NOtice:
International Student Health Plan Fee Increase
This is a notice to all students covered under the International Student Health Plan offered by the Dalhousie Student Union (“the Union”) about a significant change to your fee for the 2026-2027 academic year. Beginning in September 2026, the following changes will be taking effect:
- The International Student Health Plan Single Student Fee will increase from $926.59 to $1328.84
- The International Student Health Plan Family Fee will increase from $1405.16 to $2195.05
- The International Companion Plan Fee will increase from $51.00 to $81.70
For further information on your coverage details, please consult www.studentvip.ca/dsu.
Why is the fee increasing?
The International Student Health Plan (IHP) has seen increased usage from students while the total pool of students in the Plan has been decreasing. This means the Union’s current International Health Plan Fund cannot sustainably cover the total costs of maintaining the Plan at the current fee levels. The coverage offered by the IHP also cannot be significantly changed to avoid a fee increase, as the Nova Scotia Provincial Government mandates a minimum coverage approximately equivalent to the provincial health plan coverage.
Despite the best efforts of the Union’s Health Plan team, this fee increase was necessary to ensure that the important coverage offered by the International Health Plan can remain in place to support international students. The decision to increase these fees was not taken lightly, and the Union has made best efforts to minimize the increase in costs experienced by international students.
Options for International Students
The Union is here to support international students through this change, and we encourage you to access the following resources if you require support:
- The International Student Emergency Bursary (ISEB) is a one-time bursary offered by the Union for international students experiencing an emergency financial need. More information and the application form can be found at https://www.dsu.ca/international-student-emergency-bursary.
- International students may choose to opt-out of the DSU International Health Plan. Please consult the opt-out requirements and deadlines on the Health Plan website (https://www.dsu.ca/health-plan) beforehand. The options for opt-out available are
o Private Opt-out: If you enroll or you are enrolled in a private insurance plan, you may be eligible for this opt-out method.
o Home Country Opt-out: If you’re completing your program from your home country, you may be eligible for this opt-out method.
o Sponsored Opt-out: If you are a student coming to Dalhousie with sponsored coverage from Saudi Arabia, you may be eligible for this opt-out method.
o MSI Opt-out: International students qualify for Nova Scotia’s provincial health plan (MSI) on the 1st day of the 13th month they have been in Canada. You may be eligible to opt-out by switching to this plan.
We at the Dalhousie Student Union remain committed to providing high-quality services and advocacy for international students at Dalhousie.
DSU President, Anjali Seshadri