Health Insurance Requirements

UAHIP is mandatory for all exchange students

The University of Alberta (UAlberta) requires all incoming exchange students to enroll in the University of Alberta Health Insurance Plan (UAHIP). Coverage by any other insurance plan (with the exception of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan) will *not* allow you to be exempted from UAHIP.

UAHIP Limitations

Please note the following UAHIP limitations so that you can ensure that you have appropriate health insurance coverage prior to arriving in Alberta:

  1. You will not have coverage while you are in transit on your way to and from your exchange at UAlberta. The purchase of traveller's health insurance is recommended. 
  2. Coverage might be insufficient for travel outside of Alberta during your exchange and for any pre-existing conditions (e.g., diabetes, cancer, etc.).  
    • Contact Cowan Insurance to confirm coverage:
      • Telephone: 1-888-509-7797
      • Fax: 613-741-7771
      • Email: clients@cowangroup.ca
      • Mailing address:  700-1420 Blair Towers Place, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1J 9L8
  3. Prescription medication has a certain maximum coverage per calendar year.  In the past, it has only been covered up to $500. 
  4. Regular dental care services (e.g., checkups, cleanings, fillings, x-rays), eyeglasses, frames or contact lenses, and some immunizations/vaccinations are not covered.

Please Note:

You are encouraged to acquire supplementary coverage for your exchange before you leave home, as options for purchase in Canada will be limited.

As soon as possible after your arrival at UAlberta, we encourage you to set up a Canadian bank account. Any reimbursements for UAHIP claims will need to be deposited electronically into a Canadian bank account.  

You do not need to email anyone to request UAHIP.  Once you are registered in at least 1 course, the UAHIP fee will be applied to your Bear Tracks account for that term as "UAHIP Foreign Health".  You need to pay it by the fee payment deadline. Your enrollment in the insurance plan occurs at the start of the term and you will receive an email from the insurance company with your coverage details within the first 3 weeks of the exchange.

If you require medical care after the first day of the month that your studies begin and before you receive the email from the insurance company, connect with an International Student & Visitor Services (ISVS) advisor; otherwise, you do not need to take any action until you receive the insurance company email. 

UAHIP details may change from year to year and might not yet be known for the period during which you plan to be here on exchange (coverage details are usually finalized sometime in August every year). When final details are confirmed, you can view full information on the UAHIP page. 

Questions?

Questions about UAHIP or setting up a Canadian bank account?
Connect with a UAlberta International Student & Visitor Services (ISVS) advisor.

Return to the sitemap of the Incoming Exchange Student Application Guide.

Updated for 2026/27 applications