International students must have health insurance coverage while studying in British Columbia. Medical services are expensive if you do not have a medical plan.
Medical Services Plan, MSP is BC’s provincial health insurance plan. Anyone living in BC for 6 months or longer (including international students) is required by law to enroll in MSP and pay the monthly premiums. You must apply for MSP upon your arrival as soon as you arrive in your campus locations. You may apply either online (simple 15-minute process) or on paper.
While your MSP is being processed (could take up to three months of processing times) you are required to have medical coverage when residing in British Columbia. Here is another medical coverage known as Guard.me, it is a temporary health insurance for new international students with a medical coverage of at least 120 days. Your Guard.me fee (one-time fee) is included when you register for your first term and coverage begins up to 7 days before the start of your program. If you plan to arrive more than 7 days before the start of the program, you are responsible for additional health insurance coverage. You will receive your Guard.me insurance package upon arrival at your selected campus.
Once you receive your MSP, you may present your MSP coverage at the front registration on your campus location, and your enrollment of Guard.me will be terminated after 120 days.
For more information, please visit
https://www.coastmountaincollege.ca/international/current-students/medical-insurance