Health plan for graduate students
Plan Information:
The YUGSA Health and Dental plan is mandatory for all full-time graduate students (TAs exempted), and they are automatically enrolled in the plan. Students with comparable health and dental coverage can opt out of the plan within the specified opt-in/opt-out period set by the insurer. The GSA healthcare charge is separate from tuition and is applied to the student accounts in September for fall-registered students and in January for Winter registrants. Part-time students can join the plan by opting in from the website and paying the premium online. (Scroll below).
Provider: Greenshield
GSC ID No: Your GSC ID number is your three-letter code school code, your student number, and “-00” (example: YGS111222333-00).
Visit the Greenshield Student Centre for more details.
Plan duration:
Fall’24 registered students: Sept. 01 to Aug.31, 2025
New Winter’25 registrants: Jan. 01, to Aug.31, 2025
Summer: There is no opt-in/opt-out during the summer.
Out-of-Canada students:
Students who are not physically present in Canada but have been charged for GSA Healthcare must contact the Health Plan Coordinator at health@yugsa.ca before the opt-out deadline of Feb. 28
Once they arrive in Canada, they must email the health plan office within 30 days of arrival to enroll in the plan.
BLACK-OUT PERIOD: The black-out period for new Winter registrants will end on Jan. 31. During this period, no new accounts can be registered with Greenshield nor can any claims be processed. If you incur any medical expenses in this period, please save your receipts and submit them to the provider after Jan. 31. Greenshield will reimburse you retroactively if that benefit is covered in the plan.
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SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:
The outline of benefits for the policy year 2024-25 are:
Prescription drugs: $1000 max with 80% co-insurance
Dental: $600 max. with 75% co-insurance
Vision: $75 for a general eye exam, $100 for prescribed lenses and frames or contact lenses every 24 consecutive months
Orthotics: 100% up to $200/24 month based on first paid claim
Professional Services:-
No co-pay, $25 per visit up to a maximum of $300 per type of practitioner per benefit year: Naturopath, Osteopath, Speech Therapist (Rx required), Dietitian, Chiropodist, or Podiatrist.
Chiropractor: $650 per benefit year.
Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work or Psychotherapist: $125 per visit up to 10 visits combined, plus an additional 5 sessions using Inkblot, per benefit year.
Holistic Nutritional Consultant: $125 per visit up to 15 visits combined with a Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work, or Psychotherapist per benefit year.
MindBeacon Therapist Guided Program
Acupuncturist, Physiotherapist, Registered Massage Therapist (Rx required): $50 per visit up to a maximum of $600 per practitioner per benefit year.
AD&D and Travel Insurance Benefits
Winter 25 Opt-In/Opt-out (graduate students only)
The winter opt-in/opt-out period is open for new Winter registrants only from Jan. 01 to Feb. 28, 2025. Fall-registered students cannot opt in or opt out in the Winter term.
(Important: This information is meant for graduate students only. If you are an undergraduate student including JD, please visit the YFS health plan website.)
Who can opt-in?
Part-time students
Dependents of full and part-time students
Opt-in applications will be processed after the opt-in/opt-out period ends on Feb. 28.
Full-time students can opt-out if they have comparable coverage health and dental coverage from another insurer in Canada. You will receive an auto-generated confirmation number that confirms that your application has been received. It does not mean that the application has been approved for a refund.
Note: The opt-in and opt-out deadline is final. No submission will be accepted after the deadline has passed.
Are you a CUPE 3903 member (TAs and GAs)?
Students with teaching contracts are exempted from the YUGSA plan. They should reach out to Cupe 3903 for information about their benefits.
Fall '24 Opt in/Opt out
Fall opt-in and opt-out application is now closed.
Health Plan annual premium rates 2024-25
Full-time student:
Single: $410
One dependent: $410
2 or more dependents: $630
Part-time student:
Single: $815.84
One dependent: $815.84
2 or more dependents:$1263.48
FAQs
Who is automatically opted into the YUGSA health plan?
If you are enrolled as a full-time graduate student, you will be automatically opted-in to the YUGSA health plan.
Who is not automatically opted in?
Cupe 3903 members with TA or GA contracts, Part-Time Students; Second Year IMBA students away on an exchange.
If you think you have been incorrectly billed please contact the Health Plan office at health@yugsa.ca NO LATER than October 31, 2024
Who can opt out?
Students who have alternative coverage for drugs AND dental in Canada can opt out before the opt-out deadline. If you do not have comparable coverage the plan is mandatory for all full-time graduate students to ensure that graduate students have some support when medical expenses arise.
How do I opt into the YUGSA health plan if I am not automatically opted-in?
If you are a full-time student in the Fall term and you do not see a GSA Healthcare charge in your student account, please contact the health plan office at health@yugsa.ca before Oct. 31.
How do I opt-in for dependents?
Visit the GSC student center here to add your dependents.
Who is a dependent?
Dependent means a) your spouse, if you are legally married or if not legally married, you have lived in a common-law relationship for more than 12 continuous months. Only one spouse will be considered at any time as being covered under the group contract; b) your unmarried child under age 21; c) your unmarried child under age 25, if enrolled and in full-time attendance at an accredited college, university, or educational institute; d) your unmarried child (regardless of age) who became totally disabled while eligible under b) or c) above, and has been continuously so disabled since that time and is considered a dependent as defined under the Income Tax Act, also qualify as a dependent. Your child (your or your spouse’s natural, legally adopted or stepchildren) must reside with you in a parent-child relationship or be dependent upon you (or both) and not regularly employed. Children who are in full-time attendance at an accredited school do not have to reside with you or attend school in your province. If the school is in another province or country, you must apply to your provincial health insurance plan for an extension of coverage to ensure your child continues to be covered under a provincial health insurance plan.
What is the coverage period?
The coverage for Fall registered students begins on September 01 and ends on August 31, 2025. Coverage for Winter’25 students begins from January 01 to August 31st, 2025.
When can I begin submitting claims?
Fall-registered students can submit their claims online after the black-out period ends on Sept. 30. Winter registrants can submit their claims after their black out period ends on Jan. 31.
What is the deadline to submit prior-year claims?
Students have 12 months from the Date of Service to submit claims for the prior year.
What is covered?
Please visit the Benefits section of our website.
Please note: Every dental procedure has a code. It is a good idea for students to contact their dental office for the code for an upcoming procedure, and then contact Greenshield to confirm that the procedure will be covered.
What is the difference between OHIP/UHIP and the YUGSA Health Plan?
OHIP is the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for Ontario residents which covers general medical care, including doctor’s appointments and hospitalization. UHIP is the equivalent insurance for international students. The YUGSA Health Plan is a supplementary plan which provides dental and drug coverage. This is a mandatory health plan and therefore students are not allowed to opt out unless they have alternative coverage.
What is my GSC Number?
Your GSC ID number is your three-letter code school code, your student number and “-00” (example: YGS111222333-00).
How to submit claims
You can submit the claims online from your Greenshield account once the blackout period is over. Direct billing is enabled for most prescription drugs and dental claims if you give your Greenshield ID (YGS+student no.-00)to the provider. For all other claims, you need to pay first and then submit the claim to Greenshield for reimbursement.
Sign up for GSC Everywhere
2. If logging in for the first time, click ‘Register” and follow the prompts.
3. Click to watch the registration video.
Contact
The YUGSA is responsible for the administration of the Health and Dental Plan for graduate students. As such, please feel free to contact our health plan office at health@yugsa.ca for any questions.
Our Health Plan Coordinator’s office hours are:
In-person: Tuesday & Thursday 10 AM – 4 PM (closed 1:00-2:00 PM for lunch)
Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays: Available by email only.
NOTE: YUGSA’S OFFICE WORKS ONLY VIRTUALLY IN THE SUMMER UNTIL LATE-AUGUST 2024. UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED UPON RETURN!