GuardMe and MSI

GuardMe International Health Insurance

International Students are automatically signed up and charged for an annual emergency medical insurance through GuardMe International Health Insurance. Your international student insurance is an emergency plan. It does not cover your dental work, glasses, or any pre-existing health conditions. Learn more about your GuardMe International International Health Insurance.

If you have questions about your GuardMe coverage, please call: 902-457-6354 or email maxine.brewer@msvu.ca, or you can download the GuardMe More Canda Benefit Summary

 

Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI)

Important Notice:

As a precaution to prevent unnecessary risk of COVID-19, the MSI reception location at 230 Brownlow Ave in Dartmouth is closed to the public.  Please contact by phone 902-496-7008 or toll free 1-800-563-8880. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm. You will need information from your Study Permit and your passport when calling, so be sure to have them on hand.

 

After 12 consecutive months of living in Nova Scotia, you may be eligible to apply for MSI, which is the regular Nova Scotia Health Card — don’t miss this option!

People coming to Nova Scotia from outside the country who hold a Study Permit that is valid for a minimum of 12 months or 1 year, can apply for coverage the first day of the 13th month following the date of arrival in Nova Scotia as a student (providing they have not been outside the province for more than 31 consecutive days except in the course of their studies).

A student arriving in Nova Scotia in July cannot apply until August of the following year. For continuous coverage, a copy of each Study Permit must be submitted to MSI and a declaration must be signed each year. Persons on a Study Permit are eligible for insured services in Nova Scotia only. Services rendered while outside the province would be the responsibility of the individual.

Dependent children under the age of 19 are granted coverage on the same basis as their parents once the applicant has gained entitlement.

To find out more about applying for the MSI, you can visit the Government of Nova Scotia website.

How do I get enrolled on the GuardMe Emergency Health Insurance?

The Guard.Me emergency health insurance provides coverage for the school year of September 1st to August 31st. If you are a registered student in fall term (September start), you are automatically enrolled in the health insurance until August 31 of the following year. The Insurance fee is added to your student financial account and must be paid by the fee payment deadline for that term.

If you do not register until a subsequent term (winter – January 1 start, summer session 1 – May 1 start, or summer session 2 – July 1 start), you will be automatically enrolled at the start of the term for which you are registered, until August 31st. A prorated insurance fee will be charged to your student account and must be paid by the fee payment deadline for that term.

I am studying outside of Canada, how do I opt out of the health insurance?

If you are currently studying outside of Canada, you may opt-out of the health insurance by going on the GuardMe website for msvu: www.guard.me/msvu. Please use your seven digit student number without leading zeros when accessing the opt out. Also note that Financial Services has to submit your information to Guard.me before you can opt out so if you have just registered, you may need to wait 24 hours before you will be able to access the opt out. If you were enrolled in the Guard.me policy in a prior term in this September to August period, you will not be able to opt out via the website and may not be able to opt out at all. Contact financial.services@msvu.ca if you wish to opt out and are in this situation.

Note: The opt out window opening and closing dates vary per term of each year. Please watch your msvu email for communication regarding the deadlines.

How long am I covered by the GuardMe Emergency Health Insurance?

Fall term coverage starts on September 1 to August 31 of the following year.

Winter term coverage starts on January 1 to August 31 of the same year.

Summer Session 1 term coverage starts on May 1 to August 31 of the same year.

Summer Session 2 term coverage starts on July 1 to August 31 of the same year.

I now have MSI. How can I opt-out of GuardMe International Health Insurance?

Once you obtain your MSI health card, you may opt-out of the GuardMe International Emergency Health Insurance. You must do this before September 30th for the fall term; otherwise, you will continue to be insured under GuardMe (September 1 to August 31). If you are enrolled in the plan and do not opt out for the first term for which you are registered in the September to August period, you may not be able to opt out in a later term in that year, particularly if you have made claims under your coverage.

In order to opt-out of GuardMe International Emergency, you must:

  • contact Financial Services directly (services@msvu.ca) and provide them a copy of your MSI health card.
  • Complete the online opt out

Please note that your MSI card must cover the period from September 1 to August 31 in order to fully opt out. If your card expires during that period, you must provide Financial Services with a copy of your renewed MSI card before that expiry date or you will be enrolled in the GuardMe Plan at that point.

Once you complete your opt out and If you are a full-time undergraduate or graduate student registered in the fall/winter term, you will automatically be enrolled in the Students Union Health and Dental Plan (Campus Trust) which provides coverage for things that are not part of MSI coverage  such as prescription drugs, vision care, dental care, physiotherapy and more. Learn more about Campus Trust health insurance. You may be able to opt-out of Campus Trust health insurance if you have another insurance coverage that meets the requirement of our university.

What is Campus Trust health insurance?

Campus Trust health insurance is operated by the Students’ Union. As an international student, you are automatically enrolled in this health insurance by Financial Services if you are registered as a full-time student in one or both of the fall/winter terms and provide proof of MSI health card coverage in order to opt out of the GuardMe Plan and are studying in Canada.

Campus Trust provides non-emergency benefits, also known as extended benefits. You will have access to benefits such as prescription drugs, vision care, massages, physiotherapy, dental coverage, etc. Learn more about Campus Trust Coverage.

To opt out of this plan, you must have coverage under an alternate extended health plan (not MSI). Go to studentbenefits.ca, select “Opt out” and complete the online form including uploading a copy of proof of your alternate health insurance policy.

For further inquiries, please contact the Manager of Health and Dental Plan, Patti Gentile at patti.gentile@msvu.ca.