Posted on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Alberta, like all provinces in Canada, provides universal health care for their citizens and permanent residents that is publically administered and funded. Alberta’s health care system known as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is available to international students studying in Alberta for 12 months or longer.

To be eligible for the AHCIP, foreign students must register within 3 months of arrival in Alberta by presenting your Study Permit and your Temporary Resident Visa. AHCIP will cover basic services like hospital costs, doctor visits, and laboratory tests; however it does not cover prescription drugs, rehabilitation needs, dental services or ambulance transport. Because of this, some international students will purchase a private medical insurance plan for Canada to ensure that out-of-pocket expenses are minimized. Additionally, if you are not eligible for the AHCIP, then your school may or may not provide you with a mandatory insurance plan. Before arriving in Alberta, it is important to contact your school about insurance options as a Chinese international student.

If you will be studying in Alberta for less than 12 months and your school does not have a mandatory insurance plan, you may want to consider purchasing your own private student health insurance since you will be responsible for any costs related to medical treatment. Because of this, many schools recommend having coverage begin as soon as you arrive so that you will be fully insured for the duration of your studies.

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.