Posted on Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Manitoba, a province in Canada, insures its citizens under a nationwide universal health care plan called Manitoba Health. Recently, the province has made some reforms as to the eligibility of their health insurance specifically directed at international students.

As of January 19, 2011, Manitoba Health is no longer available to foreign students who only have a Study Permit. Instead, if you are a Chinese student or other foreign national, you are eligible for Manitoba Health if you have a valid work permit. However, if you do not have a valid work permit and intend on studying only, they will need to purchase a private student health insurance plan either individually or through your school.

International students in Manitoba enrolling in a post-secondary school are typically required to purchase the Manitoba International Student Health Insurance (MISHIP) through their school. This plan is provided by Great West Life and provides coverage only in Manitoba. If you plan on staying in Manitoba, we recommend that you contact your school to confirm your insurance options. Universities that offer the MISHIP generally make enrollment mandatory unless you have a valid work permit and have a Manitoba Health card.

If your school requires this insurance, it is important to contact your international student office to confirm coverage. If you plan to travel to another province or country you may want to consider purchasing a travel insurance since some services may be limited or excluded entirely.

Posted by Jennifer Frankel

Jennifer is the International Director at International Student Insurance. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Florida where she holds a Masters in International Business and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. She has lived and worked abroad in Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and England, and traveled extensively in South America, Europe and Asia.