Connect with the SFSS Health & Dental Plan

Call the Toll-Free Information Line:
1 866 369-8795

CHANGE-OF-COVERAGE PERIOD
The Change-of-Coverage Period is the period at the beginning of the semester when you can either opt out or enrol your spouse and/or dependants in the SFSS Health & Dental Plan. Students who aren't automatically covered by the Plan and who are eligible to enrol must complete self enrolments during the Change-of-Coverage Period.

If you start school in the Fall, the Change-of-Coverage Period is from Aug. 31 - Sept. 30, 2011.

If you start school in January, the Winter Change-of-Coverage Period is from Jan. 3 - 20, 2012.

If you start school in May, the Summer Change-of-Coverage Period is from May 3 - 18, 2012.

Change-of-coverage forms are available online at www.ihaveaplan.ca.

Please note that the SFSS Health & Dental Plan does not replace basic medical coverage such as MSP.

You must have provincial health coverage or the equivalent to be eligible to use the extended health coverage provided through your student Plan.

Why have an extended medical insurance plan?

All the important health-care services listed below aren’t covered by provincial health care (i.e. BC MSP). The Health Plan is a valuable SFSS service to help fill the gaps left by provincial health care.

What it costs

The Plan fee is $198 for coverage from Sept. 1, 2011 - Aug. 31, 2012. It is automatically included in your tuition and other fees.

Who’s covered

All SFU undergraduate students who are registered for 3 or more credits in September or January at Burnaby, Surrey, or Vancouver campuses are automatically enrolled when paying fees to SFU. This includes international students, exchange or study abroad students, Co-op students on exchange, and co-op students, when paying fees to SFU. Students registered exclusively in Distance Education or programs based outside the Lower Mainland and students enrolled in the Professsional Development Program (PDP) are not automatically covered, but can enrol during the Change-of-Coverage Period.

Who’s not covered

Students registered in Continuing Education and non-credit programs, students studying on exchange or co-op, but who are paying fees to their home institution, and auditing students are not eligible for enrolment.

Please note that graduate students are covered under their own, separate Grad Benefit Plan.

What’s covered

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs,
Covered at 70% with Pay-Direct Card, no forms!
No deductible
BC Pharmacare formulary (all drugs listed with BC MSP are covered)
No annual maximum
Brand name drugs allowed when Physician specifies “no substitution”
Drug exceptions allowed

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are covered at 100% for up to $150 a year.

Vision Care

Eye exams, covered $60 per 24 months
Eyeglasses and contact lenses covered $75 per 24 months
Laser eye surgery covered at up to $150
Extra coverage in Vision Network

Extended benefits

Paramedical practitioners,
Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Speech Therapist, Registered Massage Therapist, Podiatrist/Chiropodist , Psychologist, Registered Clinical Counselor.
Covered up to $20 per visit to $400 annual max. per category (HCC also offers some services here unlimited and free to SFU Students).
Naturopathy is covered up to $20 per visit and up to $200 per year.
Tutor benefit: $10/hour, $300 max. per accident or illness (effective if the student is immobilized by accident or illness for a period greater than 7 days).
Custom made orthotic inserts for shoes (when prescribed): up to $300 / policy year.
Custom made orthopedic shoes up to $300 per policy year
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (aka “Life” Insurance), up to $15,000 per accident.
Extended Care, 100% coverage for:
Ambulances
Durable Medical Equipment: including wheelchair rental, crutches, braces, and prosthesis.
Dental Accident
Diagnostic Services
Home Nurse

Travel Medical Coverage

100% coverage, up to $5,000,000 per lifetime (that’s five million),
120 days per trip, coverage for entire duration of academic exchange, internship or co-op term
Trip cancellation: $1,500 maximum
Trip interruption: $5,000 maximum
Trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance is the 1st of its kind in Canada, and exclusive to studentcare.net/works

Dental Coverage

Up to $600 per policy year insured (+network coverage)
Network coverage, the health plan broker has arranged for many professionals to lower their prices by 20% so students pay almost nothing or nothing. A list of providers is available on the studentcare website.
Preventative Services (Recall exams, cleanings, extraction of impacted teeth, etc.) Insured up to 70%, +20% network coverage for 90% coverage at many lower mainland dentists. 1 recall exam per 12 months.
Surgical & Restorative Services (Fillings, Extractions) Insured up to 70%, +20% network coverage for full 90% coverage at many lower mainland dentists. 3 Units of scaling per year.
Endodontics & Periodontics, (root canal, gum treatment), Insured up to 60%, +20% network coverage for full 80% coverage at many lower mainland dentists.
Major Restorative (Permanent crowns, bridges, etc) 20% network coverage at many lower mainland dentists.

Covered by another plan? Weigh the costs and benefits

Being enrolled as a dependant in a parent or spouse’s employee benefit plan usually requires your family member to pay additional costs. The SFSS Plan may provide better value. You can also combine it with your other plan to maximize your overall coverage—up to 100%—and eliminate
out-of-pocket costs.

Additional Enrolments

You can enrol your spouse and/or dependants each year by paying an additional fee, over and above your fee as a member of your student society. Common law and same-sex couples are eligible. To enrol your spouse/dependants, visit www.ihaveaplan.ca and follow the on-screen instructions. Enrolments can only be processed within the Change-of-Coverage Period.

Opt Out

If you have equivalent health and dental coverage, typically a group benefits plan provided through your employer, or your parents’ or spouse’s employer, you can opt out of the SFSS Health and/or Dental Plan online at www.ihaveaplan.ca—it’s fast and convenient, no lineups. You will need to provide proof of your other group benefits, such as a copy of your benefits card or a letter from the employer. Visit www.ihaveaplan.ca for complete details on exactly what you’ll need to opt out. The British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP) and Fair PharmaCare don’t provide coverage equivalent to the SFSS Health & Dental Plan. Students can’t opt out if they’re only covered by MSP or Fair PharmaCare. Opt outs can only be processed within the Change-of-Coverage Period.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the plan cover Basic Medical Coverage?
No, the plan is an addition to basic government or private insurance from your home jurisdiction along with basic medical coverage provided by SFU for international students. In other words, you will still have to pay your MSP bills.
If I am already covered by another plan can I “opt-out” of the SFSS plan?
Yes. The broker offers an online opt-out that takes only a few minutes to fill out. You will need to provide proof of coverage (a scanned image or digital photograph of your coverage sheet) to sutdentcare through the ihaveaplan.ca site.
Why is the plan “opt-out” instead of “opt-in”?
Opt-in plans are and were already available to all SFU students; companies like Blue Cross offer extended health and dental coverage for all individuals that pass certain medical criteria. The problem with such plans is that they are very expensive (potentially over $800 a year). By insuring all students (except those who already have extended coverage and opt out) we can offer the plan for a much lower price.
Can I sign up my spouse, partner or children?
Yes. You can add additional people to the plan for a similar price as your own coverage.
Will the coverage evolve and change over time?
Probably. It is important to note that the terms of the SFSS Health & Dental Plan are not carved in stone; the key coverage priorities can change as students establish how they want to use the Plan. Plan benefits can be improved in future years based on surveys and actual usage data. By starting with a moderate-to-high level of coverage and an appropriate cost, the SFSS is in the best position to respond to the specific needs of its membership over the medium to long term.
Can International students participate?
Yes. The Plan is designed to work on top of the basic medical coverage that is available to international students while there is a waiting period to be eligible for provincial healthcare (MSP). Since the Plan covers expenses that aren't covered by basic medicare, such as prescriptions and dental visits, it is designed to cover international students from day one, on an equal basis with all SFSS members - same coverage, same price.

Frequently asked Questions about the "Change of Coverage" period

The e-mail seems to indicate that I have coverage because it only tells me how to opt out if I do not need it--it says nothing about needing to opt in.

- for you to opt-in, you simply need to go onto the health and dental plan website at ihaveaplan.ca, and during the coverage period, the opt-out option and the opt-in option is on the website. However, it is only open during the change of coverage period, stated from the email. The process is simple, you just have to do it within the coverage period. Information was sent out not specifically for opting out, as it states "change of coverage", it implies opt-ins and opt-outs.

So, I assumed that I was covered automatically through tuition etc.

-In most cases, students are usually automatically covered as long as they take a minimum of a 3-credit course. Students in the category of Distance Education, Field School, PDP, Exchange, etc varies as the University codes you differently based on your status as an on-campus or off-campus student.

I just went to a dentist appointment and when I left I asked them what information I needed to forward to them in order for them to be able to properly charge the bill. They asked me to get the name of the plan, the group policy number, and an ID number.

-In most cases, dental clinics either have direct pay or they don't. Considering that they had asked you for the information, they might have direct pay. All you need to do is tell them you're a SFU student and your covered. The Health Plan provider usually sends in the mail of a package detailing the information of coverage, and on the back of this package is a cut-out card. That card is what indicates that you are covered. If you had not received such a package, then you can pick one up on campus. You can pick this package up at the SFSS General Office at the Maggie Benston Centre at room 2220.

I have just gotten off the phone after calling the information number provided in the e-mail below, sent to me by you, and they have informed me that I do not exist on their list of Simon Fraser University students. So, what exactly is going on? Am I covered?

-You can find out if you are covered if you sign in to your go.sfu account and check the tuition breakdown. If you see charges being placed outlining the fees of the health and dental (separate charges), then you have been charged and you are covered.

Did this e-mail you sent me happen by accident?

-No. This is a reminder email that was sent to all students of SFU undergraduates to inform them of the deadline for the change of coverage. Students usually don't know when the exact opt-out/in deadline is, and that email just serves as a reminder. If you had already completed the process, you can ignore the email.