- I Will Not Enter Canada: IHI Cancellation Requests
- I Have Entered Canada: IHI Adjustment Requests
- IHI Travel Coverage Updates
- COVID-19 IHI FAQs
I Will Not Enter Canada: IHI Cancellation Requests
Students who will be outside of Canada for the duration of 2020-2021 academic year (September 1st 2020 to August 31st 2021*) and have NEVER entered Canada during this academic year.
As part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, international students who can confirm that they will not enter Canada for the full 2020-2021 academic year (September 1st 2020 to August 31st 2021*) may request a cancellation from the International Health Insurance (IHI) plan by submitting the cancellation web form.
To be eligible for a full year cancellation, the international student must not be in Canada nor enter Canada during the entire 2020-2021 academic year (September 1st 2020 to August 31st 2021*).
Please allow 30 days for the processing of the cancellation request. Upon the cancellation being processed, students will receive a credit to their student account.
For students who are currently in Canada but have decided to return home for the Winter and/or Summer 2021 terms due to the announcement of Winter 2021 being remote, please e-mail our office directly at international.health [at] mcgill.ca for further instruction.
Please carefully read all of the disclaimers and acknowledgments before filling out the IHI cancellation web form for 2020-2021 full year cancellation.
*Please note that if you chose to cancel your IHI plan for the 2020-2021 academic year, exceptionally for the Fall 2021 term, you will still benefit from the two (2) complimentary weeks of IHI coverage for the 2021-2022 academic year. Meaning your IHI coverage would begin on August 15th 2021, upon enrolment in the Fall 2021 term. If you arrive in Canada between August 15th and August 31st 2021, you are still eligible for a cancellation of your IHI plan for the 2020-2021 academic year.
I Have Entered Canada: IHI Adjustment Requests
Students who enter Canada during the 2020-2021 academic year: (September 1st 2020 to August 31st 2021):
As part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, international students will enter Canada before April 30, 2021 may request a pro-rated adjustment ($94/month) of the annual International Health Insurance (IHI) premium for the Fall 2020 or/and Winter 2021 terms for the months that they were not in Canada. The adjustment will be processed for the months that precede the month of the student’s date of entry to Canada. Example: If you enter Canada on October 31st, you will get a credit for the month of September only.
Please note that if you enter Canada anytime during the Summer 2021 term (May 1st 2021 to August 31st 2021), you will be responsible for the full Summer 2021 IHI term fee ($376). You will only be eligible to receive a credit for the terms that you were outside of Canada (-$752). There will be no monthly pro-rated fee option in the Summer 2021 term.
International students may request this adjustment by submitting this web form upon their entry to Canada. Please note that students may only request this adjustment once they have entered Canada.
International students must submit their request for an adjustment within 30 days from their entry to Canada. Please allow 30 days for the processing of the pro-rated adjustment request. Upon the adjustment being processed, students will receive a credit to their student account.
Since medical health insurance is an immigration requirement (for both the CAQ and the Study Permit), students requesting a partial refund of their insurance premium should be able to demonstrate that they were not in Canada during the period that they requested an adjustment (i.e. airline ticket, passport stamp, etc.).
International Students may complete the IHI self-declaration web form for pro-rated monthly adjustments. Please carefully read all of the disclaimers and acknowledgments before filling out the web form.
Before making any travel plans to come to Canada, please consult our Entering Canada webpage for the latest information on travel restrictions and entry requirements.
IHI Travel Coverage Updates
Exceptionally until July 15 2021, all international students who are currently residing in Canada have access to full travel benefits. This date may change upon further instruction from our insurance broker and government officials.
Please note that to qualify for travel coverage, before departure you must not have COVID-19 symptoms, have not tested positive (or be awaiting a test result), and have not been in contact with anyone who tested positive in the last 14 days.
If you plan to travel outside of Canada, here are some important things to note about your travel health insurance coverage under the IHI plan:
Leisure Travel:
This refers to any travel, for leisure purposes, outside of Canada and outside your country of origin.
For leisure travel of up to 4 consecutive weeks per trip, you are covered for emergency medical expenses and hospitalization. All details of the leisure travel benefits can be found on our website.
For any leisure travel for more than 4 weeks, you are only covered for emergencies resulting in hospitalization (must be admitted as an in-patient), up to $2,000 CAD funds per day for all services combined as specified in the Medavie Blue Cross contract.
Country of origin travel:
This refers to travel to your country of origin, for some students this will be your country of citizenship. If you are a dual citizen, your country of origin will be the country where you were last residing before entering Canada.
For travel in your country of origin, you are only covered for emergencies resulting in hospitalization (must be admitted as an in-patient), up to $2,000 CAD per day for all services combined as specified in the Medavie Blue Cross contract.
COVID-19 Coverage outside of Canada
Eligible emergency hospital and medical expenses related to COVID-19 are now covered outside of Canada* as long as you did not have symptoms of COVID-19, have not tested positive for COVID-19 (or awaiting a test result) and have not been in contact with anyone who tested positive in the last 14 days before leaving Canada.
*Please note, if you were never present in Canada during the Fall 2020 term, you do not have travel coverage under the IHI plan. Your IHI plan will only become active once you arrive in Canada.
COVID-19 IHI FAQs
Where can I find more information about COVID-19 vaccinations in Quebec?
This webinar recording providided by the Medical Director of the Student Wellness Hub, gives information on the COVID-19 Vaccines, specifically on the vaccines available in Canada and the roll out plan in Quebec.
I am outside of Canada for the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms, but I will enter Canada for the Summer 2021 term, can I ask for an IHI adjustment now?
Yes, students who can confirm that they will be outside of Canada from September 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, may request a cancellation of International Health Insurance plan now for the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms. These students will be charged one-term premium $376 for summer 2021.
Please email international.health [at] mcgill.ca to request this type of IHI contract adjustment.
Does my IHI plan cover COVID-19 in Canada?
The International Health Insurance (IHI) plan covers hospitalization and treatment for COVID-19 in Canada. Please refer to the Basic Health Benefits on pages 7-9 in the Medavie Blue Cross handbook for details on this coverage.
Please note, COVID-19 testing is offered free of charge in Montreal at public testing sites. COVID-19 tests at private clinics are not covered under the IHI plan. COVID-19 tests for travel purposes are not covered under the IHI plan.
Does my IHI plan include travel insurance?
Exceptionally until July 15 2021, all international students who are currently residing in Canada have access to full travel benefits. This date may change upon further instruction from our insurance broker and government officials. Please review your Medavie Blue Cross handbook for details on your travel insurance. Please note that to qualify for travel coverage, before departure you must:
- Not have COVID-19 symptoms
- Have not tested positive (or be awaiting a test result), and
- Have not been in contact with anyone who tested positive in the last 14 days.
Am I covered in my country of origin?
Any claim for medical expenses that occur outside of Canada will not be reimbursed by Medavie Blue Cross as of the Fall 2020 semester until further notice, even if the claimant chose not to request a refund of premium for the period spent outside Canada. This new condition applies to both new and returning students.
I am coming to Canada with my dependents, when do I add them to my plan?
You may add your dependents upon arrival in Canada by contacting international.health [at] mcgill.ca (ISS).
I am graduating in the Fall 2020 or Winter 2021 terms, and I will attend my classes remotely from outside of Canada for the remainder of my studies. I will never return to Canada due to graduation. Can I cancel my International Health Insurance?
Yes, you will need to have“expected graduation” indicated on your transcripts. Once your transcript has been updated, please email international.health [at] mcgill.ca your request. Please indicate which term you will be graduating in the subject line along with your McGill ID number.
I am a Canadian non-resident and I would like to opt-in to the international health insurance plan. Will I be billed by term or by month?
Non-resident Canadian students or new Permanent Residents who are not eligible for the Québec Health Insurance Plan and have no insurance coverage or whose private insurance is not adequate, have the option of enrolling in McGill's International Student Health Insurance (IHI) Plan. If you choose to opt-in, you will be billed the IHI premium starting the month you arrive in Canada for the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 term(s). Please note that if a Non-resident Canadian student or new Permanent Resident will arrive in the Summer 2021 term, they will be billed for the full Summer 2021 term.
Example: If you arrive in Canada on February 28, 2021, and request to opt into the IHI plan, we will charge you for the month of February until the end of the Winter 2021 term or the Summer 2021 (depending on the amount of coverage you request).
Please contact us within 10 business days of your arrival to Canada to opt-in to the IHI plan.
What if I am eligible for RAMQ?
If you are a citizen and a resident of Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Romania, or Greece, you may qualify for the Quebec Health Insurance Plan Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Registration for the RAMQ plan must be done by mail once you have entered Canada, using the following registration form (en francais) and providing copies of the required supporting documents, to the following address:
Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec
C.P. 6600, succ. Terminus
Quebec (Quebec)
G1K 7T3
If you meet the criteria to obtain RAMQ, please submit an exemption request. Please follow these instructions on how to apply for an exemption from the International Health Insurance plan.
If you do not plan to enter Canada for the 2020-2021 academic year, please visit the “Students who will remain outside of Canada until September 1st, 2021” tab here.
Is there a deadline to submit exemption documents?
As part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, our office will be accepting supporting documents past our regular exemption deadlines. Please submit a copy of your exemption documents to international.health [at] mcgill.ca for review. It is important to note that we may require additional documents on a case-by-case basis.