What is Medical Coverage?

Medical coverage may include:

  • Basic medical insurance, which covers medically required services such as hospitals, doctors, diagnostic tests, etc. For example, BC Medical Services Plan (BC MSP). 
  • Extended medical insurance, which covers other services and prescription drugs. For example, Studentcare.

Basic Medical Coverage

British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP):  All BC residents are required to enroll in BC MSP. Once you apply, coverage starts at the beginning of the third calendar month after the month of your arrival (e.g. arriving any time in Aug means MSP starts Nov 1). Once registered you receive an MSP card, and can access health services like all BC residents. Health Insurance BC (HIBC) administers BC MSP – contact at 1-800-663-7100.

Guard.me: SFU enrolls all new international students in this private plan until they opt-out. As of 2020, this coverage costs $281/semester, charged to your student fees. See below for information on opting out of Guard.me.

BC Fair Pharmacare: Based on income, all BC residents are eligible for a prescription drugs program. Everyone should sign up for this program online by searching for “BC Fair Pharmacare registration.”

Extended Benefits

GSS Plan (Studentcare): A private plan run by GSS that is charged to your student fees. It covers extended health, dental, and vision care. You may elect to opt-out if you have an alternative extended health care provider. You may also purchase additional coverage for your spouse and dependants. The coverage is billed annually. For coverage details see: ihaveaplan.ca

TSSU Plan (Pacific Blue Cross): A private plan run by SFU that TSSU members may opt into. SFU covers 75% of the cost of this plan while you have a TSSU appointment. The cost to you is about $7/month for single coverage, or $17/month for two or more. Near the end of your appointment, you may choose to continue coverage by prepaying 100% of the cost for up to 2 semesters.

TSSU Dental Reimbursement (Pacific Blue Cross): You may choose to purchase your own individual dental plan through Pacific Blue Cross at:
pac.bluecross.ca/individual/healthdental

You are then eligible to receive $11.35/month (single coverage) to $34.50/month (family coverage) reimbursement while in a TSSU appointment. As this is an opt-in plan, the coverage available is minimal and the cost is high. There are very strict timelines for reimbursement, which are described on the Dental Reimbursement Application form at: sfu.ca/human-resources/tssu.html

Travel Health Benefits

When outside of Canada, you may need additional coverage if you access medical services. The GSS extended health plan covers travel health expenses, while the Pacific Blue Cross plan provides limited coverage, but MSP does not. The GSS plan does not cover you when you return to your home country. Before travel, investigate your coverage situation.

How to Register and Pay for MSP/Opt out of Guard.me

If you have an active TSSU (TA/TM/Sessional/Graduate Facilitator) Appointment: SFU will pay 100% required premiums for MSP for you, your spouse and any dependents via a “group plan”. This is not automatic, and you need to apply. While you can apply in any month of the term, your application will only be backdated to the first of the month you apply (i.e. SFU will only pay for MSP back to this date).

As of September 1, 2020, the required monthly premiums are $75 per person on study permit, and $0 for those not on study permit. 

To opt into SFU’s group plan:
  1. Complete the MSP Group Enrolment form
    NOTE: A separate application form must be completed for the TSSU member and each eligible dependent. Do not list dependents on the same application as the member.
  2. Scan as a single pdf document:
    – the completed application form(s)
    – a copy of the Study Permit for each individual
  3. Email to tssubens@sfu.ca; include legal name of TSSU member and SFU ID number in the Subject line. If this is your first semester at SFU, you are likely enrolled in Guard.me, and should say: “I am enrolled in Guard.me” in the email.

SFU will then automatically:

  • reimburse you 85% of the cost of Guard.me premiums for the months you enrolled (currently value $59.71 / month / person back because of a grievance victory!)
    • for those enrolled as a family this reimbursement is capped at the cost for 2 people
  • send you a letter which you can use for proof to opt-out of Guard.me and get more money back.

You will then need to upload the letter at guard.me/sfu to complete the opt-out process, and potentially receive an additional refund. 

If you have finished a TSSU Appointment: If you do nothing, SFU should drop you from their group plan and Health Insurance BC (HIBC) will create an individual account and begin sending you bills – a process which can take several months. You can speed up this process if you phone HIBC (1-800-663-7100) and ask them to transfer your account. You may also choose to stay on the SFU group plan, if you prepay 100% of the costs per semester to SFU before your appointment ends. This saves you from reapplying to the group plan if you get an appointment in the next semester, but does not save you any money. To enroll, complete the TSSU Request for Continued Benefit Coverage at: sfu.ca/human-resources/tssu.html and follow the payment instructions on it.

If you are not in a TSSU (TA/TM/Sessional/Graduate Facilitator) Appointment or are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident: You will need to apply for an individual MSP account, including all necessary information, such as a copy of your study permit. Apply directly online at: my.gov.bc.ca/msp/enrolment/check-eligibility or search for:  MSP Application form 102.

If you are an international student enrolled in Guard.me, allow for a few weeks for processing your form then phone HIBC at 1-800-663-7100 and request a letter confirming enrolment. Once you receive this letter, upload it at guard.me/sfu to opt-out and receive a refund. If you receive your MSP card, the card can be used to opt-out.

Further Information

More information on the GSS plan at: www.studentcare.ca 

More information on the TSSU plan at: sfu.ca/human-resources/tssu.html

PLEASE NOTE:

The rights and benefits listed in this document are not exhaustive. View the full Collective Agreement at: www.tssu.ca/collective-agreement/

Remember: In a medical emergency, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest hospital’s emergency room. Emergency calls are free from any phone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I already have MSP coverage, can I opt-out of Guard.me right away? Yes, just upload proof of your coverage to guard.me/sfu and you should receive a refund for any remaining months.

I registered for SFU group enrolment but HIBC continues to send me bills, what do I do?

There’s been a delay. You can by mail the bill back or contact HIBC to indicate you are on SFU’s group plan as of your coverage start date. 

I have health coverage through my home province, do I need to apply for MSP? If you are a student or temporary worker who intends to return to their home province, your province may continue to provide coverage. Please contact your home province’s health care provider for full details including any limitations.

I need to go to the doctor but I don’t yet have my MSP care card, what do I do? You can call MSP to get your Personal Health Number, and give that to your Doctor.  If the Doctor’s office still asks you to pay for the services rendered, save the receipt and submit them for reimbursement. If you have Guard.me coverage, you may be eligible for reimbursement through them.

Do I need to reapply for MSP Coverage under SFU’s plan every semester? Every time you have a break in TSSU appointments and coverage through SFU’s plan, you need to reapply. If you work as a TA/TM/SI/Graduate Facilitator continuously (all 3 semesters), or are always enrolled in the continuation of benefits program, then you will only need to apply once.

I worked last semester and didn’t apply for benefits, can I apply now? You can ask, but in the past SFU has been very strict on only backdating applications to the first day of the month in which they are received by the benefits department.

What happens when my visa expires and I get a new one? In order to maintain MSP coverage, HIBC requires an updated copy of your visa and/or study permit. If you are on SFU’s plan, email this to tssubens@sfu.ca. If you are on an individual plan, you need to submit this directly to HIBC. Call them at 1-800-663-7100 if you have questions. If you do not provide your updated visa, HIBC may drop you from coverage, so it is very important to do so.

What happens if I’m on “implied status”?

Please contact tssu@tssu.ca, as we are currently advocating around this situation.

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