International Students Health Services
Health Insurance
At CBU, all international students are required to have health insurance coverage through our group Guard.Me. This plan is mandatory and provides comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage. The policy year runs from September 1 to August 31. If you’re starting university at a different time of year, you’ll still be added to the plan, but the cost of your plan will be pro-rated (while in Canada).
Need to opt out of Guard.Me? You can opt out here between September 1st-September 30th, 2020. Check our FAQs for information on who should opt out.
Using your Health Card
Make sure to show your health insurance card before receiving treatment from any health care provider. If you have MSI, you must also present your MSI card. If you don’t show your card when you visit a healthcare provider, they may require you to pay them directly. Since this can be very expensive, we recommend printing out your health insurance card and keeping it with you. If you have health insurance, but are asked to pay when you receive service at a health care provider, you can submit a claim to the insurance company for consideration. The insurance company will reimburse you based on the eligibility of the service under the insurance policy.
Where do I get my insurance card?
Health cards will arrive in your CBU email inbox. The International Advisors office will email all students to notify you when your card has arrived. Should you need to see a doctor before you receive your card, please contact an International Student Advisor.
How much is the plan?
The cost of the plan is $744.00 for individual coverage.
If you wish to have coverage for your family in Canada you must visit the International Student & Study Abroad Centre to complete the application no later than September 30. Once approved by the insurer, coverage will begin at a cost of $744.00 per family member.
Medical Services Insurance (MSI)
If you have been residing in Nova Scotia for 12 consecutive months and you have not left the province for more than 31 consecutive days, you may be eligible for provincial medical insurance known as MSI. An MSI card is available to Nova Scotia residents and provides only Hospital and Physician treatment. Please note that MSI does not cover services such as: prescription drugs, dental, ambulance, or repatriation. MSI may not cover you while travelling outside Nova Scotia, or outside Canada.
If you are covered by MSI, you will be required to be covered under the Guard.me emergency Excursion program.
Getting your provincial health card
To obtain an application and determine your eligibility, please contact the MSI office at 902-496-7008.
Annual renewal of MSI coverage
Once you are eligible for provincial medical coverage (MSI) you must apply for it annually as your card has an expiry date. You will be asked to prove that you have not left the province for more than 31 consecutive days (in addition to other requirements). This Government of Nova Scotia-sponsored program is subject to change without notice.
Health Care in Canada
Non-Emergencies
Max Bell Health Centre (Located on campus, beside Subway: A physician, nurse and physiotherapist are located on site. The hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. with the exception of 12:30 p.m – 1:00 p.m. If you need to see the physician, please make an appointment by visiting the office or calling 902-563-1359.
Services include:
- Health counselling and education
- Medicals (subject to fee)
- Sexual health education
- Birth control information and emergency contraception (subject to fee)
- HIV education and testing (subject to fee)
- STI education and testing (subject to fee)
- Pregnancy testing
- Free condoms
- Injections (B12, immunizations, Depo Provera, allergy)
- First Aid
- Dressing and wound care
- Blood pressure and glucose monitoring
- Physiotherapy services
- Nursing information
- Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of medical conditions.
Need to find a clinic? Use Guard.Me’s Clinic Search.
Mental Health Services
Counselling services are available to all students of Cape Breton University. CBU offers keep.me.SAFE, which provides 24/7 mental health services to all International Students. CBU also offers Personal Counselling with Clinical Social Workers.
Health Forms
Health forms and information are available at Guard.Me.
