How medical insurance works in British Columbia
International students in British Columbia are required to enroll in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) and maintain provincial health coverage while studying in Canada.
Because MSP coverage does not begin immediately, Emily Carr University provides temporary medical insurance for eligible new international students during their first semester.
Our International Student Advisor can help with:
- understanding MSP requirements and applying for coverage
- temporary medical insurance enrollment through AwayCare
- requesting an opt-out from temporary insurance if you already have valid provincial coverage
- updating your medical insurance information with the University
- questions about insurance coverage before your University-provided temporary plan begins
Who needs temporary medical insurance
New international students who have completed course registration and are not yet covered by MSP are automatically enrolled in AwayCare temporary medical insurance for their first semester.
For Fall 2026:
- Coverage period: September 1 to December 31, 2026
- Cost: $217.24
This temporary coverage is intended to protect you while you are waiting for your MSP coverage to begin.
Apply for MSP as soon as you arrive
If you are in Canada and have received your study permit, you should apply for MSP as soon as possible through the Government of British Columbia.
You should not wait for your temporary insurance to end before applying. MSP applications take 3 months to process, and students are responsible for maintaining appropriate medical insurance throughout their stay in Canada.
Arriving before your temporary coverage begins
AwayCare coverage for Fall 2026 begins on September 1, 2026.
If you arrive in Canada before September 1, you should arrange your own temporary medical insurance from your arrival date through August 31. Coverage for this period is not provided automatically by Emily Carr University.
Students may choose to purchase short-term coverage through a provider such as Guard.me.
Already have MSP?
If you already have valid MSP or another Canadian provincial medical insurance plan, you may be eligible to opt out of AwayCare.
To request an opt-out for Fall 2026, submit this form upload both sides of your valid provincial health insurance card by:
12:00 p.m. on August 28, 2026
If proof of coverage is not received by the deadline, you will remain enrolled in AwayCare and the associated fee may remain on your student account.
Complete the MSP Confirmation Form
International students should complete the MSP Confirmation Form to let us know whether you:
- already have MSP or another Canadian provincial health plan
- have applied for MSP and are waiting for coverage
- still need to apply for MSP
- require temporary medical insurance
Keeping this information up to date helps the University determine whether temporary insurance is required and reduces the possibility of being charged for overlapping coverage.
Questions
For questions about MSP or temporary medical insurance, contact International Student Advising at intadvising@ecuad.ca.