iMED: Temporary health insurance for international students

See health insurance for international students to learn about the differences between iMED, MSP, and the UBCSUO Health and Dental Plan.

Who is eligible and how do I get enrolled?

All new international students who are assessed UBCSUO student fees are automatically enrolled in iMED when you register for your first course. Check your Student Service Centre (SSC) account and select “Financial Summary” under Finances to confirm you are charged for iMED. If you are charged, you are enrolled for your program’s coverage dates. If you do not see the fee listed in your financial summary, contact the Global Engagement Office.

When am I covered?

iMED coverage dates are based on the type and duration of your study program. iMED covers your first three months in Canada to cover the three-month MSP waiting period, or the full duration of your program of studies if you are a one-term exchange student or Visiting International Research Student (VIRS).

Check your iMED coverage dates on your iMED card. Depending on when you arrive in Canada, you might need to change your coverage dates – see the next section for details.

Depending on when you arrive in Canada, you might need to take action to add to or change your iMED coverage dates.

You may also be covered while travelling from your home country or primary place of residence to Canada if your travel itinerary is 10 days or less, and if your arrival date in Canada is not earlier than the earliest iMED coverage start date available for the first term of your UBC program.

iMED will cover you for your first 3 months in Canada. Your coverage dates depend on when you start your program:

• Winter Term 1 (September to December): your coverage will start on August 1
• Winter Term 2 (January to April): your coverage will start on December 1
• Summer Term 1 (May to June): your coverage will start on April 1
• Summer Term 2 (July to August): your coverage will start on June 1

iMED is designed to cover you for the waiting period before you become eligible for the British Columbia-government run Medical Services Plan (MSP), up to a maximum of 3 months. The MSP waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC, plus the next 2 calendar months. For example, if you were to arrive in BC on August 25, you would be eligible for MSP on November 1.

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Changing your iMED coverage dates

If you arrive in Canada before your iMED coverage start date

If you will arrive in Canada before the earliest iMED coverage start date available for your UBC program (for example, if your coverage starts August 1 but you will travel in July), you should purchase extra coverage directly from David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS). Go to the Advance Coverage page for more information.

Advance Coverage should be purchased before you arrive in Canada. If you apply for Advance Coverage after your arrival in Canada, you might not be covered until the date of your purchase

If you arrive in Canada later than the calendar month in which your iMED starts

Degree-seeking and two-term exchange students

For example, if your iMED starts August 1, but you will travel in September, then you must submit the Arrival Date Confirmation / Coverage Dates Change Form (pdf) to DCIS so that your coverage can be adjusted to cover your 3-month waiting period for MSP. Submit supporting documents along with your form which indicates your arrival date, such as your flight itinerary, boarding pass(es), a copy of your study permit, passport stamp, or other landing documents.

Coverage date change requests should be submitted before you travel to Canada (up to 3 weeks before arrival), or as soon as possible after your arrival.

One-term exchange students

Your iMED coverage dates are fixed and cannot be changed.

If you arrive in Canada and do not enter BC within the same calendar month

If you arrive in a Canadian province or territory other than British Columbia (BC) and do not enter BC within the same calendar month as your arrival in Canada, then you may need to purchase an iMED Extension in order to be covered for your full BC MSP waiting period. Please contact DCIS for assistance.

If you start your program online from outside Canada

If you are a new-to-UBC international student who has started or will start your studies online from outside Canada, then you must submit the Arrival Date Confirmation/Coverage Dates Change Form  to DCIS so that your coverage can be adjusted to cover your 3-month waiting period for MSP.

Submit the supporting documents along with your form which indicate your arrival date, such as your flight itinerary, boarding pass(es), a copy of your study permit, passport stamp or other landing documents.

Coverage date change requests should be submitted before you travel to Canada (up to 3 weeks before arrival), or as soon as possible after your arrival. The deadline to request iMED coverage change depends on your first term of studies at UBC:

• Students who started in Winter Session 2020 to Summer Session 2021 (September 2020 to August 2021): January 31, 2023
• Students who started in Winter Session 2021 to Summer Session 2022 (September 2021 to August 2022): July 31, 2023
• Students who start in Winter Session 2022 (September 2022 to April 2023): July 31, 2023

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How much does iMED cost?

iMED costs $225 for the first three months, or $315 if you are a one-term exchange student (effective September 1, 2020).

What if I withdraw from UBC or defer?

If you defer your program and withdraw from all courses in which you registered before the add/drop deadline, your iMED fees will automatically be removed. View your “Financial Summary” under Finances in your Student Service Centre (SSC) to verify that your iMED fee has been removed from your account.

When you register in the future, you will automatically be enrolled in iMED again.

Any iMED fee charged to your account will be frozen starting from the add/drop deadline if you are still enrolled. If you withdraw from UBC or defer to the next term after the add/drop deadline, the iMED fee will not be removed and you will be required to pay for it.

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How do I get my iMED card?

After registering for your first course at UBC, David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) will automatically email your iMED card with the default coverage dates set for your program to the email address you provided to UBC.

Check your inbox and junk-mail folders. During your coverage dates, print your iMED card and keep it with you in case you need medical attention, along with your student ID and a copy of your study permit.

If you don’t receive your iMED card, please email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com. In your email, write “Missing iMED card” as the subject line, and in the message you must include your name, student number, and date of arrival in BC.

If your iMED card has incorrect information, please email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com. In your email write “Incorrect iMED card” as the subject line, and in the message you must include your name, student number, and date of arrival in BC.

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How do I use my iMED insurance?

iMED covers emergency hospitalization and medical services (including outpatient treatment at a doctor’s clinic) for an unexpected sickness or injury. The full policy is available on the iMED website. 

With your iMED card, you don’t have to pay for your visit if you see a doctor at the UBCO Student Health Clinic. However, you will pay for any test that is ordered by a doctor there, so keep the receipt and submit a claim on the iMED website later. Your iMED card is also recognized for direct billing at emergency facilities (i.e. Kelowna General Hospital), as well as the following clinic in the community: 

Orchard Medical Centre & Walk-In Clinic
104 – 1990 Cooper Road, Kelowna, BC
Phone: (250) 861-3235

You can see a doctor in any other clinic or hospital in British Columbia, but you may need to pay upfront for medical costs during your visit. You must keep the receipts in order to make a claim to be reimbursed for health services covered by iMED.

Carry a copy of your study permit, or keep a digital copy on your mobile device at all times. You must present a copy of your study permit with your iMED card if treated at a hospital to ensure you are billed fees applicable to a resident of BC.

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Opting out of iMED

You can apply to opt out of iMED if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You are already covered by iMED,  BC MSP, or by another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan before the iMED coverage start date (August 1 for Winter Term 1 and December 1 for Winter Term 2)
• The third-party organization which is funding your studies requires and has selected and purchased a basic health insurance plan on your behalf as part of its funding. It must be a formal organization such as a government body, corporation, organization, or foundation, not your parents or family members.

If you’re already covered by iMED, BC MSP, or another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan

You can apply to opt-out of iMED using the DCIS iMED Opt Out Form (pdf) by email to imed@david-cummings.com or by faxing it along with supporting documents to DCIS at 604 228 9807.

If you are covered by the BC MSP or another Canadian provincial or territorial health plan, a copy of your provincial medical card is not sufficient proof of coverage. You must submit a recent billing statement, or a letter of enrolment confirming the start date of your coverage with the provincial or territorial plan.

If you’re being funded by a third party

Download the UBC iMED Opt Out Form  and email the completed form with supporting documents to isa@students.ubc.ca.

Exchange students whose home institution administers private health insurance without funding your studies do not qualify to opt-out from iMED.

Participating in the Western Deans Agreement alone does not qualify you to opt-out from iMED.

Deadline to apply to opt-out from iMED

Opt-out applications must be received by the add/drop date as per the UBC Academic Calendar.

Conditions to opt-out from iMED

Students who have a claim made or pending on their iMED policy are not eligible to opt-out from iMED.

Students who have enrolled dependents onto their iMED plan are not eligible to opt-out from iMED.

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Enrol your family for iMED

Your spouse, partner, or dependent children can also be covered by David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) for the duration of their stay or until they qualify for MSP. Your family members’ insurance is not administered by UBC, but you can purchase iMED for them directly through DCIS. If you are not covered by iMED at the moment, you can inquire about other health insurance options for your dependents.

If you add your family member(s) to your iMED account, you cannot opt out or cancel your iMED unless you withdraw your family from the iMED plan before the coverage starts. This also applies to advance coverage.

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If you have questions

For questions about iMED coverage, getting your iMED card, or reimbursements, contact David Cummings Insurance Services

If you have any other questions related to international health insurance, contact the Global Engagement Office.

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Health and wellbeing resources

Visit UBCO Student Wellness to learn more about the health and wellbeing resources available to you. 

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