Graduate Extended Health and Dental Plan
All international students enrolled at Western University are automatically enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) which is your basic health insurance plan. In addition, full-time students are also enrolled in an extended health insurance plan outlined below based on your student status.
It is important to note that your extended health plan is not the same as UHIP. UHIP has a different company as an insurer and provider and therefore, the two plans have different cards, benefits, claims processes, and fees.
Your Extended Health Insurance is designed to cover a portion of healthcare costs not covered by your UHIP plan.
Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) Student Health and Dental Plan
Eligibility: Full-time Graduate Students at Western University who have paid their ancillary fees are automatically covered by the SOGS Enhanced Health & Dental Plan.
To double-check if you will be active on this plan, please check your Western student statement(s) in Student Centre to confirm if you have been charged. It is listed as “SOGS Health & Dental Plan”.
Full-time graduate students are also enrolled in an extended health insurance plan through SOGS which covers some medical expenses related to prescriptions, physiotherapy, dentist, eye care, etc. International students are required to be enrolled in both the UHIP and SOGS health plans, unless they have an approved equivalent plan. Visit sogs.ca/healthplan/ for full details.
The plan is not a replacement for, but a supplement to the benefits provided by UHIP. To access your benefits card and online submissions forms, you will need to register online with StudentVIP. Once registered, your benefit card can be picked up at the SOGS office.
Teaching Assistants - PSAC Local 610
Full-time registered graduate students who hold a GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistant) position and other members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 610 at Western have access to the union's Extended Health Plan (EHP). Members receive health benefits that are not offered through UHIP and the SOGS health plans. This plan is a supplement to a GTA’s existing health insurance coverage (e.g., UHIP, SOGS Health & Dental Plan, private insurance). The Extended Health Plan acts as a rebate system that covers both physical and mental health costs up to $1,000/year. Visit https://www.psac610.ca/teaching-assistant-benefits for full details.
Dental plan
Limited dental coverage is offered through the SOGS, and the PSAC Local 610 plans. If you do not have dental coverage, you may choose to include a dental plan option with your supplementary health insurance plan.
Dental Care
Emergency dental treatment is available, for a fee, at the Dentistry Clinic at Western University. This dentistry clinic is a teaching institution where you will be treated by dental students (who are under the direct supervision of qualified instructors). The cost is generally lower than private dentists.
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry - Dentistry Clinic
Location: Room 1003, Dental Sciences Building
Telephone: 519-661-3326
