Health Insurance for International Students by Province

Key takeaways

Ontario: no OHIP for study permit holders; universities use UHIP ($948 for 2026-27), colleges use their own plans
British Columbia: MSP coverage after a wait, plus a $75 monthly International Student Health Fee
Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador: public coverage is possible if you meet permit and enrolment rules
Manitoba: no provincial plan for international students; University of Manitoba students pay MISHP ($1,320 a year)
Quebec: RAMQ only for students from countries with a social security agreement; others need private insurance within 5 to 30 days of arrival

Why does health insurance matter so much?

Health care in Canada is run by each province. A doctor visit, an ambulance or a hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars without coverage. For example, the University of Manitoba’s 2026-27 health plan flyer lists an overnight hospital stay at $2,829 and an emergency visit at $1,077, based on local hospital rates.

Quebec makes health insurance a condition of your CAQ. Many schools in other provinces make it compulsory too and add it to your fees. Read health cards by province for how public coverage works for residents.

Province-by-province comparison

Province	Public plan for international students?	Cost and key rules (as of October 2026)
Ontario	No. Ontario’s OHIP page does not list study permit holders among eligible temporary residents.	Universities: UHIP, $948 a year (September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027). Colleges: a private plan in ancillary fees.
British Columbia	Yes, Medical Services Plan (MSP), if your study permit is for 6 months or more	$75 a month International Student Health Fee per student. Wait: rest of the arrival month plus 2 months.
Alberta	Yes, Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)	12-month study permit, or 6 to 12 months with a school enrolment letter. The page lists no premium.
Saskatchewan	May qualify	Full-time enrolment and a valid study permit. No charge for the health card.
Manitoba	No	University of Manitoba: MISHP, $1,320 a year ($440 fall + $880 winter), paid with tuition.
Quebec	Only for some countries	RAMQ if your country has a social security agreement with Quebec (usual 3-month wait). Others: private insurance within 5 to 30 days of arrival.
New Brunswick	Yes, Medicare	Full-time for a full school year (at least September to April). Exchange and part-time students are not eligible.
Nova Scotia	Yes, MSI, after a long wait	Eligible on the first day of the 13th month of full-time residence (Dalhousie). Use a school plan before that.
Newfoundland and Labrador	Yes, Medical Care Plan (MCP)	Study permit valid at least 12 months, full-time in a program of at least one year at Memorial, College of the North Atlantic or a registered private training institution.
Prince Edward Island	Check with Health PEI	Rules depend on your permit; ask your school before you arrive.

Sources are listed at the bottom of this page. Rules for the territories are not covered here.

Ontario: UHIP and college plans

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) covers international students at Ontario universities that take part. York University says, for 2026-27:

The premium is $948 for September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.
All international students are enrolled automatically once registered.
Dependants cost $79 a month per person.

At $79 a month, one dependant adds $948 a year, so a student plus one dependant pays $1,896 a year. U of T also lists UHIP at $948 for 2026-27.

Ontario colleges usually include a private health plan in compulsory ancillary fees. Conestoga, for example, lists health insurance among the ancillary fees that are not part of tuition.

British Columbia: MSP and the $75 monthly fee

In BC, international students with a study permit for at least 6 months join the Medical Services Plan (MSP). The province charges an International Student Health Fee of $75 a month, or $900 a year. Revenue Services of BC sends the bills.

Wait period: the rest of the month you arrive, plus two months. You need private or school coverage for that time.
Family: only family members with their own study permit of 6 months or more pay the fee.
Opting out: adult students can formally opt out of MSP; minors cannot.

School health and dental plans are separate. At UBC, the student society charges $396.41 for its health and dental plan in 2026-2027.

Quebec: RAMQ or private insurance

Quebec requires health and hospital insurance for your whole stay, for you and your family. Students from countries that have signed a social security agreement with Quebec may join the RAMQ public plan. Quebec says a waiting period of usually three months applies.

If your country has no agreement, you need private insurance. Quebec says you have 5 to 30 days after arrival to get it. Most universities enrol international students in a group plan automatically. Quebec includes insurance costs in its living-cost amount for the CAQ. See studying in Quebec and the CAQ.

How to avoid a gap in coverage

Check your start date. In BC, Nova Scotia and Quebec (RAMQ), public coverage starts weeks or months after you arrive.
Buy coverage for the gap. Your school plan may start on your first day of term. Arrive earlier and you may need travel insurance for those days.
Apply for your provincial card right away where you are eligible. Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, need proof of enrolment and your study permit.
Keep your study permit valid. Provincial coverage usually ends when your permit expires or when you stop studying full-time.
Check if you were charged twice. If you have public coverage, you may be able to opt out of part of a school plan.

Coverage for your spouse and children

Ontario universities: UHIP for dependants at $79 a month per person (York).
New Brunswick: spouses and dependants can be covered if they live with you and have their own valid immigration document for the same period.
Newfoundland and Labrador: a spouse and children may be covered, but not for longer than the student.
Nova Scotia: spouses and dependants become eligible with the student, from the 13th month.
Manitoba: family can be added to MISHP for an extra fee within 30 days of the start of term.

If your spouse works full-time on a work permit, they may qualify for public coverage on their own. See health cards by province.

Common questions

Do international students get public health care in Canada?

In some provinces, yes, after meeting permit and enrolment rules: for example Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. In Ontario and Manitoba, students pay for a school plan. BC charges $75 a month.

How much is UHIP in 2026-27?

$948 for a student for September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. York University lists dependants at $79 a month per person.

Can international students get OHIP?

Ontario’s OHIP page does not list study permit holders among eligible temporary residents. University students use UHIP and college students use their college plan.

When does BC MSP start for international students?

After a wait made up of the rest of the month you arrive plus two months. You need other insurance for that period.

Can I use RAMQ as an international student in Quebec?

Only if your country has a social security agreement with Quebec. A waiting period of usually three months applies. Everyone else needs private insurance.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Health insurance for international students in Canada by province