Health

Health and dental plan

Undergraduate Student Union (SU) Health and Dental Plan

If you're a full-time undergraduate student, you're automatically enrolled in a health and dental plan through the Students Union (SU). This insurance plan helps to cover some of the services that aren't covered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. You're automatically charged for the SU Health and Dental Plan and can see it in your student portal when you view your fees.

For eligible students starting in the fall term, coverage begins Sept 1. 

  • There is a validation period for 45–60 days from Sept. 1. This means that if you need to use the plan between those dates, you'll have to pay upfront and make the claims after the validation period is over
  • Please keep your receipts for eligible expenses incurred during this time period for submission to the insurance carrier upon completion of the enrolment process.

Opting out: If you already have health insurance coverage through employment, parents, or a private plan that provides comparable coverage to the SU plan, you may “opt-out” of these plans before the “change of coverage deadline,” usually about a month after courses start (exact dates are available through health plan links on this page). If you demonstrate you have comparable coverage, you can choose to “opt-out” by submitting documentation and the charge would be removed from your account if approved. Learn more about the process of “opting-out” through the link provided below.

Opt-Out Form | Gallivan (mystudentplan.ca)

Adding family members: If you have dependents (children, partner, spouse), you can add them to your plan for an additional fee. You must make these changes before the deadlines available through the SU website.

It's important that you understand what the SU Health and Dental Plan covers. That way you'll know which services you might have to pay for yourself, and which services you can “submit a claim” for that you'll be reimbursed for a portion or full cost of a service. Visit the website below to learn:

  • Which services are covered
  • Deadlines to make changes (like opting out or adding family/dependents)
  • How to submit a claim (to receive money back after paying for a covered service)

Website: https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofcalgary/en/home 

For questions, please contact: uofcalgaryplan@mystudentplan.ca  

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Health & Dental Plan

If you're a full-time graduate student, you're automatically enrolled in a health and dental plan through the Graduate Students Association (GSA). This insurance plan helps to cover some of the services that aren't covered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. You're automatically charged for the GSA Health and Dental Plan and can see it in your student portal when you view your fees.

Opting out: If you already have health insurance coverage through employment, parents, or a private plan that provides comparable coverage to the GSA plan, you may “opt-out” of these plans before the “change of coverage deadline”, usually about a month after courses start (exact dates are available through health plan links on this page). If you demonstrate you have comparable coverage, you can choose to “opt-out” by submitting documentation and the charge would be removed from your account if approved. Learn more about the process of “opting-out” through the link provided below.

Opt Outs (studentcare.ca)

Adding family members: If you have dependents (children, partner, spouse), you may add them to your plan for an additional fee. You must make these changes before the deadlines available through the GSA website.

It's important that you understand what the GSA Health & Dental Plan covers, so you know which services you might have to pay for yourself and which services you can “submit a claim” for to be reimbursed for all/part of a service. Visit the website below to learn:

  • Which services are covered
  • Deadlines to make changes (like opting out or adding family/dependents)
  • How to submit a claim (to receive money back after paying for a covered service)

Website: https://gsa.ucalgary.ca/health-dental-services/ 

For questions, please contact: askgsa@ucalgary.ca  

Alberta Health Care Plan

If you're starting an undergraduate or graduate degree at UCalgary, there are two important pieces to your medical insurance:

1. Free provincial health insurance plan for Alberta residents

2. Supplemental coverage through either the Students Union Health and Dental Plan (undergraduate students) or the Graduate Student Association Health and Dental Plan (graduate students)

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a free provincial plan that covers basic services such as visits to the doctor, laboratory tests, and hospital costs if you're admitted to the hospital. This plan doesn't cover services like prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, or ambulance transport (the supplemental plans through SU or GSA do help to cover).

What do I need to do?

If you're moving to Calgary from another country and intend to live in Alberta for 12 months or more, you must apply for AHCIP coverage within 90 days (3 months) of moving to Alberta.

If you're moving to Calgary from another province in Canada, and intend to live in Alberta for 12 months or more, you must apply for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan within 90 days (3 months) of moving to Alberta. Coverage through the AHCIP starts three months after you officially reside in Alberta. In the meantime, you can continue to use your health care card from another province, but be aware that coverage for some services may be different in Alberta.

How to apply for AHCIP 

You can apply to register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) by mail or in-person. It's fastest to apply in-person at an authorized registry office. 

  1. Review the AHCIP application form to ensure you have all the information required. You can print and bring a copy of the completed form with you, or the registry can provide a copy of the form to fill out. 
  2. Gather the required supporting documents. A detailed list is available here. 
  3. Find an authorized registry office here. If you live on or near campus, the easiest registry office to reach is called “Registry Express” located at Lions Park CTrain station, which istwo stops south from the university in North Hill Mall.

If you were approved for AHCIP coverage, this coverage ends when your study permit expires. You may be eligible for a one-time only temporary extension of your AHCIP coverage while you wait for the extension of your study permit.

AHCIP coverage does not continue with IRCC "maintained status". 

You must contact the AHCIP office before your study permit expires to request a one-time temporary extension of AHCIP coverage. 

AHCIP Website: Temporary Residents

Contact AHCIP Office 

Learn about extending your study permit

If you're studying towards a degree at UCalgary and are living in Calgary with family members (spouses/partners and single children under the age of 21), you'll register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) together.

A spouse/partner or dependent coming with a student may be eligible for coverage depending on the length of time they've been allowed to stay in Canada. When entering Canada, the officer at the port of entry should issue a “visitor record” for your dependent(s) that indicates how long they are allowed to stay in Canada. The officer should also stamp their passport and indicate the date by which they must leave Canada. If the officer doesn't automatically stamp their passport, please request that they do so. Learn more. 

Alberta Health card: eligible students will receive their card in the mail after they've applied. Contact the AHCIP office if you've lost your card. 

Gallivan SU Health and Dental myBenefits card: eligible undergraduate students can download their card to access your prescription drug benefits. Learn more. 

Studentcare GSA Health and Dental Plan app and pay-direct card: eligible graduate students can download the app or Pay-Direct card: