Am I covered?

• All international students are automatically billed and enrolled under the ASU International Health Plan when they begin their studies at Acadia in the Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer terms.

• Note: Students on co-op in the fall term are not automatically billed or enrolled for coverage and must opt in should they wish to be enrolled under the plan

When does my coverage begin?

Fall enrollments: September 1-August 31
Winter enrollments: January 1-August 31
Spring enrollments: May 1-August 31

How much does my coverage cost?

*Family Fees are in addition to the cost of Single coverage. These fees are only applicable if your family has been enrolled at the same time as you. If your family has arrived after the beginning of your studies, please contact the ASU Supports Office for family rates.

Can I enrol my family?

• Family members can be added to the ASU International Health Plan upon payment of the appropriate fee and completion of the family opt in application. Eligible family members include spouse, common-law partner and dependent children.

• You can apply by visiting the ASU Supports Office or through our website.

• Please complete a family opt in application when your family arrives in Nova Scotia.

• If you are looking for coverage for non-immediate family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc) or for visiting friends, you may purchase our Visitors to Canada Plan. More information can be found here.

Can I opt out (cancel) the ASU International Health plan?

If you already have a health plan you may be able to opt out of the ASU International Health Plan
Your existing coverage must include the following;

• 1 million dollars in coverage (CAD)

• Be active for the entire duration of your study period

• Include at minimum, coverage for hospitalization, outpatient care, surgery, lab tests, diagnostic tests, and repatriation

• Policy in English

• Your policy must not contain any exclusions for medical services including hospitalization relating to being under the influence (i.e. alcohol) or for self-harm, self-inflicted injury, attempted suicide or suicide.

If you stay enrolled in both the ASU International Health Plan and your existing plan, you can combine coverage for maximum benefits. This is called Coordination of Benefits (COB). Benefits payable under this student plan will not exceed the combined total amount of eligible expenses incurred.

How do I opt out if I already have a plan?

• If you wish to opt out of the ASU International Health Plan you must do so in office or online by the designated opt out deadline. In order to opt out, you must have existing comparable coverage.

• In the opt out application, you must provide proof that you are enrolled under an existing policy. Proof must be a policy document in English.

• The opt out deadline is the same day fees are due to the University each year. You are required to opt out each year. There are no extensions or exceptions to the opt out deadline.

• If you opt out of the plan, you are not eligible to opt back into the plan until the next policy year (each September).

• If you are student on sponsorship through the Saudi Cultural Bureau, Libyan Government, CBIE, or Kuwait please contact the DSU Health Plan Office for assistance opting out.

I have both plans, what do they cover and what card do I use?

Click here for a roadmap explaining your plan differences.

How do I opt-out if I have MSI?

• If you wish to opt out of the ASU International Health Plan with MSI you must do so in office as soon as you receive your MSI card

• In the opt out application, you must provide proof of your active MSI card

• You will only be opted out for the months that your MSI card is fully active. (i.e. If your MSI card is effective October 15-August 31, you will be opted out from November-August)

• If your MSI card expires throughout the year, please obtain a new card ASAP. You will be opted out again once we receive a copy of your new card.

• You must visit the office within 30 days of receiving your MSI card

What if I miss the opt out deadline?

If you miss the opt out deadline, you have the ability to submit an appeal. Please note; an appeal does not guarantee you will be opted out of the plan. Please visit the ASU Support Office to complete and submit an appeal application.

How do I confirm service eligibility?

• You can complete THIS FORM to confirm eligibility of a service prior to a student seeking the service. This form can be completed and sent in to studentvip@medavie.bluecross.ca. The claims team will review and respond to the student with approval or denial within 48-72 business hours.

How do I submit a claim?

• Please present your health card at Acadia health services or the hospital to have your bills submitted to the insurance company directly. If you visit a doctor and pay up front, please bring all receipts and paperwork to the ASU Health Plan office for help completing a claim. You may also submit your claim online.

• Please visit the office for assistance completing claims for accidents and travel.

• Claims must be submitted 90 days after your coverage terminates or within one year from date of service, whichever comes first.

Where can I find a doctor?

Find a doctor close to you here.

Non-Emergency

Visit the Acadia Student Health Centre here for all non-emergency medical care
 

Where can I pick up my health plan card?

Please click here to receive your health plan wallet card and health plan information.

You may also visit the ASU Supports Office to obtain your Health Plan wallet card:

Acadia Students Centre: 30 Highland Avenue, Room 301A, Wolfville, NS B4P 1Y7

What is the contact information for the ASU Supports Office?

30 Highland Avenue, Room 301A, Wolfville, NS B4P 1Y7 

E-mail: info@ASUsupports.ca

Phone: 902-585-2167

Direct2U Doctors

Does Direct2U Doctors provide sick notes?
Yes. However, sick notes will only be issued for completed visits through Direct2U Doctors and are only issued for certain medical conditions and on standard GOeVisit-issued stationery.

Are sick notes issued by Direct2U Doctors Valid?
Your institution may have specific requirements for approved medical documentation and, as such, sick notes issued through Direct2U Doctors may not be accepted. Please refer to your institution's policy on sick notes.

 

Please contact the Student VIP office with any questions regarding your health and dental plan. If we can't help you, we'll let you know who can! You can Live Chat with Student VIP or you can visit our support page here to see who else you can speak to.

NOTE: Our Student VIP Representatives will make every effort to assist with specific coverage and eligibility questions. Ultimately, the policy document is the only true indicator of coverage. Please access your policy document in your Blue Cross portal for more information.


 

COMMON INSURANCE TERMS

CO-INSURANCE

Co-Insurance means you’re going to pay a little bit, and the carriers are going to pay the rest. For example, if you know your plan has an 80/20 co-insurance, it means that the carrier will pay 80 percent and you’ll pay the 20 percent remainder.

COORDINATION OF BENEFITS    

If you are covered by another extended plan in addition to your Student Plan (e.g. through a parent's or spouse's employer, or your own employer), you may coordinate the benefits in order to increase your overall coverage, up to 100%.

CO-PAY

You pay a portion of the cost of your prescriptions by paying either the same amount each time (e.g. $5) or a percentage of the total cost (e.g. 20%). If you’re paying a percentage, then you’re encouraged to shop around for the best available dispensing fees and ingredient costs

BENEFICIARY

A person who receives benefits under health care insurance through the Health Care Plan. A person eligible for benefits under a dental plan.

EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS (EOB)

An explanation of benefits (commonly referred to as an EOB form) is a statement sent by a health insurance company to covered individuals explaining what medical treatments and/or services were paid for on their behalf. The EOB is not a bill. It simply explains how your benefits were applied to that particular claim. It includes the date you received the service, the amount billed, the amount covered, the amount that the insurance company paid, and any balance you’re responsible for paying the provider.

DEDUCTIBLE

A deductible is an amount you pay for health care services before your health policy begins to pay.

BENEFIT YEAR

For students, this is the 12-month period spanning from Sept 1st - Aug 31st, providing coverage for the full school year.

CALENDAR YEAR

The 12-consecutive-month period that begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. 

REASONABLE & CUSTOMARY

Reasonable & Customary limits are the range of usual fees for comparable medical services in a geographical area. Like other benefit providers, Medavie Blue Cross® uses these limits to determine the maximum eligible amounts for health care services and supplies covered by your plan. We review reasonable and customary limits on a continual basis and make changes periodically to ensure our allowed amounts are representative of the current standard charges in the health care environment.

REPATRIATION

The term repatriation is not familiar to most travelers, so we felt as though it was important to include. Repatriation coverage means that the insurance company arranges for and handles the transportation necessary to return a covered person’s body to his or her home country, should they pass away during their time out of the country. This benefit will arrange and pay for reasonable and necessary expenses, including, but not limited to, expenses for embalming, an appropriate container for transportation, and shipping costs to transport your remains via the most direct and economical route.

MANDATORY PRODUCT SELECTION

MPS, quite simply, pays for the cost of a prescription up to the equivalent generic price.

DRUG TERMS 

MONITORED MEDICATION

A Monitored Medication, or controlled substance, is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated a Controlled Drug by the Controlled Drug and Substance Act. Examples include Dilaudid, Methadone, Demerol, OxyContin, Percocet, Morphine, Opium, Codeine, Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall), and Methamphetamine. Schedule III – These are substances that can still lead to moderate or low physical dependence and high psychological dependence.

DISPENSING FEES

A dispensing fee represents the charge for the professional services provided by a pharmacist when dispensing a prescription. The dispensing fee differs from pharmacy to pharmacy.  Student VIP is able to offer you student-friendly dispensing fees through some of our partners!

BRAND VS GENERIC 

Brand - A medication sold by a pharmaceutical company under a trademark-protected name. Brand Name are typically more expensive than generic drugs.

Generic - Generic drugs contain the same active medicinal ingredients as the brand name alternative, and are therefore considered therapeutic equivalents. However, the ingredients that actually combine the active ingredients may differ. For the most part, generic products will perform the same as their brand name counterparts, cost less and can reduce the costs of your health plan. It is recommended that you ask your health care professional to prescribe the generic drug whenever possible.

DRUG IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (DIN)

A DIN is an eight-digit number that tells you if the product has been approved for use and can legally be manufactured and sold in Canada.

DENTAL TERMS

ENDODONTIC

An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy – procedures, involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth, called the pulp. Endodontists perform a variety of procedures including root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment, treating cracked teeth, and treating dental trauma. Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures performed by Endodontists.

PERIODONTIC

Periodontal insurance refers to dental plans that include benefits for periodontal care. This care ranges from routine treatment of gums to assisting those diagnosed with gum disease, and can include the removal of calcium deposits (plaque, tartar, calculus, and stone) from around the tooth above and below the gum.

MINOR RESTORATIVE

Minor Restorative Dental Services typically include types of treatments and procedures that are relatively straightforward in nature. Minor Restorative Services can include Composite Fillings, Recementing Dental Crowns, Stainless Steel Crowns, etc.

MAJOR RESTORATIVE

Major Restorative Dental Services typically include procedures and treatments that are relatively more complex in nature. Major Restorative Services can include Dental Crowns, Dentures, Bridges, etc. 

PREDETERMINATION

A dental predetermination is an estimate of what your dental plan will cover and what you will be responsible for. Your dental office can submit an outline of the proposed treatment to Alberta Blue Cross® prior to proceeding with treatment. The predetermination is only an estimate, and does not guarantee the final costs you will be responsible for paying.

SCALING

Scaling teeth is part of a routine professional cleaning, and it involves scaling teeth and the gum line to remove plaque and tartar. This is done to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

RADIOGRAPHS

A radiograph (x-ray) helps dentists diagnose and treat dental problems, including cavities, gum disease, infections, and more. Radiographs allow dentists to see inside a tooth and beneath the gums to assess the health of the bone and supporting tissues that hold teeth in place.

ANESTHESIA

Dental Anesthesia is a field of anesthesia that includes not only local anesthetics but sedation and general anesthesia.

COMPLETE VS RECALL EXAM 

A Complete Exam consists of the dentist looking inside your mouth for things that can affect your oral – and overall – health. The complete exam can catch problems early before you see or feel them and when they are easier and less expensive to treat. Some of the problems that dentists can identify include deteriorating fillings, early signs of gum disease or oral cancer, etc.

A Recall Exam is a maintenance exam performed once a year following the initial oral examination. This exam helps to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental disorders that may have developed during the year. A recall visit typically includes an exam, as well and polishing and scaling.