Step 2. Obtain my health insurance (compulsory)

Québec law and Canadian law require international students to obtain medical insurance that is valid in Québec for the duration of their stay. HEC Montréal strictly applies this rule.

It is extremely important to be covered by a health insurance plan at all times. It is a question of physical security but also of financial security, since medical care in North America is among the most expensive in the world. Each insurance plan is valid on a given territory, for a given period: you must be careful not to remain without medical coverage, even for only one day.

All international students are automatically enrolled in the School's health insurance plan for international students (Sunlife) when they register at HEC Montréal. This insurance is compulsory and applicable fees are required. Some students may be exempted only.

All international students are automatically enrolled in the School's health insurance plan for international students (Sunlife) when they register at HEC Montréal.

This medical insurance plan only covers the student for medical and hospital expenses, as well as for prescription medication. It does not cover costs related to dental or eye care (glasses).

Some students can replace Sunlife insurance by the insurance of the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) if they meet specific conditions :  Belgian, Danish, Finnish, French, Greek, Luxembourgish, Norwegian, Portuguese or Swedish students Exemption diplomates Students depending on an international organization No other insurance (travel insurance, insurance in your country) will be accepted by the School. Therefore, be informed before subscribing to another insurance that it will not exempt you of the School's insurance.

> Click here for delailed information on coverage (PDF – 49 KB)  > Click here to fill out a refund claim (PDF - 391 Ko)

You must pay your insurance premiums at the Office of the Registrar (Decelles, 2.260) on the day you arrive at HEC Montréal. Payment can only be made by credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express) or traveller’s cheques. Cash is not accepted. The Admissions Office (Decelles, 5.120) will issue your health insurance card upon presentation of proof of payment.

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All international students are covered by the HEC Montréal health insurance plan for their first few days in Canada, beginning on the coverage start date listed below.

If you plan to arrive in Canada within the six weeks leading up to the coverage start date, you can have your coverage go into effect as soon as you arrive. A weekly premium will be billed to you (about 15$). To arrange an earlier start date for your coverage, please send an e-mail to baei@hec.ca.

You can also purchase a travel insurance policy in order to be covered between the time you arrive and the HEC Montréal insurance plan’s coverage start date. This type of insurance must be purchased before your arrival, regardless of whether you purchase it from an insurer in your home country or in Canada. 

The travel medical insurance coverage provided by your credit card may not be applicable if your stay in Canada does not meet the conditions set by the insurer (leisure travel, maximum stay of 30 or 90 days, etc.).

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As Belgian, Danish, Finnish, French, Greek, Luxembourgish, Norvwegian, Portuguese or Swedish citizen, you may suscribe to Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) (within eligibility conditions). 

Thus, you can replace School's health insurance plan by the insurance of the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

RAMQ plan is the only insurance which can replace School's health insurance plan. There is no exception.

School's health insurance premium will be only refunded upon presentation of RAMQ insurance proof before deadlines.

You are eligible for the RAMQ plan, for free, if you satisfy all three of the following conditions:

• You are a full-time student (part-time students are not eligible for the RAMQ).
• You are a citizen of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal or Sweden.
• You were covered by your country’s social security system when you left for Québec (as an insured person or someone having the rights of an insured person).
• If you are a french citizen, you must be covered in a Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPAM) or in a student health insurance fund at the date of your departure for Québec.

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RAMQ coverage

It covers medical care from generalist and specialist physicians, as well as hospital expenses. Dental care, eye care (glasses) and medication are not covered by RAMQ.

 

Refer to the RAMQ health insurance site for all the details on services covered.

 

For costs not covered by the RAMQ, you may wish to buy an optional supplementary insurance plan.  

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Procedures

A - Before you leave your home country

Before you leave your home country, you must obtain the form mentioned below and have it signed by your country’s social security authority

B - Arrival in Montréal

As soon as you arrive in Montréal, you must take the steps described below. 

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Here are the steps to follow : 

1. During your orientation day or as soon as you arrive, fetch the following documents in the Registrar's office (Decelles building, 5.120) :
   • Certification letter of full-time studies
   • The RAMQ form to complete the instructions to obtain your RAMQ card (this form is available only in the fall). 
        
2. With those documents in hand, you must go to the RAMQ's office :

3. You have to go to the RAMQ to obtain your “attestation of registrations to RAMQ”. This temporary document is a proof that you registered to RAMQ. Keep a copy in a safe place!   
     
4. We suggest you to go to the RAMQ early in the morning with all original documents in hand. You also need an address in Montreal to receive your health insurance card.
      
5. Present the proof of eligibility (“attestation of registration to RAMQ”) at the Admissions service of the Office of the Registrar (Decelles building, 5.120) before the deadline. Please consult the academic calendars here.

These procedures shall be done inevitably before the due date of the payment of the university fees (see academic calendar). The Office of the Registrar will be in measure of reimbursing you the prime of the university’s medical insurance, which has been automatically billed at the moment of your enrolment.

The prime of the School’s medical insurance, that has been automatically billed to you, will not be reimbursed to you after the due date of the payment of the School fees.

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To be exempted from the HEC Montréal health insurance plan, you must have a diplomatic visa in Canada, for example because one of your parents holds a diplomatic position in Canada, and satisfy one of the following conditions :

• You are covered by the RAMQ (Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec - Québec Health Insurance Board) or the Medicare plan of another Canadian province, based on your diplomatic status.
    
• You are covered by a health insurance plan provided by your diplomatic status that includes medical and hospital expenses.

School's health insurance premium will be only refunded upon presentation of RAMQ (or of the Medicare plan of another Canadian province) insurance proof before deadlines.

• If you are covered by the RAMQ or the Medicare plan of another province, you must contact the diplomatic mission in charge of you to get an agreement from Québec International Relations Ministry, or its equivalent in another province. You will then need the document that proves your eligibilty to the Medicare regime.
     
• If you are covered by a specific regime, you must secure a certificate of insurance with your name, coverage period and a summary of benefits before you leave your home country. If benefits are not mentioned on the certificate, you must have a copy of your insurance policy where they appear.

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To be exempted from the HEC Montréal health insurance plan, you must satisfy the following exemption conditions:

• You (or the person in charge of you) work for an international organization (governmental or non-governmental) 
• This organization has signed a convention with the RAMQ (Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec - Québec Heath Insurance Board).

School's health insurance premium will be only refunded upon presentation of RAMQ insurance proof before deadlines.

You must contact the international organization in charge of you to ask them if they have signed a convention with the RAMQ. If they have, it is your organization who must complete the procedure with the RAMQ so that you get medicare coverage.

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The HEC Montréal health insurance plan does not offer family coverage.

To insure dependents, you must contact insurance companies that offer a “Visitors to Canada” insurance on an individual basis.

We recommend that you check the Web sites of insurance companies to compare their programs and choose the ones that are best suited for your situation:

• 21st Century
• Manulife Financial Coverme
• ETFS
• Blue Cross 
• Travel Guard
• TIC Travel Insurance
• Travel Underwriters

For more information, please contact The Vigilis Group by email or by telephone at 450 682-7772 or 1 888 682-7772.

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Supplementary insurance is not required by HEC Montréal, though it may prove useful or necessary for covering costs not covered by RAMQ or the HEC Montréal health insurance plans, such as dental care, vision care or some long-term travel abroad (internships, exchange student):

The supplementary insurance offered by your student association includes coverage for dental care expenses. The insurance premium is automatically billed and added to your tuition fees.

For more information on the services covered by this plan, please visit the “dental care” section of the Santé étudiante website (available only in French).

Please note that if you do not wish to be covered by this insurance plan, it is possible to withdraw before the end of the withdrawal period.

Some students beholders of the Quebec insurance medical card (RAMQ) can eventually subscribe to the health part/portion. For further information and details, you can contact “Santé étudiante".

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For more information or to purchase a private supplementary insurance, contact an insurance company.

Supplementary health and travel insurance available in Québec (no complete):

• Financière Manuvie (Réseau HEC) 
• Québec Blue Cross 
• SunLife

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This complementary insurance does not allow to be exempted from the RAMQ. It allows, however, to cover the damages that are not covered by the RAMQ (dental and optical) and to offer a good protection while your time spent abroad or in France. This insurance can become essential in the event of a possible internship in France.

Resource person at CFE: Mrs Sophie Matias - smatias@cfe.fr

Guide Étudiant français: Assure-toi c'est vital (PDF - 1,25 Mo - only in French) gives you more information about health insurance and CFE.

Procedure to sign up for CFE: 

• Complete the form (available in the guide above).
• Send it to Mrs Sophie Matias, BP 100, 77950 Rubelles, France

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