Health & Dental

iMED is temporary private health insurance to cover new-to-UBC international students registered in one or more on-campus courses who are charged Student Union Okanagan (SUO) student fees.

If your program is longer than 6 months, iMED covers you while you are waiting to be eligible for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP), since MSP has a 3-month waiting period.

If your program is shorter than 6 months, such as one-term exchange students or Visiting International Research Students (VIRS), you will have iMED for the duration of your studies.

The provider of the iMED health insurance is David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS).

What iMED covers

• Doctor visits (for injuries or illnesses) 
• Hospital visits 
• Diagnostic, x-ray, and laboratory services 
• Ambulance services 
• Maternity coverage 
• Pre-existing conditions (special requirements apply) 

Read the full details about what is covered and what is excluded in the iMED policy.

iMED coverage period

If your program is longer than 6 months

You will have iMED while you are waiting to be eligible for the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP) since MSP has a 3-month waiting period.

Your iMED coverage dates depend on when you start your program:

• Winter Term 1 (September to December): your coverage will start on August 1
• Winter Term 2 (January to April): your coverage will start on December 1
• Summer Term 1 (May to June): your coverage will start on April 1
• Summer Term 2 (July to August): your coverage will start on June 1

If you arrive earlier than your iMED coverage dates, you should purchase iMED advance coverage. For example, if your coverage starts on August 1 but you will arrive in July.

If you arrive the calendar month after your iMED insurance starts, you should apply to change your iMED coverage dates. For example, if your coverage starts August 1 but you will arrive in September, you will need to change coverage dates.

If your program is shorter than 6 months

You will have iMED for the duration of your studies.

One-term exchange students have set iMED coverage dates for 130 days (one academic term) which cannot be changed.

Visiting International Research Students (VIRS) studying for less than 6 months have iMED coverage dates based on your research period. If you need to change your research period, check changing your iMED coverage dates.

For other non-degree-seeking students, such as unclassified, access studies, and visiting students, this depends on your program and your period of studies at UBC. You might have iMED coverage for 130 days (same as one-term exchange students above) or you might have coverage for a specific number of months instead of the whole academic term (for example, if you will be enrolled for two months). If you are enrolled for a specific number of months and need to change your period of studies, check changing your iMED coverage dates.

If you arrive in Canada before your iMED coverage start date, you should purchase iMED advance coverage.

If you plan to stay in Canada after your iMED coverage dates, contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) or another private health insurance provider for options. Ensure you always have sufficient health insurance during your stay in Canada. You also need to ensure you have valid immigration status in Canada – contact International Student Advising for support.

Insurance costs

The iMED fees are charged to your Workday account. You can check your iMED fees in Workday. Fees are subject to change.

As of August 1, 2023, iMED costs $237 for 3 months or $338 if you are a one-term exchange student.

If you are a non-degree seeking student studying less than 6 months who has iMED coverage for a specific number of months, iMED fees will cost $79 per month.

UBC will automatically assess the iMED coverage period based on your program and your period of studies at UBC.

Eligibility and enrolment

You are automatically enrolled in iMED as a new-to-UBC international student when you register in one ore more on-campus courses. If you are charged iMED fees, you are enrolled for your program’s coverage dates. Certain exceptions exist, so check your Workday account activity to ensure you’ve been charged for the fees and will be enrolled in iMED.

If you think you should be covered for iMED but do not see the fees on your account, contact International Student Advising.

If you are a returning UBC student, or if you register for off-campus (distance learning) courses only, you are not eligible for iMED and can purchase other private insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan (GCHP), if you will be enrolled in full-time studies.

Your iMED card will be automatically emailed to the email address you provided to UBC by David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS), after you register for one or more on-campus courses. Check your inbox and junk-mail folders. During your coverage dates, print your iMED card and keep it with you in case you need medical attention, along with your student ID and a copy of your study permit (if you have one). Consider saving a digital copy on your phone as well.

If you did not receive your iMED card by the start of the iMED coverage period, check your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you did not receive it, then email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com. In your email, write “Missing iMED card” as the subject line, and in the message, you must include your name, UBC student ID number, and date of arrival in BC.

You may be eligible to opt out of iMED if any of the following apply to you:

• You already have iMED, BC MSP, or another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan
• Your studies are funded by a third-party organization that provides you with basic health insurance
• You will complete your entire program of studies online while remaining physically outside of Canada

If your family (spouse, partner, and/or dependent children) will be with you in Canada, you are responsible for adding them to the iMED basic health insurance.

More about iMed

The British Columbia (BC) Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the BC-government run public health insurance plan.

You are required to enrol in MSP if you will be in BC for more than 6 months.

BC MSP covers doctor visits, hospital visits, and medically required services.

Review the list of medical services that MSP covers.

Coverage period

There is a 3-month waiting period to be eligible for MSP, starting with the balance of your month of arrival, plus two months.

As long as you apply upon your arrival in BC, you will be covered from your fourth month in BC until the expiry of your study permit, unless you leave BC for an extended period.

When you get a new study or work permit, you must extend your MSP online to maintain coverage. If you applied for a new study or work permit but you haven’t received it yet, ensure you have coverage while on maintained status.

Approximate costs

Effective January 1, 2020, all international students with study permits must pay a $75 health-care coverage fee per month.

If your family is with you in Canada, they will only be assessed the health-care coverage fee if they also hold study permits. If they hold work permits or are here as visitors, they will not be assessed the fee.

These fees are subject to change. Check the MSP website for the most up-to-date information.

Eligibility and how to apply

You must apply for MSP online for yourself and any family members who come with you as soon as you arrive in BC.

Processing your MSP application could take several months. Once processed, you will receive your BC Services Card (formerly known as “BC CareCard”) by mail and receive an invoice each month. You must pay the government directly.

Once you have MSP, you might be eligible to register for the BC Fair PharmaCare Plan for coverage for prescription drugs, some medical devices, eligible dispensing fees, and some pharmacy services.

If you will be in BC for 6 months or less, you are not eligible to apply for MSP coverage.

More about MSP