Health Insurance (non-Canadians)

For international graduate students, you are automatically regstered for the compulsory health and accident insurance plan that Concordia has with Blue Cross. You can find more information about the health insurance policy, fees, and printing your Blue Cross card here.

Also for international graduate students, dental insurance is opt-in. Opt-in period ends in September, make sure to request your opt-in early (they need to process your request and then you need to pay the fee to opt in). You can pay your fee after the opt-in period, you just need to request before the deadline. You pay out of pocket for medication at the pharmacy, but can submit your reimbursement here or at the Medavie Blue Cross app (the processing is usually pretty fast).

If you are moving from abroad to start a postdoc position (foreign worker visa), you should be eligible for RAMQ coverage. There is a three-month waiting period between the time you register for the public health system (RAMQ) and when you are added to it (see above). If you are not a national from a small list of countries that hold agreements with Quebec, make sure you purchase private insurance for medical emergencies during this period. There are several options on the market.

If you or your partner are planning to get pregnant during this period, consider purchasing insurance that covers part of the prenatal exams. If you or your partner are already pregnant when moving to Montreal, get insurance that covers pregnancy complications. The options are scarce, but this website provides useful information on the matter.