Get your medical insurance
All international students studying at Lethbridge College must have adequate insurance to cover medical expenses while they are here. If you do not have an insurance plan, you will be responsible for paying for all medical treatments yourself.
These costs are substantial. A visit to a family doctor can cost $30 to $60 or more and a hospital stay can cost more than $1,000 per day. A student who does not have medical insurance would be required to pay the entire bill for these medical services.
In Alberta, you are expected to apply for Alberta Health Care (AHC) insurance to cover some of these expenses.
Lethbridge College Students' Association Benefits Plan (Students' Health and Dental Plan) does not cover doctor visits, lab costs, or hospital costs. It is a "Supplemental Plan" that helps you pay for situations not covered under AHC, for example: prescription drugs, dental work, and ambulance service.
Full-time academic students at Lethbridge College are automatically registered in the supplemental Students' Health and Dental plan through the Students' Association.
What are the options for medical insurance?
- If you have a study permit or work permit valid for at least 6 months, you are eligible to register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), which is the basic insurance coverage for all Albertans. The plan covers visits to the doctor, lab costs, and hospital costs.
- If you have a study permit valid for less than 6 months, you must purchase a private health insurance plan through an insurance company or agent. You can purchase this private insurance in your home country or in Canada.
When you have a private health plan, you are expected to pay cash for medical costs yourself. It is your responsibility to submit receipts to your private insurance company in order to be reimbursed.
If you purchase a private plan, you may not require the student supplemental plan as it likely duplicates the benefits offered through your private plan. Students can opt out of the Lethbridge College Students' Association Benefits Plan if their private insurance has comparable coverage. They must notify the Students' Association prior to the deadline for opting out of the plan.
