capwn

Trying to help my sister who is coming over to study in Canada (I've been working here 5 years) on a 1 year visa. Looking at health insurance, seems that in Nova Scotia you need to apply for private healthcare? Found the following, quoting me as about $500 a year for doctors/hopsitals etc. Doesn't include dentists though.

Does that sound normal? Not too sure, I get mine through my work.

https://www.ingleinternational.com/e...ional-students

plasticcanuck

If I were you (sister) I would direct my question to the education facility where the studying will take place.

Snowy560

Yes contact the international department of the institution.

Siouxie

I think you will find that health insurance is compulsary for International Students in NS, as it is in other Provinces. In Ontario, for instance, it's called 'UHIP'

As has been suggested, the best thing to do is call the college/uni and ask who to contact to set it up (or you could look on their website under 'international students' - it should tell you there).

capwn

Good call everyone, hopefully can get a quote from them. Hopefully less than $500 though the more I think about it $500 doesn't seem too bad for a year.

bats

As Siouxie says UHIP is compulsory. When I was a student it was included in the fees.

DandNHill

When we moved to NS on PNP our oldest son was not eligible for MSI as he was 19. So for the 13 months running up to PR we had him covered with Blue Cross. Think we paid about $200/quarter.

sunshinedust

EDIT

I was wrong, a quick google reveals that Nova Scotia is actually one of the provinces that extends provincial health coverage to international students. There would likely also be some additional health benefits (prescription drugs, dental etc) available as part of the fees paid to the institution.

Engineer_abroad

in all honesty $500 ($41/month) a year for health insurance really isn't too bad anyway. One reasonable accident or injury and the costs would be much higher than that.

MarylandNed

As others have said, check the university web site for something like "International Students - Health/Dental Insurance".

You didn't say which school, but I looked up Dalhousie to get details of their health & dental plan:

https://www.internationalhealth.ca/d...an-information

MarylandNed

UHIP is compulsory only for anyone not covered by OHIP or another health plan. So it's automatically ADDED to the international fees (not included in them) unless you can get a UHIP exemption by proving that you have some other health insurance coverage that is at least equal to UHIP. My daughter is a Canadian citizen who moved from the US to study in Ontario. She had to pay UHIP fees until she was eligible for OHIP coverage (after 3 months in Ontario).

Siouxie

Indeed, but only after they have been attending an educational establishment (with a valid study permit) for a year.

https://novascotia.ca/DHW/msi/moving_travel.asp#2
Unfortunately this won't apply to the OP, but thanks for the info - it may be useful to others looking now or in the future.

ChrisBan

I paid $800 for my health insurance as part of study permit, $500 sounds like an absolute steal

capwn

Just for an update, my sister is now looking to get it set up in the UK. So if you look at that cheapest one, it's roughly $523

Siouxie

Do get her to check that the Uni / Province she's attending don't require her to have their insurance - in Ontario, I believe it's mandatory. (for UHIP). The couple of colleges/Uni's I have looked at in NS state it's mandatory. I would hate her to have to pay out twice!

http://www.schoolsincanada.com/Healt...l-Students.cfm

Does the backpackers insurance include cover for those attending Uni / College as Students?