Medical Insurance

As a University of Calgary student it is important that you have coverage that meets your needs and that you understand your options. Learn more below!

New-to-Calgary Students

If you are starting an undergraduate or graduate degree at the University of Calgary, there are two important pieces to your medical insurance:

Free provincial health insurance plan for Alberta residents Supplemental coverage through either the Students Union Health & Dental Plan (undergraduate students) or the Graduate Student Association Health & Dental Plan (graduate students)

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a free provincial plan that covers basic services such as visits to the doctor, laboratory tests, and hospital costs if you are admitted to the hospital. This plan does not cover services like prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, or ambulance transport (which the supplemental plans through SU or GSA do help to cover).

  1. What do I need to do?

    If you have moved to Calgary from somewhere in Alberta, you should already have an Alberta Health Care Card and be registered for AHCIP. Learn more here.

    If you moved to Calgary from another province in Canada and intend to live in Alberta for 12 months or more, you must apply for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan within 90 days (3 months) of moving to Alberta. Coverage through the AHCIP starts 3 months after you officially reside in Alberta; in the meantime, you can continue to use your health care card from another province, but be aware that coverage for some services may be different in Alberta. Learn more about moving from within Canada here.

  2. How to Apply

    To apply to register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), you must:

    1. Download the AHCIP form: https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-forms.aspx?utm_source=redirector
    2. Take the form to an authorized registry office: https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-registry-locations.aspx
    3. If you live on or near campus, the easiest registry office to reach is called “Registry Express” located at “Lions Park” C-Train station (2 stops south from the University), in North Hill Mall: https://www.registryexpressinc.ca/

If you are a full-time undergraduate student, you are automatically enrolled in a Health and Dental plan through the Students Union (SU). This insurance plan helps to cover some of the services that are not covered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. You are automatically charged for the SU Health and Dental Plan and can see it in your student portal when you view your fees.

If you are a full-time graduate student, you are automatically enrolled in a Health and Dental plan through the Graduate Students Association (GSA). This insurance plan helps to cover some of the services that are not covered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. You are automatically charged for the GSA Health and Dental Plan and can see it in your student portal when you view your fees.

  1. Do you need to make changes?

    Opting-Out: If you already have health insurance coverage through employment, parents, or a private plan that provides comparable coverage to the SU or GSA plan, you may “opt-out” of these plans before the “change of coverage deadline”, usually about a month after courses start (exact dates are available through links below). If you demonstrate you have comparable coverage, you can choose to “opt-out” by submitting documentation and the charge would be removed from your account if approved. Learn more about the process of “opting-out” through the links below.

    Adding Family Members: If you have dependents (children, partner, spouse), you may add them to your plan for an additional fee. These changes must be made before the deadlines available through the links on this page. 

  2. Educate yourself about your coverage and how to “submit a claim”

    It is important that you understand what the SU or GSA Health & Dental Plan covers—so you know what services you might have to pay for yourself and what services you can “submit a claim” for, so that you will be reimbursed for a portion or full cost of a service. Visit the websites below to learn:

    • What services are covered
    • Deadlines to make changes (like opting out or adding family/dependents)
    • How to submit a claim (to receive money back after paying for a covered service)

    Graduate Student Association Health & Dental Plan (graduate students): https://gsa.ucalgary.ca/health-dental-services/

    Students Union Health & Dental Plan (undergraduate students): https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofcalgary/en/home

Are you a new international student (starting a degree program at UCalgary or just a short visit)? Refer to the International Student Services website for more details.