All Dalhousie international students are automatically enrolled in the Dalhousie Student Union (DSU) International Health Plan. This plan is in addition to the DSU Health and Dental Plan as they cover different aspects of your health care needs.
The DSU International Health Plan is for international students who don't have MSI coverage (Nova Scotia provincial health insurance). It covers general doctor visits, and emergency medical services.
Before seeking medical care students should download their digital benefits cards which serve as proof of enrolment. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with coverage limits per year for specific health concerns and visits (e.g. birth control $100, acne $200, ADHD visits $300, etc.). While physician and psychiatry visits are billed directly to the insurance provider, if a claim is denied or partially paid by the insurer, it will be redirected to the student to pay personally.
Learn more about your coverage, make a claim, and opt-in or out on the Student VIP International website. Find out more about applying for MSI coverage as an international student.
Get your health plan wallet card electronically
Access your health plan wallet card quickly and easily online through the Student VIP website.
Your electronic health plan wallet card will be available in early October for students enrolled in the Fall term or the first week of February for students enrolled in the Winter term. When you begin your studies until when you can access your wallet card is called a blackout period - it is when the health plan office is coordinating the details of your coverage.
You can still visit Dalhousie Student Health & Wellness during if you haven't yet received your card and we will bill your insurance when the blackout period is over for physician appointments (no charge for counselling or nursing services).
PLEASE NOTE: At the start of each new term, those newly enrolled in the International Health Plan are subject to a "Blackout Period" the time between the start of each semester when your policy comes into effect and the time it takes Medavie Blue Cross, the insurance provider, to complete your enrollment. You are still covered under the plan during this time; however, you will not have access to your Health Insurance Plan card until the blackout period ends and Medavie Blue Cross has finalized your enrollment. This usually takes a few weeks from when the policy begins.
Get details on your plan:
All full-time international and exchange students starting their studies at Dalhousie in September are automatically billed and enrolled into two health plans: the DSU International Student Health Plan and the DSU Health & Dental Plan.
All full-time international and exchange students starting their studies at Dalhousie in January are automatically billed and enrolled into the DSU International Student Health Plan but must opt in to the DSU Health & Dental Plan.
International Visiting Research Students are required to have health insurance. All insurance is provided through the Dalhousie Student Union Health Plan Office. Your length of stay at Dalhousie will determine which type of insurance you are eligible for. For more information about coverage options and the eligibility for each, please review the sections below.
Visiting Research Students who are at Dalhousie for a full term or the full academic year will be automatically enrolled in and charged for the DSU International Health Plan. For stays longer than one term, but shorter than a full academic year, students can request to have the health plan pro-rated by contacting the DSU Health Plan Office within one week of their arrival. To be eligible for pro-rated billing, students must present their Dalhousie letter of acceptance and the Invitation Letter from their Dalhousie Supervisor.
Visiting Research Students who are at Dalhousie for short durations (anything under 4 months/1 term) may be eligible to opt out of the DSU International Health Plan and enroll under the DSU Short Term Plan by contacting the DSU Health Plan Office within one week of their arrival.
If you are taking only distance courses, you must opt in to the plan.
If a student has their own health insurance (private coverage), they may be able to opt-out of the Dalhousie Plan if their private coverage meets Dalhousie's international opt-out requirements. These can be reviewed at www.dsu.ca/health-plan. To do so, the student must take a copy of their health insurance plan to the DSU Health Plan Office.
Please contact the DSU Health Plan Office at dsuhlth@dal.ca if you have any questions about health insurance.
If you are a dual citizen who lives outside of Canada, but have registered at Dalhousie as a domestic student, you are not automatically enrolled in the International Health plan and may be exposed to medical bills. If you are not coming to Canada with a private health insurance plan which covers primary health costs, you should inquire with MSI (Provincial Health Plan) or contact the DSU Health Plan Office at dsuhlth@dal.ca for options.