University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)
Source: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/international-students/university-health-insurance-plan-uhip Parent: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/undergraduate-studies
Definitions of the different international student types under the UHIP program.
What type of student are you?
UHIP premium and general provisions based on the student category that represents you.
- Regular, exchange and OLBI students
- Non-degree students
- Visiting Research Students
- Non-students
Regular, exchange and OLBI students
Regular student: An international or a Canadian student returning from abroad who’s not covered by a provincial or territorial health insurance plan.
Exchange student:A student from a partner university participating in an exchange at the University of Ottawa. The exchange is based on an agreement between the student's home university and the University of Ottawa.
Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute student:A student taking a second language program at the OLBI, such as the English or French Intensive Program.
Note: The information below is similar to the information on the UHIP website. Some information may be different due to University of Ottawa requirements. If so, the information below takes precedence.
General provisions
The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is mandatory for all eligible international students and eligible non-Ontario-resident students.
Please note that if you are Canadian or Permanent Resident the Health Insurance you have on your account is not UHIP coverage.
You can’t opt out of UHIP. Under the contract that universities have with the insurer, the Cowan Insurance Group, international students must remain covered at all times by UHIP. Allowing students to opt out would not only increase the premiums all students pay but also leave students unprotected and at risk.
The University must ensure that international students have adequate medical coverage, whether they’re in Canada or elsewhere. If you leave Canada during your studies, short or long term, your UHIP coverage must remain in effect.
Coverage typically runs from September 1 to August 31, and includes the Fall (September 1 to December 31), Winter (January 1 to April 30) and Spring-Summer terms (May 1 to August 31).
Note: UHIP definitions and rules may differ from those used for academic purposes.
Exemptions if you have other coverage
Only the insurer can approve exemptions if you have other coverage. Cowan no longer accepts individual exemption requests. Learn more about UHIP exemptions.
Incoming exchange students can’t apply for a UHIP exemption.
Premium refund requests
- ***Please note that the UHIP Cancellation Form is not to be used to request to opt-out neither of the Health Insurance nor the Dental Insurance. The Health and Dental Insurances are handled by the UOSU for all undergraduate students and by the GSAED for all graduate students***
- If you are an international student and leave your program or are otherwise no longer eligible for UHIP, you can request a premium refund. You must fill out the UHIP Cancellation Form as soon as possible, as fees for previous terms aren’t refunded.
- If you’ve submitted health-care claims for the term in question, you won’t receive a refund.
- If you’re eligible for a refund, only Cowan can determine whether you receive a full or partial refund.
- Cancellations and refunds at uOttawa are processed by academic term, not by month. As a result, partial-term cancellations or refunds are not permitted.
- The insurer can refuse to reimburse medical expenses if UHIP coverage regulations aren’t followed, even if the University administrator or delegate disagrees. This applies even if you’ve paid your premiums.
- If there is a credit on your student account, you may request a refund through your uoZone.
UHIP enrolment
As an international student you’re automatically covered by UHIP once you’ve been assigned international student status AND have registered in a course.
Additionally, if you meet any of the following conditions, you must have UHIP coverage:
- You’re an international student, haven’t received international student status and have enrolled in a course.
- You’re an international graduate student who’s not enrolled in a course while working on your thesis or waiting for your thesis submission results, and who won’t receive a degree by the start of the coming term.
- You’re a non-resident Canadian student or an international student who has applied for (but not yet received) permanent resident status, and you aren’t covered under a provincial or territorial health insurance plan elsewhere in Canada.
UHIP enrolment request
Please note that if you fall in one of the categories above, and don’t have UHIP fees on your statement of account, you must fill out the UHIP Coverage Request Form so that UHIP coverage and fees are added to your file.
If you enrol after the effective date of plan coverage, you must pay premiums retroactively to the first day of the month your study period began.
Premiums billed by mistake
Some non-degree students who are ineligible may see UHIP premiums billed on their statement of account by mistake. If this happens to you, email us before you pay your fees, to cancel the billing. Remember that you must still purchase alternate private health insurance coverage.
UHIP cancellation request
If you are an international student with coverage under a UHIP Pre-Approved Plan, please fill out the UHIP Cancellation Form.
***Please note that the UHIP Cancellation Form is not to be used to request to opt-out neither of the Health Insurance nor the Dental Insurance. The Health and Dental Insurances are handled by the UOSU for all undergraduate students and by the GSAED for all graduate students***
Dental care, optometry, medication, and some specialist services (Health and Dental Insurance)
UHIP doesn’t cover dental care, optometry, medication, or some specialist services.
Coverage for those services is provided for undergraduate students through theUniversity of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) and for graduate students through the Graduate Students' Association (GSAED).
Effective date of coverage
Coverage begins on the 10th day of the month preceding the month your academic term or activities begin. If you arrive in Canada prior to this day, you must purchase private medical insurance to cover you until your UHIP coverage takes effect.
End date of coverage
Your UHIP coverage will end upon any of the following situations:
- The last day of the last month for which you’ve paid for UHIP
- The date you’re no longer eligible for UHIP
- The date that your authorization documentation (student visa, work permit or temporary resident permit) expires or is no longer valid, if you haven’t received a coverage extension (see How do I extend coverage)
- The date it is determined that your proof-of-coverage card has been used fraudulently
- The date you begin a leave of absence not approved for UHIP coverage (Scroll down to Coverage for a leave of absence)
- The date Cowan obtains reasonable evidence that you fraudulently obtained medical clearance from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as a result of either non-disclosure or submission of false medical test results
- The date a student enrolled in a non-accredited program at a university that offers UHIP coverage transfers to a university that doesn't offer UHIP coverage
- If you’re an employee: the first day of the month that coincides with or immediately follows the normal retirement date defined by the participating university
- If you’re a short-term university visitor: no later than the end of the month when your educational or staffing function ends
Your dependant’s UHIP coverage will end on any of the following dates (if applicable):
- The last day of the month in which UHIP has been paid for your dependant(s)
- The termination date of your dependant’s coverage
- The last day of the month in which your dependant is no longer considered an eligible dependant
- The date that Cowan obtains reasonable evidence that medical clearance for your dependant was fraudulently obtained from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as a result of either non-disclosure or submission of false medical test results
Premiums
Premiums are based on what term you register for courses/thesis:
- Fall 2025: $792 (coverage ends August 31, 2026)
- Winter 2026: $528 (coverage ends August 31, 2026)
- Spring-Summer 2026: $264 (coverage ends August 31, 2026)
In subsequent years, your UHIP premiums will be billed on an annual basis and calculated up to and including August 31 of the following year.
Because premiums are billed annually, you can’t remove coverage for a term or part of a term. The University transfers the premiums to the insurance carrier, which doesn’t provide any refunds after March 1 of the academic year underway.
If you are eligible for a cancellation or refund, please note that these can only be processed per academic term at the University of Ottawa. Monthly or partial-term cancellations/refunds are not available.
For more information about UHIP and your coverage, see All about UHIP on the UHIP website.
Non-degree students
A student who has received permission from the University to enrol in undergraduate courses for university credits, but who’s not seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree, certificate, or diploma from the University.
You’re eligible for UHIP if you’re a part-time student previously enrolled as a full-time student and you have a valid study permit or temporary resident visa issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
You can be enrolled as a part-time student for a maximum of six terms.
Eligible non-degree students
Please the information provided in the Regular, exchange and OLBI students' section.
Ineligible non-degree students
International students are automatically registered by UHIP through the student information system once they have been assigned international student status AND have enrolled in a course. Ineligible non-degree students may see the insurance premiums appear on their statement in error. If this happens to you, please contact us before you pay your fees to have the charges reversed. Remember that you will be required to purchase alternate private health insurance coverage.
Visiting Research Students
A student who’s completing a research internship at the University of Ottawa who comes from another educational institution (Canadian or international).
For all questions, including UHIP, please contact the VRS Office directly at [email protected].
This includes postdoctoral fellows. If this category applies to you, email the Human Resources Service or call 613-562-5832.
Provincial or territorial health insurance plans
OHIP (Ontario), RAMQ (Quebec) and other health plans
International students or dependants covered by a provincial or territorial health insurance plan such as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) must fill out the UHIP Cancellation Form prior to the effective date of the coverage.
***Please note that the UHIP Cancellation Form is not to be used to request to opt-out neither of the Health Insurance nor the Dental Insurance. The Health and Dental Insurances are handled by the UOSU for all undergraduate students and by the GSAED for all graduate students***
If your provincial or territorial plan doesn’t provide such a letter (as with Quebec’s RAMQ), you must provide the UHIP team with a photocopy of the plan health card as soon as you receive it. Your UHIP premiums will then be reimbursed, if applicable.
If you fail to provide proof of coverage such through letter from your provincial or territorial plan or a copy of your provincial or territorial health card prior to the effective date of UHIP coverage, you won’t receive a retroactive premium reimbursement.
For reimbursements, the insurer determines the amount to be reimbursed (full or partial premiums).
Learn more
Contact us
InfoService
InfoService\ Tabaret Hall\ 550 Cumberland Street, Room 129\ Ottawa ON K1N 6N5\ Canada\ Email: infoservice@uOttawa.ca
Hours of operation
September 1 to May 31:\ Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
June 1 to August 31:\ Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please note that the University of Ottawa offices are closed during statutory holidays and during the winter break. Visit the Important academic dates and deadlines page for more information.