Health & Dental Plan

The PGSS Studentcare plan is supplemental insurance that helps cover your extended health benefits such as psychologists, dental cleanings, glasses and prescriptions.

A woman holding notebooks looking and smiling at the camera in a school setting

In order to be eligible for the PGSS Health & Dental Plan you must have valid province insurance (i.e. RAMQ or equivalent).

Important note: For tax purposes, the PGSS Studentcare plan is considered a student group plan, not a private plan. Quebec residents are also eligible for RAMQ prescription drug insurance – click here to learn about RAMQ prescription drug insurance. The RAMQ site will also help break down what your annual premium will be.

Who is covered?

Five young adults gather around a laptop in a library, engaged in discussion and teamwork, with bookshelves visible in the background.
Change-of-Coverage & Opt-Out Period
  • Full-time, part-time, additional session, non-thesis extension, masters, and doctorate students who register in September or January and who are paying tuition fees at either the Canadian or Quebec rates are automatically covered by the Enhanced Care PGSS Health & Dental Plan. International students are eligible for the dental portion of the plan only.
  • International students who register is September or January are automatically enrolled in the Dental plan. For more information about the International Health Insurance plan administered by International Student Services, please click here.
  • McGill postdoctoral candidates (excluding unionized postdoctoral researchers and research trainees) are automatically enrolled in the PGSS Health & Dental Plan if they are registered in the start of September (start of the Fall term). International Postdocs who have the public RAMQ plan, are eligible for PGSS health despite being international.
  • Postdocs who are eligible, but have not been automatically charged for PGSS insurance should contact StudentCare to request a self-enrollment. If needed, postdocs can reach out to studentlife.pgss@mail.mcgill.ca for support. Note that self-enrollments are only possible during certain periods of the academic year, please contact the PGSS office if you need help requesting an exceptional late enrollment.
  • If your enrollment occurs mid semester, and you wish to get support with a late enrollment, please contact the PGSS office at info.pgss@mail.mcgill.ca and depending on the circumstances we would be able to escalate the request to our contacts at StudentCare directly.

Two Coverage Options: Basic vs. Enhanced

PGSS offers eligible students the option to choose between two different levels of coverage at different costs.

Detailed Coverage Comparison

Basic Care Plan

The Basic Care Plan offers lower coverage at a lower cost

Enhanced Care Plan

The Enhanced Care Plan offers higher coverage at a higher cost

Opting-Out, Enrolling in the Plan, and Changing Your Coverage

It is only possible to opt-out, make changes to your coverage or self-enroll and to enroll family members during the change-of-coverage & opt-out period: Aug. 14 – Sept. 27, 2024 (fall students) Dec. 11, 2024 – Jan. 30, 2025 (new Winter Term students).

*If you complete an opt-out between August 25, 2024-September 27, 2024 you will receive a credit to your student account for the amount of the Plan. If you would like to receive a refund in lieu of a credit you can request that from Student Accounts by following these steps.

Submitting Claims for Reimbursement

Some practitioners may be able to bill the insurance company directly. Download or print your pay-direct card here.

Other practitioners may require that you pay up-front, out of pocket. To submit a claim please follow the steps on this page. A good rule of thumb is to contact your practitioner in advance to know whether to expect out of pocket charges.

For support with claims please contact StudentCare directly, for their Assistance Centre click here. More details to come.

Informational PDF
Informational PDF

FAQ Insurer Transition 2023