The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) has been designed to offer similar primary health coverage to that of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
- UHIP covers up to $1,000,000 a year per member for the cost of eligible and medically necessary health services and medical treatments
- UHIP will provide coverage for similar services to a maximum of 125% of OHIP Procedure codes and rates. Should a provider bill more than this rate, you will be responsible for paying the difference
- To minimize costs to you, be sure to always carry your printed UHIP card with you and visit a preferred provider when possible. Visit a clinic for routine care (non-emergencies) and a hospital for emergency care
- UHIP claims can be reimbursed up to 12 months from the service date (date the care was provided at the clinic/hospital)
Covered Services
UHIP includes coverage of both emergency and routine needs in Ontario, such as:
- COVID-19-related medical needs
- Consultations/examinations
- Surgery
- Diagnostic laboratory and X-ray services
- Mental health support (psychiatry)
- Gynaecological exams
- Pregnancy-related healthcare (prenatal and delivery)
- Emergency needs in other Canadian provinces or territories
- Emergency needs only, with very limited coverage, outside of Canada (see planning to travel)
More Information About Coverage
To learn more, visit the UHIP website or call Cowan Manulife (1-866-500-8447), Monday to Friday, 8 am–8 pm ET.
You will need to have your UHIP card accessible, as you will be required to verify the UHIP policy number and the Member ID on your UHIP card. Review how to get your UHIP card.
Billing practices are decided independently by each clinic and hospital. We recommend you visit a UHIP preferred provider, which include clinics or hospitals that will accept your UHIP card.
If you visit a preferred provider and show your printed UHIP card, the clinic or hospital can bill the insurance company directly for your appointment. Please remember that not all services are covered by UHIP.
If you are required to pay for health services at the time of the visit, or if you receive a bill at a later date, you will need to submit a “claim” to the insurance provider to be reimbursed for eligible fees.
- How to submit a claim
- A tutorial is available to assist you in submitting a claim and lists what documents you need to include
- Be sure to keep a copy of all documents you sent to the insurance provider
If you have claim questions, contact Cowan.
You may be eligible to extend your coverage after graduation. To learn more, visit the UHIP website.
To apply to change your UHIP coverage after completing your studies, please complete the UHIP change request form.
Please note, once a UHIP coverage termination has been processed, the student is no longer eligible for a UHIP coverage extension.
If you are planning to stay in Ontario after completing your studies, visit the Service Ontario website to review your eligibility for OHIP.
Private Health Insurance
If you do not qualify for UHIP or provincial health insurance, you should strongly consider purchasing private health insurance. You are advised to research options and contact the insurance company before you enrol yourself or your family into any insurance plans.
- Manulife/Cover Me (1-844-378-3865)
- Sun Life
- Ingle International (1-800-360-3234)
- Guard Me
- Cowan Insurance Group (1-866-912-6926)
- Greenshield (1-888-711-1119)
- Great West Life
- Ontario Blue Cross
This is not an endorsement by Queen’s University, and Queen’s University cannot be held responsible for information and materials found on these sites.
UHIP Does NOT Cover the Costs of:
- Prescription medicine
- Vision care (exams/glasses)
- Dental care
- Physiotherapy
- Most travel outside of Canada (limited travel coverage). Review info on UHIP Travel page
As a primary health plan, UHIP does not cover everything. Some healthcare costs require additional or supplemental health coverage.
Supplementary plans include coverage for:
- Prescription drugs/vaccinations
- Vision care (eye exams, glasses, contact lenses for those between the ages of 20–65)
- Dental care services
- Travel outside of Canada
- Physiotherapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic services
- Other mental health supports (counselling/psychologists)
Supplementary Coverage Plans at Queen's
The AMS and SGPS provide supplemental health insurance coverage to students at Queen’s.
Learn more about supplementary coverage by watching these videos about the AMS and SGPS Health and Dental Plans.
Contact your student government office within your first few weeks on campus to learn more about enrolment and coverage. Undergraduate/exchange students can contact the AMS office, and graduate students can contact the SGPS office.
Requesting Changes to Your Coverage
UHIP is mandatory at Ontario universities, and there are very limited circumstances that will allow you to make changes to your automated UHIP coverage. Please review the information below before requesting any changes to your coverage.
A request to change your coverage does not guarantee that your coverage will change.
- If your request is approved, the UHIP fee on SOLUS should be updated in 10-15 business days
- If your request is declined (you are not eligible/have insufficient proof), the UHIP fee and your coverage will remain
- Please monitor your Queen's inbox/junk folder for an email from the UHIP administration, in case there are any questions about your application.You MUST respond to this email with answers or your UHIP change request will not move forward
To request a change to your UHIP coverage, please complete this form.
Important Dates
Most requests can only be accepted within the first 45 days of the term.
Important deadlines including for exemption requests are:
- Fall term – Oct. 15
- Winter term – Feb. 15
- Summer term – June 15*
* Some requests cannot be processed after Feb 15th
* Contact uhip@queensu.ca for more information
To be eligible, you must:
Provide proof of exemption according to the UHIP exemption criteria.
A current UHIP fee on SOLUS (the fee will appear as International Health Care) AND have coverage in an alternate pre-approved health plan.
Acceptable pre-approved plans include:
- OHIP – the Ontario Health Insurance Plan
- Any other Canadian provincial or territorial health plan
- Interim Federal Health Care Plan
- Embassy of the State of Kuwait GHIP Replacement
- Embassy of Botswana – Student Program (Cowan contract G0020376)
- Ciencia sem Fronteiras (CSF)
- Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB-HDP) Policy # 06614A
- Libyan Embassy and Scholarship Program – Canada Policy # G0068002
- You have diplomatic status and instead have coverage in an alternate health plan
- You are not/will not be in Canada for your studies
Please complete the UHIP change request form.
OR
If you are covered under a sponsored plan supported by your government
Review eligibility criteria > UHIP exemption criteria
Then email the following documents to uhip@queensu.ca:
- A completed Request for Exemption Form
- A copy of your member identification card with eligibility dates.
- A copy of your full policy details that include exclusions and limitations.
Processing deadlines for each term are:
- Fall Term - Oct 15
- Winter Term - Feb 15
- Summer Term - June 15
To be eligible, you must have:
A current UHIP fee AND your registration status must have changed.
Examples include:
- Program withdrawal
- Program deferral
- Program Completion
It is the responsibility of the student to inform the UHIP administration office of any registration changes requiring UHIP termination.
If eligible to apply, obtain electronic proof of your changed status from a university source (department confirmation email/letter) that confirms the date of the change and Complete the UHIP change request form.
To be eligible, you must have:
A current UHIP fee on SOLUS (the fee will appear as International Health Care) AND your registration status must have changed.
Processing Deadlines for each term are:
- Fall Term - Oct 15
- Winter Term - Feb 15
- Summer Term - Feb 15*
Please Note:
Once a UHIP coverage termination has been processed, the student is no longer eligible for a UHIP coverage extension.
If a student defers/withdraws from Queen's they are no longer eligible for UHIP coverage and coverage will be terminated.
Only some students will be eligible for a UHIP refund upon withdrawal/deferral from Queen's. For more information contact uhip@queensu.ca
To be eligible, you must have:
A current UHIP fee on SOLUS and provide proof of eligibility for UHIP adjustment
Examples include:
- become eligible for OHIP
- non-standard program start/end dates
- extending UHIP coverage
Processing Deadlines for each term are:
- Fall Term - Oct 15
- Winter Term - Feb 15
- Summer Term - June 15
If eligible to apply, obtain electronic proof of your eligibility (proof of OHIP with start/end dates, departmental confirmation email/letter that confirms the date your program begins, or the date you completed your studies) and Complete the UHIP change request form.
To be eligible to add or renew coverage for your dependents, you must be:
Currently registered as an international student AND have dependents (a spouse/children residing with you in Ontario for 3 weeks or longer).
If you meet the criteria above, coverage for your dependents is mandatory and you must add or renew coverage for your dependents within the first 30 days of each renewal period.
- Late enrolments are subject to a $500 late enrolment penalty and retroactive UHIP fees. Fees for dependent coverage will be applied separately to your SOLUS account.
- To add or renew coverage for your eligible dependent Complete the UHIP change request form.