University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

If you are a new or returning degree-earning international student registered with the university, then you will be automatically enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for the 12-month period running from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of the current academic year.

If you are an exchange student, you will be automatically enrolled in UHIP for the duration of the period for which you are attending the university.

If you are not registered (which could be caused due to a co-op term, etc.) you will have to register for UHIP yourself. In order to do so, visit the Laurier International offices on either the Brantford or Waterloo campuses.

You must obtain your UHIP card online (see next section) or email studentuhip@wlu.ca to indicate that you are on co-op and need UHIP.

Since enrolment periods are annual, running from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, enrolling at different times of the year can be confusing. In order to clarify different arrival times, visit the UHIP website.

Any students arriving earlier than when the term starts can receive coverage beginning from the tenth of the month before the student starts their studies..

Early Arrivals

If you are planning to arrive in Canada more than 20 days before the beginning of term, you must purchase private insurance to cover the period of time before your UHIP coverage takes effect.

If you are a registered student and you will be arriving in Canada less than 20 days before the beginning of term, email Laurier International about temporary bridge coverage.

Winter Enrolment (January Start)

• You are required to enrol in UHIP for the winter and summer terms.
• Your UHIP coverage will start on the date that the academic semester begins and will end on Aug. 31.
• If you have been charged the full-year UHIP premium, visit the Laurier International office to adjust the premium.

Summer Enrolment (May Start)

• You are required to enrol in UHIP for the summer session.
• UHIP coverage will start on the date that the academic semester begins and end on Aug. 31.

International Exchange Students

• UHIP is compulsory for all international exchange students.
• If you are covered by a health plan in your home country, you are still required to purchase UHIP insurance.
• For further information, please refer to UHIP Exemptions below.

UHIP coverage may also be extended to your eligible dependant family member(s).

Eligible Dependents

A spouse or common-law partner (including same-sex spouse or common-law partner) and/or children are considered eligible dependants.

Other family members (i.e. siblings or parents) are not eligible for UHIP coverage.

How to Enrol

Unlike students, dependants are not automatically enrolled in UHIP. You are required to enrol your dependant family member(s) within 30 days of their arrival in Canada.

You must be enrolled in UHIP in order to enrol your eligible dependants, and you must enrol your dependants every year.

To enrol your dependents: 

1. Send your request to studentuhip@wlu.ca and include:
   • your dependent(s) full names,
   • relationship to you and
   • their date of birth.

Get your UHIP card upon arrival in Canada so that any health or medical issues are covered while you study here. You must carry this card with you and present it when visiting a health care or medical service provider.  

Check Your Email

Before you register online, check your university email inbox. You may already have received a link to access your UHIP coverage card from Cowan’s email, UHIP.RAMU@cowangroup.ca.

Register

If you did not receive a coverage card email, you can register online. Please print your card prior to arriving. Note: You must already be enrolled as a student to enrol for UHIP.

In order to register, you must have the following information:

• Your date of birth.
• Your Canadian postal code.
• The contract/policy number (150150).
• Your certificate/member ID (Laurier students use the two letter prefix WL followed by their 9 digit student number; i.e., for a student with the student ID 999999999 the member ID would be WL999999999).
• Your MyLaurier email address.

After completing this step, you will be given a Cowan user ID. This is not your UHIP coverage card. You are almost there though; just follow the instructions on how to print your UHIP coverage card.

For further assistance, contact Laurier International or contact Cowan at 1.833.377.8447 (UHIP), Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).

There are a few government plans that cover their citizens while in Ontario. If you have one of these plans, you may be exempt and opt-out of UHIP. Other plans will not be considered by Cowan for exemption.

Conditions

• You must meet at least one condition in the Condition column of the table below to have your exemption request reviewed. Any requests received that do not meet one condition in the column will not be reviewed.
• You must submit your request within 45 days of your UHIP eligibility date, and you are responsible for gathering all information that Cowan requests, in English or French only.

Your application does not guarantee an exemption from UHIP. While waiting for Cowan’s decision, you must remain enrolled in UHIP and pay the required premium.

All exemption decisions are valid only for that academic year. 

Extensions to your UHIP coverage can be permitted depending on circumstances including:

• graduation,
• travel in Canada,
• extension of authorization documents, and
• emergency hospitalization on coverage end date.

Only one extension can be granted.

How to Request

All coverage extensions must be approved by the university. In order to do so:

• visit the Laurier International office on either the Waterloo or Brantford campus or
• email studentuhip@wlu.ca.

June Convocation (Maximum Two-Month Extension)

• Your enrolment in UHIP lasts until Aug. 31 and you will be covered for convocation.
• This post-graduation extension is part of the UHIP 12-month enrolment period and you are not able to opt out.
• UHIP will not provide coverage for more than two months after graduation.

November Convocation (Maximum two-month UHIP extension)

• If you will graduate in November, then you have the option of extending your UHIP coverage for a period of two months (i.e. September and October of the graduation year).
• UHIP will not provide coverage for more than two months after graduation.
• In order to apply for this extension and make your payment you must visit the Laurier International office on either campus.

New permanent residents and returning Canadian citizens are subject to a three-month waiting period before their Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage becomes effective. In the interim, you are required to find alternative coverage for this period of time and are eligible for UHIP.

The steps to do this are:

1. Apply for OHIP. This can be done at any Service Ontario Centre. You will need to have a number of documents with you to prove your eligibility for OHIP. Please refer to the Service Ontario website for a list of required documents.
2. Provide the university with proof of OHIP (a clear scan or photo of either the card itself or the temporary coverage). Proof of OHIP coverage must be submitted to studentuhip@wlu.ca.
3. The UHIP charge will subsequently appear on your LORIS account in two to three weeks.

Note: You will be required to pay the UHIP premiums for the period in which you are covered by UHIP. Once you are enrolled in OHIP, information must be provided to the university so that payments can be stopped.

• More information on the OHIP coverage waiting period.

You must inform studentuhip@wlu.ca at least one month before the start of your leave, and we will support you in completing your request for coverage during your leave of absence.

Eligibility for Coverage During Leave

• If you are taking a medical or parental leave of absence, you can ask to keep your UHIP coverage during your leave.
• If your leave is not medical or parental, you are not eligible for UHIP coverage while on leave. For more details on coverage for a leave of absence please refer to the UHIP website.
• If you have withdrawn from your studies you are not eligible for UHIP coverage. We strongly advise you to seek and purchase alternative coverage if you choose to remain in Canada.

Check the UHIP website for up-to-date coverage information, as coverage information may change.

UHIP is meant to provide students with basic health care while studying at university.

Travel Information

While travelling in Canada you are entitled to coverage equal to what Ontario would provide for you.

While travelling outside of Canada you receive minimal coverage. It is suggested that you obtain travel insurance while you travel outside of Canada.

Not all health care and medical service providers accept UHIP and, in some cases, you will need to pay out of pocket before being reimbursed.

Preferred Provider Network

Before requiring medical attention, familiarize yourself with where you would receive health and medical services. Checking the Preferred Provider Network to find locations for clinics and doctors near you.

Student Wellness Centre

While you may choose where you seek medical or health services, Laurier does have comprehensive health services conveniently located on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, offered through the wellness centres.

Some of the Laurier wellness centre services are covered under your student fees and do not require you to make a claim.

When visiting a preferred provider (a provider that accepts UHIP), the health care or medical provider will record your information and bill Cowan, the insurance provider, directly towards medical consultation fees.

In the event that you are billed for medical consultation fees, you will need to request reimbursement (make a UHIP claim) from Cowan.

To request reimbursement:

1. Get an official receipt for services from the health care or medical service providers (be sure to keep a photocopy of your bill).
2. Complete a claim form.
3. Submit forms directly to Cowan.

Note: Some health care providers may charge the Ontario Medical Association rate – a significantly higher rate than UHIP or OHIP, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for permanent Ontario residents. You will be reimbursed the UHIP rate only. It is important to speak with the health care provider beforehand about medical rates.

Annual UHIP fees will be automatically applied to your student account (LORIS) and paid together with your tuition fees.

Student Fee

The annual student premium for the 2022/23 academic school year is $756 if you have no dependants.

If you are an exchange student, your UHIP premium will be based on the number of months you will be attending Laurier. For the 2022/23 academic school year the monthly UHIP premium is $63.

Dependent Fee

• Enrolling a dependant child or partner for the 2022/23 academic year is $756.
• Enrolling one UHIP member and one dependant for the year is $1512. 
• Enrolling one UHIP member and one or more dependants (a family) for the year is $2268.

For a complete list of costs associated with UHIP, including those for dependants, see the UHIP Premium Table on the UHIP website.

You may be eligible for a partial refund of your UHIP premium if one of the following applies to you:

• You withdraw from your academic program voluntarily or at the request of the university.
• You complete your academic program.
• You are not in regular attendance, as defined for the program in which you are enrolled.
• You have dependent family members who have left Canada.
• You become eligible for OHIP coverage.
• You are granted a UHIP exemption.

You are not eligible to receive any refund of your UHIP premium for scheduled breaks between terms, if this is the only period for which you are applying for a refund.

Refund Application Process

If you are eligible for a refund, you must apply for it as early as possible. Timing is very important and will affect the amount of refund you receive.

If you apply on the first of the month, you will still be charged the full monthly premium. You are financially responsible for every month in which you have active UHIP coverage. Refunds will not be made retroactively.

To apply for a refund:

1. Complete the Request for Refund/Refund Appeal Form on the UHIP website.
2. Submit your completed application to the Laurier International office on either campus.

Deadline

Refund applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Feb. 28. Refund applications will not be accepted from March 1 to Aug. 31.

Update Your Status

International students who have recently changed their legal status in Canada from "international student" to "permanent resident" must ensure that their legal status with Laurier is updated.

If your international student status is not updated, a UHIP coverage charge will be added to your account each academic year.