Medical Insurance Information

Whether you have a Visitor’s Visa or a Study Permit
you need medical insurance
for the time you are studying in Canada.

You have two choices:

1. You can buy international medical insurance in your home country or private medical insurance in Canada. As soon as you arrive you need to bring your international medical insurance papers to the registration office at North Island College.
    
2. You can buy medical insurance in Canada. You can buy the first three months of insurance in Canada through North Island College International. Then you can enroll in the BC Medical Insurance Plan for the remainder of your study time.

Visitor’s Visa: students studying for 6 months or less on a Visitor’s Visa do not qualify for BC Medical Insurance and need to buy private insurance in Canada or bring a copy of their private insurance from home that covers the entire length of their stay in Canada.

Study Permit: Students studying for more than three months on a study permit MUST enroll in BC Medical Insurance. Because it takes three months for the coverage to start, students should apply as soon as they arrive in Canada. They can purchase the first three months of private insurance through North Island College International, or they can bring proof of coverage from an insurance provider in their home country.

Costs

A. First Three Months
Please let us know by email to internationaled@nic.bc.ca if you wish to buy medical insurance in Canada. We will need to know the date of your arrival if you want the medical coverage to begin right away. We will provide you with information about registration and payment. North Island College uses Strategic Financial Services Ltd., a company that works with Citadel General Assurance Company. The cost for one person is $148.00 Canadian for three months of insurance and can be extended for $53.00 for each additional month. For more information please look at their website at www.student-med.com

B. After Three Months
This is for students who have a study permit. You need to apply for BC Medical Insurance (MSP). This insurance will begin once you have been in Canada for three months. NICI will help you apply for BC Medical Insurance as soon as you arrive. The cost for a single person is $54.00 per month. The BC Medical Insurance website is: www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp

Click here for printable medical insurance information .

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