Enrolling in the health and hospitalization insurance plan for international students
Questions?
Registrar's Office
418 656-3080
assurances@reg.ulaval.ca
Québec and Canadian immigration laws require international students to have valid health and hospitalization insurance for the entire duration of their stay in Canada.
At Université Laval, all international students are automatically covered by the Université Laval group health and hospitalization insurance plan through Desjardins Insurance. This medical insurance plan covers medical and hospital expenses, as well as the cost of prescription drugs.
This coverage is mandatory. You can’t replace it with any personal insurance.
Students from countries with which the Québec government has signed reciprocal social security agreements (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden) may be exempt. These students have to take certain steps before they leave their home country and when they arrive in Québec.
Policy start date
For new international applicants, the insurance takes effect when you arrive in Québec and, at the earliest, from:
- August 15th for the fall semester
- December 15th for the winter semester
- April 15th for the summer semester
If you plan to arrive:
- in Québec before the dates mentioned above
OR
- in a Canadian province other than Québec and stay there before you arrive in Québec
Then it is your responsibility to do the following:
- Ensure that you are adequately covered until the insurance coverage with Université Laval takes effect
- Take out comprehensive travel-health insurance and emergency medical insurance for the duration of your journey until you arrive in the province of Québec.
In the event of an accident, you won’t be entitled to the benefits under the group health and hospitalization insurance plan for international students and interns.
The insurance coverage is individual and does not include dependants. Any accompanying family members must also have adequate insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in Canada. Among other things, you can get insurance coverage for your family members through Desjardins Insurance too. For more information, see Visitors to Canada Insurance.
Exemptions from the group health and hospitalization insurance plan
Some international students may be exempt from the Université Laval health insurance plan. If the Québec government has signed reciprocal social security agreements with your home country (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden), you may be eligible for coverage under the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec [Québec’s public health insurance plan] (RAMQ).
To qualify for benefits under these agreements, you have to take certain steps before you leave your home country and when you arrive in Québec. Contact your home country’s healthcare organization to find out whether you are covered by the social security agreement and to get the necessary documents. Visit the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) website for more information.
Other exemptions are available, namely for students on academic scholarships.
Coverage with the RAMQ for students covered under reciprocal social security agreements with certain countries begins only when you arrive in Québec.
If you plan to arrive in a Canadian province other than Québec and stay there before you arrive in Québec, it is your responsibility to take out comprehensive travel-health insurance and emergency medical insurance for the duration of your journey until you arrive in the province of Québec.
International students enrolled in a regular program who are eligible for the RAMQ can also take out supplemental health insurance through their student association. Visit the ASEQ student association health insurance website for more information (in French only).
Helpful links
- Registering with the RAMQ: Steps to follow (PDF)
- RAMQ's checklist for first registration or renewal (PDF)
- Registering with the RAMQ
- Eligibility renewal
- To learn more about the reciprocal social security agreements established with Québec:
Cost of mandatory insurance
The health and hospitalization insurance fees will appear on your electronic tuition fee invoice.
Cost for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Coverage for regular students
September 1st to August 31st: $900
January 1st to August 31st: $600
May 1st to August 31st: $300 - Coverage for visiting (exchange) students
Cost per semester: $300
The insurance is billed each semester. For example, if you are coming for two semesters, you will receive two separate invoices of $300 each. - Coverage for training or research interns
Cost per month: $75
The insurance is renewed and billed each semester as long as you stay. For example, if you are coming for two semesters, you will receive two separate invoices.
Getting your membership confirmation
Sometime during the first few weeks after you enrol at Université Laval, you will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office with the insurance policy number and your personal certificate number that our insurer (Desjardins) issues to you.
With this information, you will be able to access your virtual membership card (also known as a payment card) through the Desjardins member site or through the Desjardins mobile app. You will also have access to phone numbers in case of a medical emergency.
View an example of the payment card.
Documents to read:
- Desjardins online services (PDF)
- Your payment card (PDF)
Helpful links
- Your mandatory group insurance plan (PDF)
- Online member services (PDF)
- “Claim for Health Care Benefits” form (PDF)
- “Visitors to Canada Insurance” leaflet
- Group insurance plan – Frequently asked questions (PDF)
Supplemental “student health” insurance
Students enrolled in a Université Laval regular program are automatically covered with supplemental dental insurance through their student association, but they have the option of cancelling it (before a certain deadline). It is important not to confuse this supplemental insurance with the Université Laval basic insurance from Desjardins Insurance. Visit the ASEQ student association health insurance website for more information (in French only).
We recommend that you carefully read the Desjardins Insurance policy to make sure all your needs are covered. You can take out additional insurance if you have other specific needs, such as pre-existing health conditions.
Summary of enrolment procedures, eligibility and coverage
Student insurance plan summary table
Options for enrolling in student health insurance plans
Basic insurance plans |
Supplemental insurance |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RAMQ Health |
RAMQ Prescription drugs |
Desjardins |
Student health |
Student health |
|
Automatic enrolment |
X | X | |||
Self-enrolment |
X | X | X | ||
Free |
X | X | |||
Fee-based |
X | X | X | ||
Option of adding spouse and dependant(s) |
X | X | NOTE | X | X |
Eligibility
Basic insurance plans |
Supplemental insurance |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country of citizenship |
Status |
RAMQ Health |
RAMQ Prescription drugs |
Desjardins Université Laval |
Student health |
Student health |
Belgium and (Metropolitan) France |
Regular students |
X | X | X | X | |
Exchange students |
X | X | ||||
Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden |
Regular students |
X | X | X | ||
Exchange students |
X | |||||
All other countries |
Regular students |
X | X | |||
Exchange students |
X |
Coverage at a glance
This table provides a summary of insurance coverage. Be sure to double-check your coverage, conditions, and exemptions before seeking non-urgent care. Your insurance may reimburse only 50% or 80%, not 100%, of the cost of certain services, or there may be a maximum annual limit or deductible.
Basic insurance plans |
Supplemental insurance |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coverage at a glance |
RAMQ Health |
RAMQ Prescription drugs |
Desjardins Université Laval |
Student health |
Student health |
Medical consultation |
X | X | |||
Hospitalization |
X | X | |||
Prescription drugs |
X | X | |||
Eye exam |
X | X | |||
Eyeglasses and contact lenses |
X | ||||
Maternity |
X | X | |||
Ambulance |
X | X | |||
Travel outside Québec (travel insurance) |
X | X | |||
Specialist in the RAMQ health network: cardiologist, anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, etc. |
X | X | |||
Specialist outside the RAMQ health network: physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath, psychologist, etc. |
X | X | |||
Dental care (exam, cleaning, etc.) |
X | ||||
Programme mieux-être (mental health and well-being) | X |
Helpful link: Healthcare covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec
Last updated on: 2020-12-02