Understanding student health coverage - U of A
Source: NCI Visuals Online
Highlights
U of A students are signed up by default for the Comprehensive Studentcare Plan ($240/year)
Students can opt out in the first three weeks; good idea if you’re under 25 living with family, since you can get dependent coverage on a parent’s plan. Deadline for Winter 2024 is January 28th
Basic Plan offers cheaper, slightly less comprehensive coverage: worth it for most students
Basic Studentcare covers prescription drugs, vaccines, dental and eye exams, psychologists/counseling, other medical professionals, and travel related expenses
Overview
The U of A’s student health plan is called the SU Health & Dental Plan, or Studentcare. Two plans are available through it: the Basic Plan ($240/year), and the Comprehensive Plan ($328.55/year). While the Basic Plan is opt-in, the Comprehensive Plan is opt-out: U of A students taking at least 3 credits are automatically signed up for that academic year, and pay for it as part of their SU fees. If you’re a U of A student, you’re probably already paying for coverage, so you should either opt out or start using it.
Opting out: You can opt out of coverage during the Opt-Out period for the term, usually the first three weeks (deadline is January 28th for Winter 2024). Please note: you can only do this during the term you enrolled in, whether that’s the Fall or Winter term. Opting out is a good idea if you’re under 25 and still living with family, since your parents can give you coverage under their insurance plan (if they have one) by claiming you as a dependent. You can also opt out of Health coverage and Dental coverage separately.
Basic vs. Comprehensive Plans: The Basic Plan is one way for students to save money without opting out entirely. For just over 30% cheaper, the Basic Plan covers most of the same things as the Comprehensive Plan at slightly lower percentages covered or annual maximums. Things that aren’t covered under the Basic Plan include visual aids (i.e glasses or contact lenses), medical equipment, and some dental procedures. If you don’t wear glasses, and don’t have a chronic medical condition, it’s probably worth it!
What’s covered:
For more details or to compare the Basic and Comprehensive Plans, see the Studentcare web page.
