Current Health Plan Hours

We are also offering appointments for students on the Sexton campus during office hours 1 - 5 pm on Wednesdays where students can book a half hour appointment to discuss their plan details. Appointments can be booked through the link below.

Enrollment in the DSU Health and Dental Insurance Plan:

DSU Health Insurance plan: Policy year September 1st - August 31st 

Students whose studies are starting in September during the Fall Term and are enrolled at Dalhousie full-time (taking three full credit hour courses) are automatically enrolled in the Health and Dental Plan and the cost of enrolling in the plan will be included in your tuition. Exchange/Co-op/distance education/part-time students are not automatically enrolled in the Health and Dental Plan in the Fall and must choose opt-in if they want this coverage by completing an opt-in during the appropriate enrollment period at www.studentvip.ca/dsu. Students returning to their studies at Dalhousie after a co-op work term, or from exchange, have the option to enroll themselves in coverage during the Winter Term opt-in period if they would like coverage under the plan until the end of August. Enrollment is not handled automatically in the Winter Term and payment for the plan is paid out of pocket. 

Students are only eligible to opt-out from the Health and Dental Insurance Plan during the Fall Term opt-out period by providing proof of alternate, comparable, coverage.

International Student Insurance Plan: 
Policy year, 1st day of the academic term your studies begin - August 31st 

Students who are paying international student fees are automatically enrolled in the International Student Health Plan during the term in which their studies begin and this fee will be included in your tuition. Depending on when your studies begin at Dalhousie will determing the start date of your policy coverage, though the plan's end date is alway the 31st of August.

Automatic Renewal: 

These plans work on an automatic renewal to ensure that there is no lapse in coverage. This plan renews on the 1st of September, each year your enrollment at Dalhousie continues, and your enrollment in this plan depends on your status whether you continue to pay international tuition in the Fall. 

Family Coverage:

Family coverage is available for those looking to enroll their spouses, common law partners, or children, into either of their health plans. Family members can only be added to your plan during the enrollment period during the term in which your studies begin, each policy year. Opt-ins are completed at www.studentvip.ca/dsu. If you are an international student and your family member(s) is set to arrive in Canada outside of the opt-in period, please reach out to dsuhlth@dal.ca for enrollment information into the international health plan.

International Students who have qualified for Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance (MSI) through the provincial health care program can opt-out from their International Health Plan as long as the coverage under the International Plan has not been used by following the link below.  

FAQs

Who is covered by the DSU Health Insurance Plan?

All full-time students who start in September on the Halifax and Truro Campus are automatically covered under the DSU Health Insurance Plan. Students on a co-op, outgoing exchange, who are a distance or part time student or begin their studies in January or May are not automatically covered and must opt in.

All international and international exchange students on the Halifax and Truro Campus are automatically covered under the DSU International Students Health Insurance Plan unless they are registered as a co-op student in the fall term.

How do I opt out/in?

IMPORTANT - All opt-ins must be done during the opt in period DURING THE TERM in which you will start your studies. If you have family that arrives to Canada after you, please contact the DSU Health Plan Office for assistance.

If you have comparable and alternative coverage you may opt-out of the DSU Health Insurance Plan during the appropriate opt-out period. DSU Health & Dental Plan opt-outs are done through Dal Online or the Student VIP portal during the Fall Term opt-out period.

International students who have qualified for MSI can opt-out from their International Health Plan throughout the year at www.studentvip.ca/dsu.

International Health Plan Private Insurance Opt-out Requirements: 
Policy document must state: 

• Your name 

• Policy number 

• Dates of coverage (must be valid for full duration of study/time in Canada) 

• Policy document in English must be provided 

• Health cards are not accepted. 

The policy must provide and state the following: 

• Minimum of 2 million dollars in coverage in Canadian funds– please consider exchange rates 

• Coverage for doctor visits, inpatient and outpatient expenses, surgery, lab tests, diagnostic imaging (x-rays), repatriation and medical evacuation. 

Your coverage cannot have the following exclusions: 

• Injury or death while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, or 

• Injury or death due to self-harm, or attempted self-inflicted injury, attempted suicide or suicide

DSU Health and Dental Plan

Individual and family opt-in:
studentvip.ca or email dsuhlth@dal.ca during the appropriate enrollment period
Individual opt-out:
Online opt-out from the Health and Dental Plan during the Fall Term ONLY
Family opt-in:
Email dsuhlth@dal.ca if you are an international student and your family arrives in Canada after you.

How do I access my health plan card?

Either download your health plan card online.

Is there a blackout period?

There is a "blackout period" for students on the Health plans, but this period does not affect the coverage provided under the plan.

The "blackout period" refers to the time between the start of each semester when your policy comes into effect and the time it takes Medavie Blue Cross, the insurance provider, to complete your enrollment. You are still covered under the plan during this time; however, you will not have access to your Health Insurance Plan card until the blackout period ends and Medavie Blue Cross has finalized your enrollment. This usually takes a few weeks from when the policy begins.

If you need to use the benefits provided by your plan during the blackout period, you are still able to however you will need to submit claims manually for reimbursement instead of being covered at the time of the appointment. Once the blackout period is over near the end of the first month of the term in which students' studies begin, you will be able to visit www.studentvip.ca/dsu to download your Health Insurance Plan card. Full policy details, as well as useful resources for students, are available on this website.