland include international students after 3 months. Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and others do not — you need private insurance there.

Private plans typically add prescription drugs, dental, vision, mental health, repatriation, and the gap before provincial coverage starts. Provincial plans usually cover only doctor and hospital visits.

Many Canadian universities have a default student health plan. International students can usually opt out if they have comparable private cover — check with your school.