Living in Canada · Students
Health cover for international students: UHIP, MSP, and the gap
The short answer
Health cover for international students in Canada depends on the province. Ontario students are generally not eligible for OHIP and are enrolled in their university's UHIP plan instead. In British Columbia, students with a study permit valid six months or more must join MSP, which starts only after a wait of up to three months, so arrange private cover for the gap when you land.
On this page
Your health cover in Canada is set by the province you study in, not by one national rule. The two biggest student destinations work very differently, and the gap before your cover starts is yours to bridge.
Coverage depends on your province
Whether the public plan covers you at all depends on where you study. Ontario generally leaves international students off its public plan and hands them to a university plan; British Columbia puts them on the public plan, but only after a wait.
Ontario
- International students are generally not eligible for OHIP, the public plan
- Universities enrol you in UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) instead
- UHIP is mandatory and covers doctor and hospital care in Ontario and across Canada
- It can begin from your arrival, so there is no long public-plan wait
British Columbia
- You must apply for MSP yourself if your study permit is valid six months or more
- MSP coverage starts after a wait: the rest of your arrival month plus two months
- That gap can be close to three months, so arrange private cover for it
- A school or private plan still fills what MSP leaves out
By the numbers
~3 months
BC — MSP coverage wait periodOther provinces vary: some cover international students on their public plan, some do not. Check your own province’s health ministry before you assume you’re covered, and never rely on a rule you read for a different province.
Mind the gap when you arrive
Buy private cover for the weeks before your plan starts
There is almost always a window when you’re in Canada but not yet covered. In British Columbia the MSP wait runs close to three months; even where a university plan applies, it may only begin on your coverage start date or after you enrol. A single accident or emergency-room visit in that gap can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. Buy short-term private or travel health insurance that runs from your arrival date until your MSP or school plan is active. Many insurers sell exactly this bridge cover.
Where to go when you’re sick
Not every problem needs the emergency room, and knowing where to go saves you hours and money. Match the option to how serious it is.
Call 811 for free health advice, 24/7
Ask a pharmacist
Walk-in clinic or campus health centre
Emergency: call 911 or go to the ER
What’s usually not covered
Public plans pay for the doctor and the hospital, and not much else. Dental, eyes and everyday prescriptions are on you, which is exactly what a university or private plan is for.
OHIP / MSP usually covers
- Doctor and specialist visits
- Hospital stays and medically necessary surgery
- Emergency care and diagnostic tests
- Medically necessary lab work
You pay, or need extra cover
- Prescription drugs picked up at a pharmacy
- Dental care in a dentist's office
- Routine eye exams, glasses and contact lenses
- Ambulance fees, in many cases
This is the job your UHIP, school, or private extended-health plan does. Keep that plan running even after MSP or an OHIP-equivalent kicks in, because the public plan alone leaves these gaps open.
What to do next
- Planning your move as a student? See how we handle Canada study permits end to end.
- Packing for Canada from India: what to carry for your medicines and documents.
- Ask us a question if you’re unsure which plan your province and school require.
Common questions
Are international students covered by OHIP in Ontario?
Generally no. Ontario's public plan lists citizens, permanent residents and certain full-time work-permit holders, and a study permit is not on the eligibility list. Ontario universities enrol international students in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) instead, a mandatory plan that covers doctor and hospital care in Ontario and across Canada.
Do international students get MSP in British Columbia?
Yes, but you must apply yourself. Students with a study permit valid six months or more are required to enrol in BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP) on arrival, and your school does not do it for you. Coverage begins only after a wait period, so carry private insurance until MSP starts.
Is there a waiting period for student health coverage in Canada?
In British Columbia, yes. MSP begins after the balance of your arrival month plus two full calendar months, which is close to three months. Arrive in August and you are covered from 1 November. In Ontario there is no OHIP wait for students, because they use UHIP. Either way, get interim private cover for your first weeks.
Does Canadian public health insurance cover dental and prescriptions?
No. Provincial plans like OHIP and MSP cover doctor visits and hospital care, not dental work, routine eye exams, glasses, or prescription drugs you pick up at a pharmacy. Students rely on their university (UHIP) or a private extended-health plan for those costs.
What number do I call for health advice in Canada?
Dial 811 in most provinces for free, 24/7 advice from a registered nurse or pharmacist: Health811 in Ontario, HealthLink BC in British Columbia. It is not for emergencies: for anything life-threatening, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Related guides
The route to staying
Settled here. Now make it permanent.
Express Entry, a provincial nomination, or sponsoring the family you left behind. Each one is a file with a deadline, not a forum thread, and the licence on it is his.
Three fields · about 30 seconds