China News Service, Toronto, May 5th. The Chinese Consulate General in Calgary recently sorted out the misunderstandings of international students about the local health card, and consulted professionals to answer one by one to help Chinese students in the consular area understand their province/district health card and The difference between school medical insurance, so that everyone can apply for or update the health card in time to ensure smooth medical treatment during study abroad.
Misunderstanding 1: International students have already participated in the medical insurance of their school, and no longer need the provincial health card?
The medical insurance (Student Care) provided by the school for international students is different from the medical items covered by the Provincial Health Card (Health Care).
School medical insurance mainly provides discounts or exemptions for some self-paid items, such as seeing a dentist, matching glasses, and using an ambulance.
The provincial/regional health card mainly covers various local public medical items, such as doctor's diagnosis and treatment, hospital emergency, inpatient surgery, laboratory examination, imaging (X-ray, B-ultrasound, CT, MRI) examination, mental health consultation, etc.
Misunderstanding 2: To enjoy local public medical care, do not need to apply for a health card?
International students with a semester of more than 12 months can enjoy public medical care in their province/district, but they must apply for a health card in their province/district in advance.
Misunderstanding 3: The health card application procedures are complicated, too lazy to do it?
The basic materials for applying for a health card include application forms, passports, study visas and proof of residence (such as various bills with residential addresses), etc.
Different provinces/districts accept health card applications in different ways. You can apply in person, online, email or post to the Registry agent office. For specific requirements, please refer to the following website:
Alberta, Canada: https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-how-to-apply.aspx
Saskatchewan, Canada: https://www.ehealthsask.ca/residents/health-cards/Pages/Apply-for-a-Health-Card.aspx
Northwest Territories of Canada: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/applying-health-care
The consulate general reminds that during the epidemic, it takes a long time to apply for or renew a health card, so please apply as early as possible.
Misunderstanding 4: Young people are in good health, there is no need to apply for a health card?
Some international students believe that “they are in good physical condition and occasionally feel unwell, they can take their own domestic medicines, they don’t need to go to the local doctor, and there is no need for a health card”.
On the contrary, the health card is a precautionary medical protection, zero investment, zero risk, and one card in hand for no worries.
When encountering accidents (such as sports injuries, traffic accidents, infection with new coronary pneumonia, etc.), there is no need to worry about high medical expenses.
Prepare your health card in advance.
Misunderstanding 5: The health card is valid for life and does not need to be updated?
Normally, the validity period of the health card is the same as the validity period of the study permit, and the health card needs to be renewed after the extension of the study permit.
In principle, the health card is only valid in the province/region, and you need to apply for the local health card to go to school in other provinces/regions.
Misunderstanding 6: Have a health card and school medical insurance, do not need to buy commercial insurance?
The consular area of the Chinese Consulate-General in Calgary currently has no direct flights with China. Chinese students in the consular area must transit from Vancouver or Toronto whether they come to Canada or return to China.
The health card and school medical insurance cannot cover the cost of medical treatment during the transit period, and it is recommended to purchase commercial travel and medical insurance as appropriate.