ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

For degree students, the UHIP coverage year follows the academic year which is September 1 to August 31. The annual table will provide the coverage amounts and details for the academic year. The UHIP premium will be added to your student account based on your terms of registration.

Your UHIP coverage remains active while you are registered in classes. At any point should you make a complete withdrawal from all classes, your UHIP coverage will be terminated immediately.   

No refunds for any withdrawals after Cowan deadline date of March 1st. 

UHIP is considered private insurance, and not all medical providers will accept your UHIP card. Here are some guidelines when looking to find a doctor/medical clinic.

What is a walk-in clinic?

A walk-in clinic is a medical facility where you can see a doctor or nurse practitioner without scheduling an appointment. These clinics are helpful if:

• You don’t yet have a family physician or a family doctor isn’t available.
• You have a non-emergency medical issue that require attention.

NOTE: Emergency situations should not be handled at walk-in clinics. Call 911 or visit the closest emergency room if you have serious injuries, chest pain, trouble breathing, or heavy bleeding.

What services do walk-in clinics provide?

Many common health issues can be handled at walk-in clinics. Visits are frequently
made for the following reasons:

• Ear infections, colds, the flu, or sore throats
• Minor wounds, such as minor burns, cuts, or sprains
• Skin issues like infections or rashes
• Travel advice and vaccinations (some clinics)
• Workplace or school-related medical forms
• The doctor may send you for blood work, X-rays, or other investigations

DO NOT visit a hospital for minor health issues such as cough, cold, pink eye, SDI (skin diseases and infections) etc. These are not considered emergency situations. The Emergency Room (ER) is for serious, life-threatening or potentially disabling conditions that require immediate medical attention.

You are encouraged to use Health and Counselling Services (HCS), 2600 CTTC Building, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University. In person appointments are available, but please call in advance to book your appointment. Note: HCS is for members only. Dependents (spouse/children) cannot visit the on-campus clinic.
Visit an Appletree Medical Clinic: You can find many . Appletree has direct billing options with Cowan (UHIP Provider) to limit out of pocket expenses to students. You can visit a clinic close to you, or book an appointment in advance by calling 1-866-876-9117.

If the mentioned options are not convienient, students are encouraged to find a “preferred provider” on the International Health Care Network. Note: This is not mandatory by any means. Preferred providers are a group of medical practicitioners that have partnered with Cowan/Manulife for billing purposes. This means that there will not be any immediate out-of-pocket expenses to students.

It is recommended that students call the clinic or doctor in advance to confirmed that they are still a member of the “preferred provider network”.

Looking for some fast, free medical advice? Call at 1-866-797-0000. This a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information.

If you are currently living in the Gatineau/Hull area,  you can try accessing these clinics using your UHIP card:


Note: If you visit a clinic that is not part of the Student Health Network, you may have to pay for the medical services upfront. Note that additional administrative charges may apply when visiting a clinic or medical centre off-campus. If you have to pay upfront for any medical services, you will have to complete and submit a to Cowan for reimbursement. Details and information on how to complete and submit a Claim Form can be found in an FAQ below.

In case of a serious medical issue:

• If you or a member of your family is hospitalized or intending to be hospitalized for more than 48 hours, it is important to notify the UHIP insurer as soon as possible of this admission at uhip.ramu@cowangroup.ca.
• If you choose to be treated at or are admitted to a hospital that is not on the  it is possible that you will have to pay expenses in addition to what UHIP pays.
• If you or a member of your family is hospitalized in a hospital not in the preferred hospital network, with 48 hours’ notice the UHIP insurer may relocate you to another hospital of its choice if the transfer is approved by your attending physician.

Please check the preferred hospital network listing or call the UHIP insurer, in advance, to verify whether the hospital you intend to visit currently has an agreement with the insurer at +1 866-500-UHIP (8447) toll-free.

If you are enrolled as a ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ student and have dependents (children and/or spouse) with you in Canada, it is mandatory to enroll them in UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan). You can do so by completing the UHIP Enrolment Form 2026 and sending it to uhip@cunet.carleton.ca.

The UHIP amount to be paid for your dependents will be calculated from their arrival date in Canada and the duration of their stay. The UHIP premium will be added to your student account. The  outlines the premiums on a monthly basis. You must enroll them in UHIP within 30 days of their arrival in Canada, otherwise Cowan will implement a $500 late enrollment fee.

If you are a graduate student and wish to add dependents to the drug/dental plan, you must do so online through GreenShield, (Graduate Students’ Association). Opt-in deadline dates apply.

If you are an undergraduate student, you can enroll your family members in . Opt-in deadline dates apply.

As a student, you are considered the UHIP ‘member’, and your UHIP will automatically be added to your student account. However, for dependents, you must contact the GO-ISSO at the start of each September to reinstate add your family into the UHIP plan.

Note: You must enroll your dependents within thirty (30) days of their arrival in Canada. If you fail to do so, the insurance company will charge you a late administration fee of $500, plus retroactive premiums. All plan details can be found on the .

Exchange students and those with Special student status are automatically enrolled in UHIP at the time of course registration for the terms they are registered.

As an exchange student, even if you have other insurance plans from your respective country/university, UHIP is still a mandatory requirement. You are, therefore, advised to not purchase another insurance plan to cover you while you are studying at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´.

Rates for 2026-2027 (Degree Students):
Starting September for Fall Term (Full 12 Months)
Member only: $948
Member + 1 dependent: $1,896
Member + 2 or more dependents: $2,844

Starting January for Winter Term (8 Months)
Member only: $632
Member + 1 dependent: $1,264
Member + 2 or more dependents: $1,896

Special/Exchange Students (4 months):

Member only: $316
Member + 1 dependent: $632

You will remain covered under the UHIP plan while on your co-op work term. You will not, however, be covered under the drug/dental plan administered by ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University Students’ Association (CUSA) and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA). In order to remain in the drug/dental plan, it is required that you visit the respective office to remain enrolled in the plan while you are on your work term.

If you are completing your coop term in Quebec, please read our FAQ for students residing in Quebec below.

Some guidelines for UHIP and students living out of province:

• There are no Preferred Providers in Quebec, however there are some clinics that you can access in Hull/Gatineau that other members have accessed with their UHIP:
• Guidelines for out of province claims can be found on (Emergency services outside of Ontario and in Canada).
• Emergency means any unexpected sickness or injury first occurring during the coverage period, which requires immediate medical treatment to relieve acute pain and suffering.
• If you have any medical conditions or take prescription medication, please ensure that you take care of this prior to your departure with your current doctor/clinic. This way you will avoid unnecessary out of pocket expenses.
• If you are admitted to the hospital please contact case.mgmt@cowangroup.ca
• If you do pay for emergency health care, please ensure that your has full details (specifically section 5- you need to list the reason you needed medical attention). For example, fractured leg, difficulty breathing, etc.
• UHIP claims can be emailed to clients.cowngroup.ca (with subject line: Policy 050150, Member ID CU…..). It is imperative that you submit your proof of payment and your Claim Form in order for Cowan to process your claim.

If you are on a co-op work term in the province of Quebec you may want to check and see if you are eligible for . If you are successful in getting Quebec medial health coverage, scan proof to uhip@carleton.ca. We will terminate your UHIP coverage and credit your ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ student account the unused balance. You need either UHIP or provincial medical health coverage, but not both.

Drug/dental coverage while on Co-op: You will remain covered under UHIP while on your co-op work term, however you will not be automatically covered for drug/dental coverage. If you are an undergraduate student, you are strongly encouraged to look into manual enrollment on the . If you are a graduate student, you are strongly encouraged to visit the for further information.

Opt-in deadlines do apply.

More information can be found on .

Students who are coming to study at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ and have domestic status/paying domestic fees will NOT be automatically enrolled in UHIP. Students must complete the and email it to uhip@cunet.carleton.ca. Students can visit to see if they are eligible for Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP). If approved, students must provide proof to the GO-ISSO or via email at uhip@carleton.ca. At such time, the student’s UHIP will be terminated and the student account will be adjusted accordingly. Details on OHIP eligibility and how to apply can be found on the .

If you are a Graduate student and have been approved for a Leave of Absence (LOA) from your program of study, you can request to have your UHIP kept intact for a 4 month period (must provide proof). Cowan will approve only one LOA request per 12 month period (some exceptions may apply).

UHIP is a basic and primary health care plan and it covers a number of services such as:

• Hospital services such as; emergency room services, non-emergency hospitalization etc. (Limitations may apply. See above). Cowan must be notified within 48 hours of any hospital stay expected to exceed 72 hours in duration.
• Physician’s services, for example, annual health examination, diagnosis & treatment of illness and injuries, care related to pregnancy etc.
• Diagnostic and x-ray services, emergency ambulances, etc.
• Pre and postnatal care.
• One eye exam per year if you are under the age of 20 or over the age of 65.
• UHIP reimburses physicians at a rate of 125% of the OHIP rate. 
• Each medical test/assessment has a corresponding ‘OHIP code’ and cost and  UHIP will pay 125% of that cost. Anything over and above that 125% will be the responsibility of the student/member to pay.

UHIP does NOT cover dental costs and prescription medication. 

UHIP does NOT cover dental costs and prescription medication. See table below. 

Undergraduate students should contact for details on the Accident, Dental and Drug Plan. Make sure to note opt-in and opt-out deadlines. Further inquiries can be directed to cusa@cusaonline.ca or visit them on 4th Floor Nideyinan.

Graduate students can find more details on their Health, Dental and Accident plan on the or visit the GSA (Graduate Student’s Association, 6th Floor Nideyinan). 

Make sure to note opt-in and opt-out dates.

Further inquiries can be directed to gsa@gsacarleton.ca

The CUSA/GSA supplemental plan charges will be added to your account automatically provided a) you start your studies in Fall; b) you are registered for 3 or more classes (1.5 Credits) for undergraduates. If you are starting studies in the Winter term, you must opt-in to the supplemental plan by visiting either CUSA or the GSA. Opt-in deadlines apply.
Dependents can be added to the drug/dental plans. Opt-in deadlines apply. Visit the appropriate office for details.

Students feeling unwell with cold, flu and/or COVID-19 like symptoms should consider the following:

• Monitor symptom severity and connect with a health care professional for persistent and worsening symptoms.
• Contact Health and Counselling Services at (613) 520-6674 to make a virtual appointment with a member of their medical team (Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm).
• For suspected symptoms of or possible exposure to COVID-19, students should complete a  and/or . Students advised to get tested for COVID-19 should follow public health guidelines and visit a .
• Students needing support outside of Health and Counselling Services’ regular business hours for a non-life-threatening medical issue that requires immediate attention, can consider attending a walk-in clinic to see a doctor without making an appointment. It is recommended that international students visit one of the  clinics to avoid extra fees not covered by the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). It is not mandatory to use a ‘preferred provider’; however, it is convenient as there is no immediate out-of-pocket expense to students with a valid UHIP card.
• Students are reminded to only seek medical attention from emergency services at hospital emergency room) if you believe you have a serious, life-threatening or potentially disabling medical condition or acute injury that required immediate medical attention. Do not use the emergency room (ER) for non-emergencies. In Canada, waiting times to see doctors in the hospital are based on the severity of the medical condition, and emergency rooms are usually very busy and waiting times can be very long. You can also expect to pay more for emergency room visits that may not be covered under UHIP.

If you visit a medical practitioner who is NOT part of the Preferred Provider Network (PPN), you may have to pay for the services provided (referred to as ‘making a claim’). If you do, then you will have to complete a and submit the claim form along with invoice details given to you by the doctor/clinic and send via Cowan’s member portal at clients.cowan.ca. Be sure to keep a copy of all paperwork for your records. The deadline to submit the claim form is within 12 months of the services you received.

On the back of the claim form, section 3: If you paid money to the doctor/clinic, be sure to check the box that says Payment is to be made to member.

If you were invoiced by the doctor/clinic but paid nothing, check the second box that says Payment is to be made directly to the provider, so that Cowan will pay the doctor/clinic directly.

Claim deadline:  You must submit your claim within 12 months of date of the claim.  If your coverage under the plan ends, you must submit your claim within 90 days of your coverage ending.

Typically all international students, their dependents, exchange and special students, visiting scholars and their families and non-resident ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Employees are required to enroll in UHIP. However, only those covered under a  can be exempted from UHIP.

If you have OHIP (Ontario provincial insurance – green card), RAMQ (Quebec insurance), other provincial insurance, or insurance coverage under any one of these pre-approved plans, please send proof to uhip@carleton.ca to request the UHIP fee be removed.
Students/employees covered under a plan other than a pre-approved plan must join UHIP and pay the required premium before applying for an exemption.

If you have coverage with a non-pre-approved provider and would like to apply to be exempted from UHIP, be sure to review the  to see if your plan is comparable with UHIP and if so, complete an  and submit to the Case Management team at Cowan for review. All details must be provided in either English or French. Be sure to include all details of your home plan (inclusions and exclusions) and email Cowan for review. If approved, the UHIP fees will be removed from your student account.

Exemption deadline:  You have 45 days from the start of the academic year to apply for the exemption.
Diplomatic Insurance Coverage and Interim Federal Health Certificate/Incoming Exchange Students
International students who are diplomats/dependents of (spouse or son/daughter) of diplomats may have acceptable health insurance plans with their Embassy or High Commission and UHIP is not required. If however, you are under your parent’s diplomatic health coverage, and they have left the country, it is your responsibility to enrol in the UHIP plan.

For the students who are being covered under the Interim Federal Health Certificate, you are eligible for exemption from UHIP. Proof of this certificate must be submitted to the UHIP Administrator at the beginning of every school year.

Do I need medical insurance before I come to Canada?
You should purchase travel insurance from your home country to protect you for the duration of your travel.
You should not purchase health insurance for the duration of your studies as UHIP is mandatory for all international students while enrolled as a student at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ (including exchange students).

What happens if I withdraw from school?
If you are considering withdrawing from classes, your UHIP health coverage will be terminated from the day you withdraw.

It is imperative that you visit the GO-ISSO regarding any change in your status, the implications it has on your UHIP and potentially your immigration status.

Completing your Academic Program and graduating? You can extend your UHIP coverage!
If you’re an international student living in Canada and you’re about to graduate, it’s important to consider how you will protect you and your family in case of an emergency. You may be planning to travel or stay in Canada following your graduation. If that’s the case below are some options you may wish to consider.

If Spring (classes finish end of April) will be your last term of study and you are graduating in June, your current coverage expires August 31. If by that date you have not secured full time employment and acquired, OHIP you can extend UHIP for another 2 months, providing you with a total of 6 months UHIP coverage from end of classes. Email uhip@carleton.ca for details.

If Summer will be your last term of study (classes finish end of August) your UHIP is valid to August 31. You will be able to extend your coverage 6 months (to Feb 28) or until such time as you may find you are eligible for OHIP (Ontario provincial insurance). The 6 months premium (single) will be charged to your student account. Email us at uhip@carleton.ca for more details. Your coverage remains limited to emergencies, no matter where in Canada you may be.

If you have received a Post Graduation Work Permit and have secured full time employment for a minimum of 6 months (with same employer), check to see about applying for the . If you get approved for OHIP and still have UHIP coverage, contact the ISSO and provide proof of OHIP start date and your UHIP will be terminated and your student account credited with unused portion. You need to have either UHIP or OHIP but not both.

If you have been registered in classes as a Special student, you have UHIP coverage only for the terms you are registered. If you are still in Canada but not registered in classes, you should obtain private medical health insurance.

Private Health Insurance
If you do not qualify for provincial health insurance coverage you should strongly consider purchasing private health insurance. The following are just a few options that are provided for your convenience only and do not necessarily imply an endorsement by ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University. ISSO or ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University cannot be held responsible for information and materials found on these sites. While ISSO has tried to verify all the information as much as possible, students are advised to research their options and contact the insurance company before they enroll themselves or their families into any insurance plans.

Here are some other examples of health insurance companies that you may want to consider.  Do your research and find the plan that best suits your needs.

 (1-844-378-3865)

(1-800-360-3234)
(1-888-918-5056) – info@studentvip.ca

 (1-866-912-6926)
 (1-888-711-1119)