Eligibility for exemptions
Only certain International students are eligible to be exempted from the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students.
Private health insurance plans are not accepted.
International students who have health insurance provided by their employer or through a parent’s plan are not eligible for an exemption from the Concordia Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students.
Who qualifies for an exemption?
As a result of intergovernmental agreements, full-time students from the countries listed above who were covered under their government’s medical system before their arrival in Quebec, will be eligible for the Quebec medical benefits (called Quebec Medicare Card or Carte d’Assurance-Maladie du Québec) at no cost.
To obtain a Quebec Medicare Card, students must be registered full-time for courses and present the following documents to the office, called Québec Medicare Office or, in French, Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ):
- Proof of insurance, or a certificate of affiliation with the health plan of their country of origin*
- A clear and legible copy of the biographical page from your current and valid passport
- A clear and legible copy of your CAQ (Québec Acceptance Certificate) – if studying for more than one semester
- Proof of Full-Time Registration (except students holding the SE-401-Q-106 form or the SE-401-Q-104 form) – Obtain an Attestation Letter confirming your full-time status at Concordia, available at the Birks Student Service Centre, LB-185. This letter may take 5 working days to be processed and will cost you $20.00
* Proof of insurance or certificate of affiliation with the health plan of their country of origin:
- Belgium: Form BE/QUE 128
- Denmark: Denmark Health Card
- Finland: Form SF/Q 4
- France**Form SE-401-Q-102 (student registered in a study program leading to a diploma), or Form SE-401-Q-104 (student taking part in a mandatory, unpaid training period), or Form SE-401-Q-106 (student taking part in an exchange)
- Greece: Form GR/QUE 6
- Luxembourg: Form LUX-QUE 4
- Norway: Attestation issued by the HELFO (health administration) or by NAV (Norwegian national insurance scheme for abroad)
- Portugal: Form POR/QUE 4
- Romania: Form ROU/QUE 106
- Serbia: Form SRB/QUE 14
- Sweden: Attestation issued by a competent institution certifying the student's right to healthcare coverage
Important: you will be asked for your Québec telephone number (area code 514 or 438 for example). If you do not have one, please write 000-000-0000.
Once you have received your RAMQ or your letter of admissibility - whichever you receive first - don't forget to request the exemption wih the ISO.
Apply online for your Québec health insurance card
Demande de carte d'assurance maladie en ligne.
International students who receive a scholarship from a sponsoring organization or government (such as CIDA, ICCS, CBIE, SACB and WUSC) that includes health insurance and tuition fees are eligible to opt-out of the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students.
To complete the opt-out process, students must:
- Email iso@concordia.ca
- Include their student ID# in the subject line of their email
- Attach their scholarship letters to their email
- Request to opt-out
The scholarship letter should clearly mention the group health insurance coverage as well as the duration of the policy. The duration of the exemption would be based on the dates indicated on the scholarship letter.
Refugee claimants and convention refugees are eligible to opt-out of the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students if they show proof of medical coverage by the Canadian or Quebec Government.
To complete the opt-out process, students must:
- Email: iso@concordia.ca
- Include their student ID# in the subject line of their email
- Attach their proof of medical coverage to their email
- Request to opt-out
Students who have a valid Quebec Medicare card / Carte d’assurance maladie du Québec are eligible to opt out of the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students.
To complete the opt-out process, students must:
- Email iso@concordia.ca
- Include their student ID# in the subject line of their email
- Attach either a scan of the front of their Medicare card OR the 1st page of their letter of amdissibility from Medicare to their email
- Request to opt-out
International Students who become Permanent Residents of Canada are eligible to opt out of the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students once they show proof of their Permanent Resident status, such as the Record of Landing document. An exemption/adjustment will be based on the date the International Students Office receives the Record of Landing document.
To complete the opt-out process, students must:
- Email iso@concordia.ca
- Include their student ID# in the subject line of their email
- Attach their PR document to their email (if using your PR card, please make sure to include both front and back of the card)
- Request to opt-out
New Permanent Residents are eligible to apply for a Quebec Medicare card, and are encouraged to do so as soon as their status changes. The Quebec Medicare card will be issued approximately three months following the application. We recommend that new Permanent Residents maintain the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students, and only opt out once they have received their Quebec Medicare Card.
IMPORTANT
How to opt out if you qualify for an exemption?
The proof must be presented in English or French indicating the period and amount of coverage available in Canada. You must either email one of the listed below documents to iso@concordia.ca (don't forget to include your student ID# in the subject line of your email) or bring it to the ISO in-person:
- valid Quebec Medicare card /Carte d’assurance maladie du Québec or a letter of admissibility from Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) confirming the start and end date of your Quebec Medicare card
- eligible sponsorship letter which clearly mentions the health insurance coverage as well as the duration of the policy
- Record of Landing document or PR card (front and back) for Permanent Residents
This information is required by the Ministère de l’Éducation, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche and must be in the Concordia student’s file for audits and reports purposes.
Should this coverage (private or government plan) expire during the academic year, you are responsible for extending the coverage and providing proof of it to the ISO; otherwise, you will be automatically registered in the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students and charged the respective health insurance fees.
How often will you need to opt out?
Since health insurance fees are charged on a yearly basis when you register for courses or CIP (Continuing in Program), you will have to repeat the process each year in September when health insurance fees are automatically charged on your student account. Even if your proof of insurance (for example, your Medicare card) is valid longer than the current benefit year, you still need to repeat the opt-out process every September. Otherwise, you will be automatically registered in the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for International Students and charged the respective health insurance fees.
Deadlines for opting-out
Adjustments or cancellations will be based on the date the ISO receives a copy of the above-mentioned supporting documentation. Insurance plans are based on a monthly rate from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. As such, and in order for the student to obtain the fullest refund, the request for adjustments or cancellations should be made by:
- September 30 (if you start your studies during the Fall term or if you are a returning student)
- January 31 (if you start your studies during the Winter term)
- May 31 (if you start your studies during the Summer term)
After your first term, you must request this exemption by whichever of the following date applies to your situation:
- Every time your document expires (mostly for Sponsorship documents)
- Every September of each academic year (mostly for RAMQ holders)
Failure to provide the ISO with the required documents by the above-mentioned dates will result in the student getting charged for the full academic term.
What happens in your withdraw from your program?
Students who withdraw from their program must request* to cancel the Blue Cross Plan by contacting the ISO. The Blue Cross Plan will be cancelled based on the date the request is submitted and students will receive a partial refund..
For example: if you withdraw in February and ask the ISO to adjust your plan in March, you will be refunded from April onward.
Your Blue Cross Plan cannot be cancelled once the coverage year has ended.
*Additional documents may be requested by ISO Advisors. Requests will only be considered complete when all relevant documentation has been received and reviewed.
Refunds
Students who qualify for an exemption and who have filed a claim under Blue Cross Plan for International Students can only receive a retroactive refund for the period (term) following the claim.
