The one thing you should never compromise is your health.

Did you know you have a great health and dental insurance plan available to you through IGNITE? You may not even know it exists!

Whether you are a new student making your debut at post-secondary or a returning student continuing your educational journey, you should know that your health is a priority. Being away from home can be daunting, especially as an international student; the last thing you need is uncertainty when it pertains to your well-being.

Here are a few ways IGNITE can help you remain in tip-top shape and provide assurances that if you need coverage, be it medical or dental, we’ve got your back.

Your health insured

Every student at Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber has access to health and dental insurance through IGNITE. You are automatically billed $116.65 per semester, which is bundled with your tuition fees. This plan helps cover medical expenses and services, sometimes in totality, sometimes partially.

Unless you opt out at the beginning of the semester (deadline is Oct. 10), you will receive, and subsequently have, coverage for the entire academic year. For peace of mind (which is priceless!), this is a bargain.

So, what exactly are you getting? Let’s delve into the particulars so you will know exactly who to call when you take a fall!

Ensuring you are going to be OK

Let’s get the technical components of the plan out of the way first. Full coverage simply means your insurance covers the full cost of a medical expense, so you don’t have to spend anything. Some services and/or medications are covered fully.

The other option, depending on the service or medication you need, is partial coverage. This is more commonly known as “cost-sharing,” and in this instance, you pay part of the medical expense or service, and your insurance covers the rest. There are different coverage amounts depending on what you need.

Two systems with one goal

This is split into two systems. Let’s break them down.

You may have heard of co-payments and/or deductibles and not fully understood what each term means. A co-payment is a fixed and predetermined amount of money that you must pay out-of-pocket for a specific medical service or prescription at the time the service is received.

A deductible is the amount you pay before your IGNITE insurance plan kicks in. So, for instance, if you have a $100 deductible, you pay that first and your insurance covers the rest.

The three plans and which is right for you

So, now that we know the basics, let us jump in and explore what options students have in terms of plans. There are three choices, which include as following: The Balanced Plan, the Enhanced Drug Plan and the Enhanced Dental Plan.

The Balanced Plan is the default plan, offering standard options across the board. The Enhanced Drug Plan is geared towards greater coverage for prescription medication, while the Enhanced Dental Plan provides greater coverage when it comes to dental insurance.

You don’t have to pay any additional fees to switch from the standard Balanced Plan to an enhanced plan, so having an idea of which one will ultimately be most useful to you as a student is crucial. This decision must be made before Oct. 10. Once this date hits, the plan will cover the entire policy year.

International students and health coverage

Let’s discuss some of the nuances of this coverage as it pertains to international students.

Domestic students have access to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), and the IGNITE Health & Dental Insurance is there to supplement the coverage in a number of key areas and fill any gaps in overall coverage.

International students must enroll in the mandatory international student insurance through Morcare insurance. Morcare replaces OHIP coverage and can be supplemented by IGNITE’s Health & Dental Insurance. Morcare is transitioning, and will be under the Alumo brand moving forward but your insurance provider is not changing. You can continue to submit claims the same way you have been while covered by your plan.

The International Centre can provide up-to-date information and general assistance for international students.

We are all in this together

A balanced diet, exercise and good habits will assist your body (and mind!) in staying healthy. For those times when you need an opinion on the severity of an injury or treatment for an unexpected illness, we have you covered. In addition, we keep those teeth shining with our comprehensive dental plan.

Alumo is IGNITE’s insurance administrator, and more information is available on their website. For any specific or confidential claim-related questions, you can visit our Health and Dental Insurance Plan page.

Simply select the Student Health Insurance On-Campus Representative tab for information about your campus representatives, their location and schedule. Navigating through all this information can be daunting, but you can arrange for a one-on-one, in-person consultation on your insurance plan straight from an expert, free of cost.

Feature image courtesy of Marcelo Leal via Unsplash

We know exercise and being active play a huge role in your overall health! Check out how Rhea Health, in conjunction with IGNITE, is revolutionizing how we approach health and well-being!

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