Your health deserves VIP Treatment

Buckle up! Let’s put your health and wellness in the front seat.

IGNITE is all about supporting you in being your best self yet. You look best when you feel best! That’s why you shouldn’t settle for anything less. Good thing we’ve got you covered!

Your health is your wealth, am I right? Introducing the IGNITE Health & Dental Insurance Plan — your comprehensive coverage is designed to keep you healthy and worry-free. So you can stress less about medical expenses and focus more on yourself and your goals.

Now, let’s get cracking! Insurance talk can be overwhelming, yes. But you don’t have to stress! We’ll hold your hand and navigate through its complexities in this article. We’ve developed an explainer to get you grounded on the basics of your health and dental plan.

It pays to know the ins and outs of your coverage so you can make the most out of it. Are you ready to take control of your health? Let’s get started!

What insurance plans do I have?

Comparison of insurance plans for students: Domestic students get the IGNITE Health & Dental Plan, while international students receive the same plus Morcare (OHIP alternative insurance). Icons represent health coverage and documents on a gradient green-to-blue background. — *Graphic by Michelle Marasigan*

The IGNITE Health & Dental Insurance Plan is available to all Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber students, both international and domestic. Good news! Once you enrol, the system automatically registers you to this plan. No need to fuss. This plan covers prescription drugs, dental care, extended health care services, vision care, accidental benefits and travel insurance.

As an added protection, international students also get Morcare, the Mandatory International Students Insurance, on top of the IGNITE Health & Dental Insurance Plan. This OHIP alternative insurance covers medical costs such as doctor and hospital visits (e.g., emergency room visits) or lab work (e.g., blood tests and x-rays).

We Speak Students is the third-party insurance administrator for both plans.

What does my insurance plan cover?

A man with glasses looks at his left seemingly talking to someone. Text on the screen reads, "You have insurance on this thing, right?" — *Via GIPHY*

In a nutshell, here is a bird’s-eye view of what you get with the Balanced Plan:

Prescription drugs

80 per cent coverage.
$10.50 dispensing fee cap.
$2,000 maximum.

Dental

100 per cent coverage on one examination and consultation per one policy year.
100 per cent coverage on one cleaning and one unit of polishing service per policy year.
$500 maximum.

Vision

One eye exam every two years, $75 maximum.
$110 maximum for prescribed lenses, frames or contact lenses every two years.

Extended health

$300 maximum each policy year for each type of covered paramedical practitioners’ services (Ex. osteopath, registered dietician, acupuncturist, registered massage therapist, etc).

Accident benefits

Applicable to any accident, with support available 24 hours a day.
$1 million maximum.

Travel

Coverage for emergency injury or sickness sustained during travel.
$5 million lifetime maximum.

Student wellness programs

Subscription to Dialogue (a virtual healthcare platform).

Terms and conditions apply for each protection. Visit the We Speak Student page to get a detailed breakdown of the plan’s inclusions and exclusions.

Can I customize my insurance plan?

Table shows the comparison between the Balanced Plan, Enhanced Dental Plan and Enhanced Drug Plan in terms of Prescription drugs, dental, extended health and vision coverages. — *Table by Michelle Marasigan. Information from We Speak Student website.*

Yes! Students can customize their IGNITE Health & Dental Insurance Plan according to their needs by changing it to one of the enhanced plans. You can upgrade from either the Enhanced Dental Plan or the Enhanced Drug Plan, which will provide more coverage in a specific area. Note that all plans are the same price. Therefore, there is no additional cost to switching your plan.

Planning on opting out of your health and dental insurance? You can do so at the beginning of the academic year before the set deadline.

Take into account that students can only opt out of their plan if they have alternative coverage. That’s if they are covered in their workplace, by their spouses or by their parents.

What is the coverage period for my health insurance policy?

Illustration shows the timeline of when the insurance policy starts (September) and when it ends (August). — *Graphic by Michelle Marasigan*

The insurance policy year runs from September to August each year (e.g., Sept. 1, 2024 – Aug. 31, 2025). Your coverage renews at the start of the policy year; coverage doesn’t roll over.

In addition, you get a complimentary summer coverage when you have paid for two consecutive semesters (fall and winter). Yes, your summer semester is FREE of cost!

How do I use my insurance?

Shows the two kinds of insurance cards the benefit card for domestic students and the international student insurance card for international students. — *Graphic by Michelle Marasigan*

Insurance cards are issued to you for a convenient and readily accessible verification of your policy details.

For domestic students, IGNITE’s Your Student Health Plan Benefit Card is a physical copy that you can bring to claim your benefits. You can obtain a copy by heading to your campus’ IGNITE office.

For international students, the International Student Insurance Card is only accessible online. A digital copy can be generated through Morcare’s Your Space page. To generate your digital card, input your gender, birth date and student number.

How do I claim my benefits?

Illustration of the two ways of claiming benefits: direct billing and ClaimSecure. — *Graphic by Michelle Marasigan*

There are two ways to claim your benefits:

Direct Billing

Some healthcare providers will take care of the claims by directly billing the insurance company for the services they have rendered to you. No paperwork is needed!

ClaimSecure

If your healthcare provider does not offer direct billing, you can collect the receipt issued by the clinic or health center you visited. You have the option to file your own claim through the ClaimSecure website. Just login, upload your documents and wait for your money back. It’s that easy!

ACL representative is available on campus!

An illustration of two humans communicating. — *Graphic by Michelle Marasigan*

Also, special circumstances can arise that require more technical expertise. Worry not! An ACL representative is available on campus to answer any confidential claims-related questions.

The ACL representative can help you with the nitty-gritty of your insurance plan. Make sure to check their campus availability before planning your visit.

A guy in the passenger seat looks at the driver with the text that reads, "Don't worry. I've got it covered." — *Via GIPHY*

Health and wellness start by getting to know your insurance by heart. Say goodbye to stress and unexpected costs and hello to a plan that’s got your back. When you are covered, you can focus on what truly matters — achieving your goals, chasing your dreams and slaying every day.

Have you used your insurance yet? Share your experience with us @shareignite!

Feature image courtesy of Owen Beard via Unsplash.

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