Health Plan
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The YUGSA health and dental plan has Greenshield as their plan provider starting Sept. 01, 2023. JD students are no longer covered under the YUGSA plan. They are now enrolled in the undergrad plan managed by the York Federation of Students. For more information visit their website.
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BLACK-OUT PERIOD: The black-out period will end on Sept. 30. During this time, you will not be able to submit any claims to the provider nor will you be able to register with Greenshield to create an account. If you want to use your benefits, save all the receipts and submit them to the provider after the black-out period ends.
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SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:
The outline of benefits for the policy year 2023-24 are:
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 month 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 15 visits combined, 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: $300 per benefit year.
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
Plan Information:
The YUGSA Health and Dental plan is mandatory for all full-time graduate students who do not have alternate coverage. All full-time students get automatically enrolled in the plan and the healthcare charge appears in their student accounts as ‘GSA Healthcare’. This charge is separate and in addition to tuition. Part-time students can join the plan by opting in from the website and making the payment online. (Scroll below).
Provider: Greenshield
GSC ID No: Your GSC ID number is your three-letter code school code, your student number, and “-00” (example: YGS111222333-00).
Visit the Greenshield Student Centre for more details.
Plan duration:
Fall’23 registered students: Sept. 01 to Aug.31, 2024
New Winter’24 registrants: Jan. 01, to Aug.31, 2024
Summer: There is no opt-in/opt-out during the summer.
Out-of-Canada students:
If you are not physically present in Canada, please contact the Health Plan Coordinator at health@yugsa.ca before the opt-out deadline of Feb. 29. Once you arrive in Canada, you must email the health plan office within 30 days of your arrival to enroll in the plan.
Winter Opt-In/Opt-out
(Opt-in/opt-out period - Jan. 01 to Feb. 29, 2024)
(Important: This information is meant for graduate students only. If you are an undergraduate student including JD, please visit the YFS health plan website.)
OPT-IN HERE (New Winter registrants only)
Who can opt-in?
Part-time students and their dependents.
Dependents of full-time students. FT students will get automatically enrolled so they need not opt-in. If you are full-time and you do not see a charge in your account by the end of September, please connect with health@yugsa.ca.
Plan duration: Jan. 01- Aug. 31, 2024
Full-time students can opt out if they have comparable coverage health and dental coverage from another insurer in Canada.
Note: The opt-in and opt-out deadline is final. No submission will be accepted after the deadline has passed.
Are you a CUPE 3903 member (TAs and GAs)?
Students with teaching contracts are exempted from the YUGSA plan. They should reach out to Cupe 3903 for information about their benefits.
Summer'24 Opt in/Opt out
There will be no opt-in/opt-out period during the summer term.
Health Plan annual premium rates 2023-24
Full-time student:
Single: $375
One dependent: $375
Family (2 or more dependents): $570
Part-time student:
Single: $727.44
One dependent: $729.36
Family (2 or more dependents):$1117.44
FAQs
Who is automatically opted into the YUGSA health plan?
If you are enrolled as a full-time graduate student, 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 contact the Health Plan office at health@yugsa.ca NO LATER than October 31, 2023
Who can opt out?
Students who have alternative coverage for drugs AND dental 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 opt into the YUGSA health plan if I am not automatically opted-in?
If you are a full-time student 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?
Visit the GSC student center here to add your dependents.
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 25, 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, 2024. Coverage for Winter’24 students begins from January 01 to August 31st, 2024.
When can I begin submitting claims?
You can submit your claims online after the black-out period ends on Sept. 30. The YUGSA Health Plan will be activated in September -end. The plan coverage starts September 1st. Hold onto any receipts from September 1st onwards to make retroactive claims once you are activated.
The deadline to submit claims for the prior policy year is November 30.
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 We Speak Student 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 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.
Sign up for GSC Everywhere
2. If logging in for the first time, click ‘Register” and follow the prompts.
3. Click to watch the registration video.
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: Wednesday & Thursday 10 AM – 4 PM (closed 1:00-2:00 PM for lunch)
Monday, Tuesday, and Fridays: Available on email only.