Navigating Health Insurance While Studying at McGill

By Hillary Wright

My relationship with health insurance is complicated. On the one hand, it gives me a sense of relief, knowing that I won’t have to pay for care out of pocket. On the other hand, I don’t fully understand how my coverage works and often find myself frustrated when I have to pay for services I naïvely expected to be free.

At McGill, this sentiment becomes even more complex as young adults, many of whom are navigating their own health and finances for the first time, converge on campus from around the world, bringing diverse health care experiences and expectations.

My confusion was echoed in two recent conversations. The first was with a friend who landed in the emergency room after a McGill sports-related injury in late August. As an international student, he was covered under McGill’s International Health Insurance (IHI) Plan. However, confusion about the terms and conditions of his plan left him paying out of pocket for most of his care. The second conversation was with another international undergraduate student, who was very relieved to have all his care covered after a skiing accident that led to a hospital visit and a lengthy out-of-hospital follow-up.

The two conversations highlight the confusing nature of health insurance for McGill students and bring me to write this post: a tool for McGill students to better understand their coverage as they navigate the healthcare system.

Régie de l’assurance maladie (RAMQ)

Under the purview of the Canada Health Act and Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) serves as the province’s public health insurance program. RAMQ coverage applies to most members of the McGill community, with certain exceptions. Exceptions include students from countries without a social security agreement with Quebec, individuals holding open work permits, and those who have applied for refugee status, who instead receive coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program.

RAMQ covers necessary health care, generally defined as treatments and services provided in hospitals (including prescriptions filled in hospital), physician visits (including specialists by referral), and most pregnancy-related care. Coverage for other services, such as dentistry, optometry, psychological services, and physical therapy, is limited.

Unlike other Canadian Provinces and Territories, Quebec requires each person between aged 18-65 to have supplemental Health Insurance. McGill offers health insurance plans to satisfy this requirement, from which the student may opt out if they can demonstrate equivalent coverage elsewhere. Additionally, Quebec offers the Public Prescription Drug Insurance, which covers the costs of prescription drugs for individuals who do not have access to a private plan; and is therefore, generally not applicable to McGill Students who are covered through the university.

McGill’s Supplemental Insurance Plans:

Undergraduate Supplemental Insurance Plans

Undergraduate students paying Quebec or Canadian tuition in the fall/winter semester at McGill are automatically registered for the Undergraduate Supplemental Insurance Plans. This plan satisfies Quebec’s requirement for supplemental health insurance. More details about coverage can be found on the McGill Human Resources page.

This plan is distributed through membership to the Student Society of McGill University (SSMU) for students at the Downtown Campus, and the Macdonald Campus Student Society (MCSS) for those at the MacDonald Campus. Students who already have supplemental insurance coverage from elsewhere may opt out of the Undergraduate plan by providing proof of their supplemental coverage. Additionally, McGill’s Supplemental Insurance Plans allow students to extend their coverage to a dependent or family plan for an additional cost (McGill Human Resources Page).

Graduate Supplemental Insurance Plans

Similar to the Undergraduate Supplemental Insurance Plans, graduate and eligible postdoc students are automatically covered under the Graduate Supplemental Insurance Plan if they are members of The Post-Graduate Students’ Society of McGill University (PGSS). The students are automatically enrolled in the enhanced health and dental plans, but may choose between the Basic and Enhanced Plans. A detailed breakdown of coverage provided by each plan on the Studentcare website.

Supplemental Dental Plan

McGill also offers its students and staff the option to enroll in the SSMU or PGSS dental plans. Enrollment in these plans is optional (coverage details can be found on McGill’s HR Dental Page).

Students and staff at McGill can also access reduced-cost dental care at McGill’s Undergraduate Teaching Clinic.

International Students Health Care Insurance

International Students at McGill are automatically covered under the International Students Health Insurance (IHI) Plan. Once activated through the Students Tab of Minerva, coverage begins two weeks before the start of the semester (August 15). Designed to support McGill students from outside Canada, students who plan to arrive before August 15th are advised to obtain additional coverage elsewhere.

Coverage under this plan includes a maximum lifetime reimbursement of $500,000 for all services combined. This includes hospitalization, physician fees, diagnostic tests, pharmacy services, maternity care, dental care (accidental only), medical evacuation, and vision care. Additional benefits include limited coverage for some supplementary health services, accidental dismemberment, and repatriation in case of death. More information can be found in the McGill International Student Health Insurance Plan booklet.

Additionally, students may extend their IHI plan to include dependents or family members on the Student Tab of their Minerva account for an additional fee.

Lastly, it is important to note that this overview is not comprehensive. For additional information and specific details regarding your coverage and access to care, please consult the resources below, contact StudentCare, International Student Services, or your personal health insurance provider.

Resources

RAMQ