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Status Change

Your UHIP coverage is tied to your registration status at U of T. You must remain actively registered to remain eligible for coverage under UHIP. If you de-register during the term, your coverage into UHIP through Cowan may be terminated.

On this page:

Exemption

Extension

UHIP Coverage During Absence

Exemption

UHIP is mandatory for all international students.
You are required to be enrolled in UHIP unless you are provided an exemption.

Eligibility and Application

Please note that if you are eligible for an exemption, you have to apply for the exemption by October 15th (for fall registrants) or by February 15th (for winter registrants) in order to get a full refund. If you are applying after any of these dates and before March 1st, you will only get a partial refund.

If you are eligible for an exemption, you must apply for it within 45 days of your coverage becoming active. You are financially responsible for every month in which you have active UHIP coverage. Refunds will not be made retroactively. This means that you will be charged $63.00 for every month in which you had active UHIP coverage if you submit your refund application after October 15th (for the fall term), and after February 15th (for the winter term). If you apply on the 1st of the month, you will still be charged the full monthly premium. 

To determine whether you are eligible for an exemption, please use our exemption checker tool below. This checker tool will help you determine whether you are eligible to apply for a UHIP exemption. Select the circumstances that best apply to you, and you will receive information about exemptions that best apply to your scenario. 

Exemption Categories

Already have OHIP

  1. Go to the UHIP portal
  2. Fill out the OHIP waiver form (under the ‘Waivers’ tab)
  3. Upload copies of the required documents

Returning Canadian citizens/permanent residents

  1. Apply for OHIP
  2. Update the legal status with the University of Toronto by contacting Registrar/Program Office
    • If not, a UHIP coverage charge will be added to the account each academic year

If you have active coverage from a health plan that is listed in the Pre-Approved Health Care Plans section, you may apply for a waiver.

  1. Go to the UHIP portal
  2. Fill out the Pre-approved plans waiver form (under the ‘Waivers’ tab)
  3. Upload copies of the required documents

Only government-sponsored plans will be considered for an exemption. Private travel insurance will not be considered for an exemption.

All non-pre-approved exemption requests must be initiated no more than 45 days after you are enrolled in UHIP.

You will find more information about the conditions you need to meet for an exemption and the application process on the UHIP website.

Only government-sponsored plans will be considered for an exemption. Private travel insurance will not be considered for an exemption.

Your U of T UHIP team is unable assess non-pre-approved plans for exemption. Please connect directly with Cowan to ask them to assess your non-pre-approved plan by emailing UHIP.admin@cowangroup.ca

Only applies to participation in PEY, Co-op placement, or International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) off-campus outside of Ontario.

To submit an exemption application, please follow the steps:

  1. Go to the UHIP portal
  2. Fill out the Off-Campus Waiver form (under the ‘Waivers’ tab)
  3. Upload copies of the required documents

Graduate students who are doing their research off-campus will need to contact SGS for proof of off-campus status.

Exemptions: frequently asked questions

If you already have OHIP, go to UHIP portal and fill out the OHIP waiver form (under the ‘Waivers’ tab). Upload copies of the required documents. Please note that if you are eligible for an exemption, you have to apply for the exemption by October 15th (for fall registrants) or by February 15th (for winter registrants) in order to get a full refund.

Check out the UHIP exemption checker tool above to determine whether you are eligible for a UHIP exemption. If you are eligible, through the tool you will find information on how to apply for an exemption. 

All non-pre-approved exemption requests must be initiated no more than 45 days after you are enrolled in UHIP. Only government-sponsored plans will be considered for an exemption. Private travel insurance will not be considered for an exemption. Your U of T UHIP team is unable assess non-pre-approved plans for exemption. Please connect directly with Cowan to ask them to assess your non-pre-approved plan by emailing UHIP.admin@cowangroup.ca.

Extension

Important: UHIP extensions must be requested one month before your current coverage expires. The extensions deadline is August 1st for fall extensions, and December 1st for winter extensions. The extension form will close on the deadline. No extensions can be granted past the deadline.

UHIP coverage must be continuous.

UHIP extensions are non-refundable.

Please be aware that during an extension UHIP does not cover the cost of elective procedures or operations. Coverage during an extension to UHIP is limited to medically necessary treatments and procedures. To determine whether you are eligible for an exemption, please use our extension checker tool below.

This checker tool will help you determine whether you are eligible to apply for a UHIP extension. Select the circumstances that best apply to you, and you will receive information about extensions that best apply to your scenario. 

5 things to know about uhip extensions

Take a look at this instructional video that explains the 5 most important things you need to know about UHIP extensions. This video goes over who can request an extension, how to apply for them, deadlines, how much extensions cost, and how long you can request an extension for. Clicking on the video player image below will redirect you to the video.  

video player icon

Extension Duration

  • June convocation – Finished degree requirements in April
    • up to 2 months
    • from September 1 to October 31
  • June convocation – Finished degree requirements in December
    • up to 6 months
    • from January 1 to June 30
  • November convocation
    • up to 4 months
    • from September 1 to December 31

Note that your coverage during absence does not extend your supplementary health and dental plan. You will need to contact your Student Union.

How To Apply

To apply for an extension of your own coverage, in advance of the deadlines stated above, please fill out our extension before deadlines form.

To extend the coverage of your dependents, in advance of the deadlines stated above, please go to the UHIP portal and complete the Dependents Application

Extensions: Frequently asked questions

If you are graduating early and will not be enrolled in courses in the next semester, you will need to apply for a UHIP extension. UHIP extensions must be requested one month before your current coverage expires. The extensions deadlines are August 1st for fall extensions, and December 1st for winter extensions. The extension form will close by the deadline. No extensions can be granted past the deadline. Look at the “extensions” portion of our website for more details. 

You can only receive UHIP coverage for up to 6 months after you finish your degree requirements. After that extended coverage, you will have to apply for OHIP if you are eligible or purchase your own private health coverage plan. Take a look at our UHIP extension checker tool above to determine whether you are eligible for an extension and how to apply for one.  

You are eligible for a two-month extension after your program is complete if your VISA allows you to remain in Canada after your exchange program ends. Exchange students can get a maximum extension of two months. Please submit our extension form for exchange students to request a 2-month extension.

UHIP Coverage During Absence

International students on leave from their studies may be eligible to enrol in UHIP for the term in which they are not actively registered.

To be covered under UHIP during your leave, approval must be granted by the University prior to taking the leave. You are also required to contact the UHIP Office at least one month prior to the start of the leave. Your UHIP coverage may be continued for a maximum of 4 months per academic year. For a medical leave of absence, your UHIP may be continued for maximum of 8 months. For a maternity or paternity leave of absence, your UHIP coverage may be continued for maximum of 12 months.

Eligibility and Coverage Duration

International students who cancel registration or withdraw for the term for any of the following reasons may be grated UHIP coverage:

  • Medical Health Reasons: maximum of 8 months
  • Personal Reasons: maximum of 4 months
  • Parental Leave: maximum of 12 months