UHIP

University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

All students at UTSC are required to have health insurance to guarantee that they receive prompt medical care. In general, Canadian citizens and permanent residents residing within Ontario are covered by the provincial health plan which is called the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). International and exchange students, as well as new permanent residents are not eligible to receive coverage from OHIP, and require the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) as a result. UHIP coverage is provided by Sun Life Assurance Company (Sun Life).

UHIP is mandatory for all international students, exchange students, new applicants for permanent residence and returning Canadians who are in the 3 month waiting period for OHIP. UHIP is also compulsory for all eligible dependents, including a partner, spouse and/or children. Since the UHIP plan is compulsory, you are advised against purchasing additional health insurance during your stay in Canada without first verifying whether your needs are being covered under UHIP.

Enrollment

Each year when you enroll in courses on ROSI and pay your fees, you will automatically be enrolled UHIP for the 12 month period from September 1st to August 31st. If you are an exchange student, or are not registered in the fall semester, your UHIP charges will be prorated.  Please refer to your fees invoice on ROSI to determine the cost of UHIP and refer to the Health & Wellness Centre for more information. Graduating students can extend their UHIP coverage for a maximum of 2 months if they wish to do so. For more information on UHIP please contact the UHIP Office at the Centre for International Experience (CIE) @ Koffler Student Centre at 416-978-4090 or at uhip.information@utoronto.ca; or Sun Life Assurance Company at 1-866-500-UHIP(8447) or at askus@sunlife.com.

Dependents of International Students

UHIP will only cover your dependents when you are ernolled in UHIP, including: spouse, partner (same-sex or common-law) and/or children. Your other family members (siblings/parents) are NOT eligible for UHIP coverage. You must enroll your dependents in UHIP by visiting the UHIP Office at the Centre for International Experience (CIE) @ Koffler Student Centre within 30 days of arriving in Canada. After 30 days from their arrival date in Canada and/or eligibility date your dependents are subject to a $500.00 late application fee each  in addition to the full UHIP charge. Dependents must be covered under UHIP as long as they are in Canada in order to be able to access medical services. UHIP premiums must be paid before the date of expiry. Please remember to bring passport of the dependents and the U of T Scarborough student, your T-card, a money order payable to “The University of Toronto” in the amount of your UHIP premium.

Ineligibility for UHIP

You may not be eligible for UHIP coverage if you are currently on academic suspension, or if you have graduated an have passed the two month extension period for UHIP. You should look at private health insurance options during this time.

Getting OHIP

If you are becoming a Permanent Resident in Canada, are on your Post-Graduation Work Permit with an offer of full-time employment for at least six months, or are a citizen returning to Canada after an absence of 212 days or more, you should apply for OHIP.  To apply, you will need to visit a ServiceOntario kiosk in person.  If you have paid for UHIP and have OHIP coverage, you can visit the UHIP Office at the Centre for International Experience (CIE) @ Koffler Student Centre to apply for a rebate of your unused UHIP.

Payment

UHIP premiums are subject to change, so it is important that you visit their website for up to date information.The annual UHIP premium in the 2011-2012 academic year is $684 for 12 months. This amount is automatically added to your tuition fees on ROSI. You will pay for your UHIP with your tuition fees.  If you are an exchange student, you will be charged per month that you are attending U of T Scarborough and you can pay either with your residence fees through ROSI or at the Centre for International Experience (CIE) @ Koffler Student Centre.

UHIP card pick-up

You are required to pick up your UHIP card every year. Once you have paid or deferred your UHIP premium on ROSI or at the CIE, you are eligible to pick up your UHIP card. The ISC will send out emails informing you of when and where you can pick up your card in September, or you can pick it up starting in October from the Health & Wellness Centre (SL 270) located in the Student Centre. To pick up your UHIP card, you will need to bring your U of T student card (T-card) and a copy of your paid fees invoice printed from ROSI or viewable on your smart-phone.

How to use UHIP

While most healthcare providers will bill UHIP administrators directly for the cost of a medical visit, some will ask you to pay your medical bill right after your consultation.

You should always take a claim form when visiting a doctor because the doctor must fill out a portion of it. You should also request a receipt of payment for reimbursement purposes. Completed claim forms and receipts can be sent directly to the UHIP administrators. Please note that claim forms must be submitted to the UHIP insurer no more than 12 months after the date service was received or by the completion of the policy (latest August 31st of that schoolyear).

We encourage you to use the health services provided on by the Health & Wellness Centre or a hospital in the Preferred Provider Network (PPN) as they will DIRECTLY bill UHIP and claim forms will not be required.

Coverage

UHIP coverage includes:                                                                                                  UHIP coverage does NOT include:

      • up to $1,000,000 a year for each member for the cost of eligible medically necessary health services and medical treatments, including gynaecological exam diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury/ physician visit emergency and diagnostic services surgery, including the administration of anaesthetics care related to pregnancy (prenatal and postnatal), even if pregnancy began before arrival in Ontario For more information on coverage from UHIP please contact Sun Life Assurance Company at 1-866-500-UHIP(8447) or email at askus@sunlife.com.
      • -Prescriptions drugs
        -Routine eye exams for persons between the ages of 20-65
        -Physiotherapy
        -Eyeglasses, frames or contact lenses
        -Dental care services
        -Acupuncture or Chiropractor services
        -Medical examinations and tests required for immigration purposes or a third party cosmetic surgery
        -Preparation of records, reports, certificates, or communications
        -Services not covered under OHIP at the time the services are rendered

Most students are usually automatically enrolled in either the SCSU, APUS or GSU Extended Health Plan which may cover several of the items mentioned above, but it is important to make sure you are covered BEFORE you use any of the above services.