UHIP – Frequently Asked Questions

UHIP is a basic medical insurance plan that helps students pay for medical services. This includes medical tests (e.g., X-rays, blood tests), emergency care at hospitals, doctor and clinic visits, surgery, sexual health care, and an annual eye exam if you are under 20 years of age. For more information, please see UHIP Plan Details.

International students, whether they are in full-time or part-time studies, are automatically enrolled in UHIP for the 12-month period from September 1st to August 31st of every academic year.

Important: UHIP extensions must be requested one month before your current coverage expires. The extensions deadline is August 1st for fall extensions, and December 1st for winter extensions. The extension form will close on the deadline. No extensions can be granted past the deadline.

UHIP coverage must be continuous. UHIP extensions are non-refundable.

The extension checker tool will help you determine whether you are eligible to apply for a UHIP extension.

To apply for an extension, in advance of the deadlines stated above, of your own coverage, please fill out this form

For more information please visit this site. 

You should automatically receive an email from COWAN with details to access your UHIP coverage card through your University of Toronto email address at the start of the academic year . Students can also use their university ID (U + Student number) to access their UHIP cards via the ecard access page.

If you have trouble finding your card, please email uhip.utsc@utoronto.ca or visit the ISC office to get it printed 

Monday-Friday 10am - 5:00pm

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Once you obtain your UHIP card it is recommended that you register it online. This will allow you to input your bank information and receive reimbursements through direct deposit in the case that you paid upfront fees during your hospital visit. If you experience difficulty in registering your UHIP coverage card, please do not hesitate to contact us at uhip.utsc@utoronto.ca.

Dependents are not automatically enrolled in UHIP, and you are required to enroll your eligible dependent family member(s) within 30 days of their arrival in Canada. 

You must be enrolled in UHIP in order to enroll your eligible dependents. 

To register your dependent(s), complete the Dependents Application by following the below instructions: 

• Log in to the UHIP portal using your UTORid and password. 
• Go to “Your Dependents” and click “Add a New Dependent”. You must input and save your dependent’s information before creating an application. 
• Go to “Your UHIP Applications”. 
• To create a new application, click the “New UHIP Application” button. 
• Select the name(s) of the dependent(s) you would like to enroll during your appointment. 
• Click “Submit 

Their application must be renewed each academic year, at least 30 days before the expiry of the dependent’s current policy. Renewal requests are due by August 1 each year.

For more detailed instructions, please refer to our Step by Step Guide to Adding your Dependents to UHIP.

You will need to submit a claim if you paid for a medical service, or if you received an invoice from a health care provider.

Learn more about how to submit a claim here.

No. The UHIP coverage card is not a substitute for required documentation to enter Canada. If you need a proof of enrolment letter, please see: Letter Request Form

Students who are on their co-op term are still considered full-time students and thus pay the normal UHIP fees. You will still be covered by UHIP as long as you are physically within Canada for your co-op placement. However, you must opt into the SCSU extended health plan during the opt-in period as you will not be automatically enrolled.

There are no changes to UHIP coverage due to COVID-19.

As part of the IVGS agreement, you will need to register and pay for UHIP in its entirety. This applies in all cases, regardless of the duration of stay, unless you hold existing coverage under the health plans of a Canadian province. This is true even of students whose health insurance from home extends to provide coverage in Canada. 

You can contact the International Student Centre at uhip.utsc@utoronto.ca if you have any UHIP inquiries.

No. While students were allowed to disenroll from UHIP in the 2020-21 academic year due to travel restrictions, the Government of Canada has once again allowed international students to travel to Canada. Therefore, the normal UHIP rules and regulations of automatic enrollment and exemption are back in effect.

UHIP exemption is only possible if you: (1) have coverage under one of the plans listed on the UHIP Exemption Conditions site (2) have diplomatic status, (3) are covered under a sponsored plan supported by your government, or (4) have or will have access to OHIP.

Email uhip.utsc@utoronto.ca and provide a scanned copy of your TCard, proof of your OHIP coverage/confirmation of eligibility for OHIP coverage from Services Ontario, and complete the following form: UHIP Waiver OHIP

Once the deadline to pay for UHIP passes, students will start to be charged additional interest on the principal amount (in 2021 it is $756), so please make sure to schedule your payment on time.

You must pay for UHIP in a lump-sum payment.

For students graduating in November, as well as students who are no longer enrolled in any classes, UHIP charges will be automatically removed in late-September after confirmation of the student’s financial cancellation. Should a student require a manual cancellation of their UHIP fees, they can contact uhip.information@utoronto.ca

The UHIP fee existing on ACORN will not stop you from receiving your diploma, as long as you do not have any additional outstanding fees. They will be removed before your convocation at the financial cancellation date.

Yes. Both full-time and part-time students pay the same UHIP fees. This also applies to students who are on academic probation.

Yes. SCSU’s extended health plan covers prescription drugs, routine eye exams for persons between ages 20-65, and dental care services — all of which are not covered by UHIP. UHIP and the SCSU together offer you complete health insurance coverage. For more details on SCSU’s coverage, please visit Green Shield Canada, and enter Scarborough Campus Student Union in the search field, or visit the SCSU Health Insurance site.