Student Health InsuranceInsurance Comparison 2026
Manulife CoverMe Student Travel Insurance vs. GuardMe Canada
An independent side-by-side comparison covering benefits, costs, and coverage details.
Based on official policy documentsUpdated October 2026Independent comparison
01Side by side
Features compared
| Feature | Manulife CoverMe Student Travel InsuranceView Details | GuardMe CanadaView Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Monthly price | Not published — price shown in the online quote at coverme.com | CAD $58 |
| Annual price | Not published — charged per day of coverage; family coverage costs twice the single rate | CAD $704 |
| Currency | CAD | CAD |
| Medical Coverage | ||
| Medical coverageMaximum payout for medical care | Up to CAD 2,000,000 in emergency and non-emergency medical benefits including hospital stays (up to 60 days for injury or illness, 30 days for psychiatric care), physician services, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, and paramedical services. | Up to CAD 2,000,000 per 365-day period covering hospital services, physician fees, lab and diagnostic testing, and ambulance. |
| DeductibleWhat you pay before insurance kicks in | CAD $0 — no deductible on any student plan. | CAD $0 — no deductible on the standard plan. |
| Prescription drugs | Prescription drugs covered as part of emergency medical benefits, up to a 30-day supply per prescription. | 30-day supply per prescription, with no annual cap. |
| Emergency repatriation | Up to CAD 100,000 for transportation home (emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, family transportation). | Repatriation of remains up to CAD 15,000. Burial in host country up to CAD 5,000. Air evacuation and return home included up to policy limits. |
| Mental Health | ||
| Mental health coverageTherapy, counseling, psychiatric care | Up to 30 days hospital stay for psychiatric care. In-patient psychiatrist services up to CAD 5,000 after an emergency; up to 6 trauma counselling sessions within 90 days of a covered emergency. | Psychiatric hospitalization up to CAD 50,000 (lifetime limit). Outpatient psychiatrist or psychologist care up to CAD 1,000, or inpatient psychiatrist fees after an emergency up to CAD 10,000. Up to 6 trauma counselling sessions after a loss covered under the Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit. |
| Dental | ||
| Dental coverageWhat dental treatments are covered | Accidental dental injury covered up to CAD 2,500. Emergency dental treatment up to CAD 100 for relief of pain, plus up to CAD 250 per impacted wisdom tooth. | Dental injury (accident) up to CAD 4,000. Emergency dental care up to CAD 600 when 6+ months of coverage is purchased. |
| Eligibility | ||
| Who can applyCountry and visa requirements | Full-time student under age 45 at a recognized Canadian institution with proof of admission, or post-doctoral researcher. Spouse and dependent children (30 days to under 21) can be added; all family members must be under 45. | International students enrolled at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). Usually bought through your school's GuardMe portal; GuardMe supports 300+ colleges, universities and schools. |
| Pre-existing conditions | Pre-existing conditions are not covered if they were not stable in the 3 months before the policy effective date. Stability requires no medication changes, no new symptoms, no new tests or referrals. | Limited coverage. Stable pre-existing conditions may be covered — read your policy carefully. |
| Visit Manulife CoverMe Student Travel Insurance→ | Visit GuardMe Canada→ | |
Manulife CoverMe Student Travel InsuranceView Details
GuardMe CanadaView Details
Pricing
Monthly price
Not published — price shown in the online quote at coverme.com
CAD $58
Annual price
Not published — charged per day of coverage; family coverage costs twice the single rate
CAD $704
Currency
CAD
CAD
Medical Coverage
Medical coverage
Maximum payout for medical care
Up to CAD 2,000,000 in emergency and non-emergency medical benefits including hospital stays (up to 60 days for injury or illness, 30 days for psychiatric care), physician services, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, and paramedical services.
Up to CAD 2,000,000 per 365-day period covering hospital services, physician fees, lab and diagnostic testing, and ambulance.
Deductible
What you pay before insurance kicks in
CAD $0 — no deductible on any student plan.
CAD $0 — no deductible on the standard plan.
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs covered as part of emergency medical benefits, up to a 30-day supply per prescription.
30-day supply per prescription, with no annual cap.
Emergency repatriation
Up to CAD 100,000 for transportation home (emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, family transportation).
Repatriation of remains up to CAD 15,000. Burial in host country up to CAD 5,000. Air evacuation and return home included up to policy limits.
Mental Health
Mental health coverage
Therapy, counseling, psychiatric care
Up to 30 days hospital stay for psychiatric care. In-patient psychiatrist services up to CAD 5,000 after an emergency; up to 6 trauma counselling sessions within 90 days of a covered emergency.
Psychiatric hospitalization up to CAD 50,000 (lifetime limit). Outpatient psychiatrist or psychologist care up to CAD 1,000, or inpatient psychiatrist fees after an emergency up to CAD 10,000. Up to 6 trauma counselling sessions after a loss covered under the Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit.
Dental
Dental coverage
What dental treatments are covered
Accidental dental injury covered up to CAD 2,500. Emergency dental treatment up to CAD 100 for relief of pain, plus up to CAD 250 per impacted wisdom tooth.
Dental injury (accident) up to CAD 4,000. Emergency dental care up to CAD 600 when 6+ months of coverage is purchased.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Country and visa requirements
Full-time student under age 45 at a recognized Canadian institution with proof of admission, or post-doctoral researcher. Spouse and dependent children (30 days to under 21) can be added; all family members must be under 45.
International students enrolled at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). Usually bought through your school's GuardMe portal; GuardMe supports 300+ colleges, universities and schools.
Pre-existing conditions
Pre-existing conditions are not covered if they were not stable in the 3 months before the policy effective date. Stability requires no medication changes, no new symptoms, no new tests or referrals.
Limited coverage. Stable pre-existing conditions may be covered — read your policy carefully.
02FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Manulife does not publish a rate card for this plan — the price is shown in the online quote at coverme.com. The premium is charged for each day of coverage (up to 365 days), and family coverage for the student, spouse and dependent children (all under 45) costs twice the single rate.
The plan provides up to CAD 2 million in medical coverage. Whether it is enough depends on your province and school: many schools have their own mandatory plan, so check whether your school accepts a private plan before you buy. Ontario universities require UHIP or a school-approved equivalent.
If a covered medical event forces you to interrupt or cancel your studies, Manulife reimburses up to CAD $5,000 of non-refundable tuition. Of the three Canadian plans compared here, only Manulife lists this benefit — GuardMe Canada and TuGo do not.
Only if they were stable for 3 months before the policy start date. Stable means no new medication, no symptom changes, no new tests, no specialist referrals, and no hospital admissions. If your condition does not meet all stability criteria, related claims will be denied.
Yes. Coverage is extendable up to a maximum of 365 days. You can also pause coverage for up to 21 days during a home visit (trip break benefit) without ending the policy.
Each school sets its own GuardMe fee, and most add it to the international student fees. For example, Northeastern University's Canadian campuses charge CAD 1.93 per day for one person (2026) — about CAD 58 per month or CAD 704 for 365 days; Northeastern tells September starters to expect CAD 700–750 upfront. Adding family members increases the cost. Check your school's GuardMe page for your exact fee.
GuardMe says it supports 300+ colleges, universities and schools. Many schools enrol their international students automatically and add the fee to their student fees. In British Columbia it bridges the wait before MSP starts; in Ontario, where international students cannot get OHIP, many colleges use it as the main plan. Some schools make GuardMe mandatory — at Northeastern University's Canadian campuses it is the only plan accepted.
It depends on the province. In Ontario there is no gap to bridge: international students are not eligible for OHIP at all, so GuardMe (at many colleges) or UHIP (at universities) is the main coverage for the whole stay. In British Columbia, students with a study permit valid for 6 months or more can join MSP after a wait period of the rest of the arrival month plus two months. Many BC schools, such as Simon Fraser University and Okanagan College, automatically enrol new international students in GuardMe to cover that gap. Each school sets the fee (for example CAD 281 for the first term at SFU and CAD 250 per semester at Okanagan College).
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