Private Medical Insurance for International Students

Flexible Learning Programs

Medical Insurance Requirement for Flexible Learning students

On this page:

Medical Insurance Assessment
Submit proof of coverage (Students New to Canada)
Submit proof of coverage (Students already in Canada)
Dependents

Medical insurance self-assessment

Medical insurance is a mandatory admissions requirement at BCIT. Flexible Learning students are responsible for submitting proof of coverage by their program start date. Visit Medical Insurance Self-Assessment and to select your unique scenario for detailed information to help you understand your medical insurance situation.

How to submit proof of coverage (students new to Canada)

Students can visit the Guard.me portal to purchase temporary insurance coverage for their initial three months of stay in Canada. Students must use their @my.bcit.ca email address when purchasing their coverage.

British Columbia Medical Services Plan is mandatory for all residents living in BC for at least 6 months. Applications must be submitted directly online after you arrive in BC. Please note that there is a wait period of 3 calendar months as a resident of BC (i.e. study permit holder), therefore your Guard.me coverage should provide coverage during this period. Note that time spent in BC as a visitor does not count towards your MSP coverage wait period.

Please submit proof of coverage to international_flex@bcit.ca before your intake start date.

If you have another kind of basic medical insurance to cover your first months in Canada, you may submit a copy by email to international_flex@bcit.ca for approval by the program start date. Note that even if you have your own private medical insurance, you will still need to apply for MSP once you arrive in BC and submit proof of MSP enrolment to BCIT.

Recommended coverage dates to purchase on the Guard.me portal:

Planned starting term	Recommended months of Guard.me coverage to purchase (3 months of coverage)
Spring/Summer 2024	March, April & May
Fall 2024	August, September & October
Winter 2025	December, January & February

Mark is a new international student and plans to arrive in BC on August 3 and his program starts on September 9. He should order 3 months of Guard.me coverage beginning from his travel date to the end of October.

If Make doesn’t order Guard.me, then he may be uninsured in BC upon his arrival in August.

He should apply for MSP after arriving in BC in August which requires a waiting period of 3 calendar months. Mark later receives a confirmation that hisMSP coverage will begin on November 1.

Jane is a new international student and plans to arrive in BC on July 19 and her program starts on September 6. She realizes that she should have medical insurance coverage from her arrival in July. She orders Guard.me coverage from her arrival date in July, including the months of August and September.

If Jane doesn’t order Guard.me coverage, then she may have been uninsured for her first weeks in BC upon her arrival in July.

Jane applies for MSP in July and later receives a confirmation that her MSP coverage will begin on October 1.

How to submit proof of coverage (students already in Canada)

Students who are already enrolled in BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), can submit proof of MSP enrolment to international_flex@bcit.ca. Please note that all international students who will reside in British Columbia for 6 months or longer must apply for MSP.

Students who do not have medical insurance can visit the Guard.me portal to purchase temporary insurance coverage until they are enrolled in MSP. Students must use their @my.bcit.ca email address when purchasing their coverage.

Adding dependents

If you will be traveling with dependents such as your spouse or children it is possible to add them to your Guard.me private medical insurance policy. Dependents of current BCIT students are eligible for the discounted rate of $2 per day.

Do-it-yourself on Guard.me’s website:

This option allows you to quickly add your dependents online 24/7 for your convenience, and to choose exact dates of coverage within your own coverage period. Note that you can only add dependents via this option AFTER your Guard.me medical insurance has been activated and and you have received your Policy #, which would typically happen at least one week before your planned arrival in Canada.

Follow the steps below:

Check your myBCIT email inbox for your confirmation email from Guard.me, and make note of your Policy #.
Visit the Guard.me portal for BCIT students and click the Dependents button, then enter your Policy # and date of birth.
Enter the information required for each of your dependents and pay the fee online (by credit card) directly to Guard.me.