YUGSA Health & Dental Plan
Plan Information:
The YUGSA Health and Dental plan is mandatory for all full-time graduate students (TAs exempted), and they are automatically enrolled in the plan. Students with comparable health and dental coverage can opt out of the plan within the specified opt-in/opt-out period set by the insurer. The GSA healthcare charge is separate from tuition and is applied to the student accounts in September for Fall-registered students and in January for Winter registrants.
Provider: Greenshield
GSC ID: Your GSC ID number is your three-letter code school code, your student number, and “-00” (example: YGS111222333-00).
Plan duration:
Fall’26 registered students: Sept. 02 to Aug.31, 2027
New Winter’27 registrants: Jan. 01, to Aug.31, 2027
Summer: There is no opt-in/opt-out during the summer.
Out-of-Canada students:
Students who are not physically present in Canada but have been charged for GSA Healthcare must contact the Health Plan Coordinator at health@yugsa.ca before the opt-out deadline of Oct. 31, 2026.
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SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:
Outline of benefits for the policy year 2026-27:
Prescription drugs: $1000 max with 80% co-insurance
Dental: $600 max. with 75% co-insurance
Vision: $75 for a general eye exam, $100 for prescribed lenses and frames or contact lenses every 24 consecutive months
Orthotics: 100% up to $200/24 months based on first paid claim
Professional Services:-
No co-pay, $25 per visit up to a maximum of $300 per type of practitioner per benefit year: Naturopath, Osteopath, Speech Therapist (Rx required), Dietitian, Chiropodist, or Podiatrist.
Chiropractor: $650 per benefit year.
Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work or Psychotherapist: $125 per visit up to 10 visits combined, plus an additional 5 sessions using Inkblot, per benefit year.
Holistic Nutritional Consultant: $125 per visit up to 15 visits combined with a Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work, or Psychotherapist per benefit year.
MindBeacon Therapist Guided Program
Acupuncturist, Physiotherapist, Registered Massage Therapist (Rx required): $50 per visit up to a maximum of $600 per practitioner per benefit year.
AD&D and Travel Insurance Benefits
Fall’26 Opt-In/Opt-out (graduate students only)
Beginning this year, all opt-in enrolments and opt-out requests will be completed through our new Student Benefits Portal. This new platform, in partnership with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and Student First by Prosum, will deliver a simpler, more secure and convenient experience while giving you access to important information about your student benefits coverage, programs and services, all in one place.
DEADLINE: The opt-in/opt-out deadline is Oct. 31, 2026. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline has passed.
OPT-IN (Begins Sept. 02)
Who can opt-in?
Part-time students
Dependents of full and part-time students
Full-time students must not opt in since they will be automatically enrolled in the plan and the GSA Healthcare charge will be applied to their student accounts directly.
OPT-OUT (Begins Sept. 02)
Who can opt-out?
Full-time students can opt out if they have comparable health and dental coverage from another insurer in Canada.
HOW TO OPT OUT OR OPT IN:
FULL-TIME STUDENTS: If you wish to opt out of the plan or if you want to add your family members, follow the steps below:
1. Visit the Student Benefits Portal
2. REGISTER your account. (The University short code is YGS)
3. Once you have access to your account on the portal, you will have the option to opt-out or add your dependents.
4. If you are a new student and are unable to register your account, it means your information has not been sent to the insurer yet. You may need to wait for an email from Telus Health letting you know when your account is ready and that you can register.
PART-TIME STUDENTS: Complete the INITIAL OPT-IN FORM. Once the form is submitted, you will be contacted by Telus Health about the next steps.
If you have any questions, please contact the health plan office at health@yugsa.ca.
Are you a CUPE 3903 member (TAs and GAs)?
Students with teaching contracts are exempt from the YUGSA plan. They should contact Cupe 3903 for information about their benefits. If you have a TA contract and have also been charged for the YUGSA plan, please reach out to health@yugsa.ca before Oct. 31, 2026.
Health Plan annual premium rates 2026-27
FULL-TIME STUDENT:
Single: $550 (FT student premium will be applied directly to their student accounts)
Couple: $1102.48 (Student will pay $552.48 for one dependent only on the portal since their own premium has already been charged to their account.
Family: $1409.68 (Student will pay $859.68 on the portal for 2+ dependents since their premium has already been charged to their account)
PART-TIME STUDENT:
Single: $1130.92
Couple: $2,286.88 (student + 1 dependent)
Family (2+ dependents): $2,927.08 (student + 2+ dependents)
FAQs
Who is automatically opted into the YUGSA health plan?
If you are enrolled as a full-time graduate student without a teaching contract, you will be automatically opted in to the YUGSA health plan.
Who is not automatically opted in?
Cupe 3903 members with TA or GA contracts, Part-Time Students; Second Year IMBA students away on an exchange.
If you think you have been incorrectly billed, please get in touch with the Health Plan office at health@yugsa.ca NO LATER than October 31, 2026
Who can opt out?
Students who have alternative coverage for drugs AND dental in Canada can opt out before the opt-out deadline. If you do not have comparable coverage, the plan is mandatory for all full-time graduate students to ensure that graduate students have some support when medical expenses arise.
How do I join the YUGSA health plan if I am not automatically enrolled?
If you are a full-time student in the Fall term and you do not see a GSA Healthcare charge in your student account, please contact the health plan office at health@yugsa.ca before Oct. 31.
How do I opt-in for dependents?
Opt-in and Opt-out can be completed by visiting the Student Benefits Portal.
Who is a dependent?
Dependent means a) your spouse, if you are legally married or if not legally married, you have lived in a common-law relationship for more than 12 continuous months. Only one spouse will be considered at any time as being covered under the group contract; b) your unmarried child under age 21; c) your unmarried child under age 24, if enrolled and in full-time attendance at an accredited college, university, or educational institute; d) your unmarried child (regardless of age) who became totally disabled while eligible under b) or c) above, and has been continuously so disabled since that time and is considered a dependent as defined under the Income Tax Act, also qualify as a dependent. Your child (your or your spouse’s natural, legally adopted or stepchildren) must reside with you in a parent-child relationship or be dependent upon you (or both) and not regularly employed. Children who are in full-time attendance at an accredited school do not have to reside with you or attend school in your province. If the school is in another province or country, you must apply to your provincial health insurance plan for an extension of coverage to ensure your child continues to be covered under a provincial health insurance plan.
What is the coverage period?
The coverage for Fall registered students begins on September 01 and ends on August 31, 2026. Coverage for Winter’26 students begins from January 01 to August 31st, 2026.
What is the deadline to submit prior-year claims?
Students have 12 months from the Date of Service to submit claims for the prior year.
What is covered?
Please visit the Benefits section of our website.
Please note: Every dental procedure has a code. It is a good idea for students to contact their dental office for the code for an upcoming procedure, and then contact Greenshield to confirm that the procedure will be covered.
What is the difference between OHIP/UHIP and the YUGSA Health Plan?
OHIP is the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for Ontario residents which covers general medical care, including doctor’s appointments and hospitalization. UHIP is the equivalent insurance for international students. The YUGSA Health Plan is a supplementary plan which provides dental and drug coverage. This is a mandatory health plan and therefore students are not allowed to opt out unless they have alternative coverage.
What is my GSC Number?
Your GSC ID number is your three-letter code school code, your student number and “-00” (example: YGS111222333-00).
How to register with Greenshield+ and submit claims
You can submit the claims online from your Greenshield account once the blackout period is over. Direct billing is enabled for most prescription drugs and dental claims if you give your Greenshield ID (YGS+student no.-00)to the provider. For all other claims, you need to pay first and then submit the claim to Greenshield for reimbursement.
Visit Greenshield.ca, select Greenshield+, and click “Sign-up”
2. Select that you are accessing Greenshield+ “Through an organization”.
3. Select “I have a Member ID” (YGS+ student number-00), then enter your email and create your account.
Contact
The YUGSA is responsible for the administration of the Health and Dental Plan for graduate students. As such, please feel free to contact our health plan office at health@yugsa.ca for any questions.
Our Health Plan Coordinator’s office hours are:
In-person: Tuesday & Thursday 10 AM – 4 PM (closed 1:00-2:00 PM for lunch)
Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays: Available by email only.