Frequently Asked Questions about the Health & Dental Plans

Who is covered?

All full-time and part-time graduate students who are members of the GSA are automatically covered by the GSA Health & Dental Plan. The fees will appear on your tuition bill. Seminary students are not automatically assessed for the Plan but can self-enrol during the Change-of-Coverage-Period in September. New full-time students starting their studies in January are not automatically assessed for the Plan but can self-enrol during the Change-of-Coverage Period in January.

What is covered and how much does it cost?

The Plan includes benefits for prescription drugs, vaccinations, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, vision care, dental benefits, travel health coverage, and more. Many of these benefits were enhanced in 2007-2008: the Plan now includes increased health practitioners coverage and covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, and eye exams. For a complete list of benefits and details on how these can be combined with the Studentcare Provider Network reductions to improve your coverage further, please visit www.ihaveaplan.ca.

The annual Plan fee breakdown (for 2010-2011) is $311.00 for Health coverage and $151.50 for Dental coverage. The policy year is from Sept. 1, 2010 - Aug. 31, 2011.

What are the Studentcare Provider Networks?

To offer students more coverage, studentcare.net/works has set up networks of health-care professionals. Committed to helping Plan members, these professionals have reduced their fees to help you get the service you need – at an affordable cost. There are Dental, Vision, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, and Massage Therapy Networks in the Waterloo Region and throughout Ontario and Canada.

What if I already have health and dental coverage?

If you’re covered by another plan, you can combine this plan with your student plan to maximize your overall coverage and eliminate out-of-pocket costs. By doing so, you may be able to claim deductibles or co-payments that you would otherwise have had to pay. Most employee plans also generally do not offer comprehensive travel coverage, vaccination coverage, or other benefits exclusive to your student plan. Being enroled as a dependent in a parent or spouse’s employee benefit plan usually requires additional costs that may be higher than the cost of your student plan.

If you are already covered by an equivalent health and/or dental plan, you can easily and permanently opt out from the Health and/or Dental Plan during the Change-of-Coverage Period and receive a full refund for the amount of the Plan. You will have to provide proof of other equivalent health and/or dental coverage to opt out of the Health and/or Dental Plan. Students can’t opt out if they’re covered only by OHIP or equivalent primary health-care coverage (such as UHIP for international students). You can opt out of one plan and keep the other, or just keep the Travel Insurance portion of the health plan.

If I am opting out, do I have to pay the fee with my tuition?

You must submit your opt-out and have your proof-of-coverage approved prior to August 20, in order to avoid interest charges on any unpaid fees. If you opt out after August 20 and don't pay your plan fees, you will accrue late fees on your tuition bill, which we are unable to reverse. If you pay the full amount due, a refund will be applied to your account, at which point you can request a cheque from the Business Office, or leave it to use it towards your Winter 2011 tuition payment.

Can I enrol my spouse or dependents?

Your Plan gives you the option to enrol your family (spouse and/or dependents) during the Change-of-Coverage Period by completing the online enrolment process and paying an additional fee, over and above your individual fee as a Plan member. Common-law and same-sex couples are eligible.

The cost of a spousal opt-in for 2010-2011 will be: $336.00 for Health and/or $176.50 for Dental, in addition to your own fees. The cost of opting in your family (spouse + dependants) is $659.50 for Health and/or $340.50 for Dental, in addition to your own fees.