Coverage Dates
Coverage dates are set by UBC according to your first term and program type, and are indicated on the iMED Card emailed to you by DCIS.
Note:
You may need to change or add to your coverage dates depending on when you arrive in Canada. Read notes below for details.
One-term exchange students
One-term exchange students have iMED for a period of 130 days to cover their one academic term, taking into consideration the UBC Residence move-in dates. The coverage dates are:
Academic Year 2024-2025
Summer Term 1: April 25, 2025 – September 1, 2025
Summer Term 2: May 15, 2025 – September 21, 2025
Academic Year 2025-2026
Winter Term 1: August 26, 2025 – January 2, 2026
Winter Term 2: December 23, 2025 – May 1, 2026
Other non-degree seeking students
The iMED coverage period for unclassified, access studies, and visiting students, will be set by UBC according to your program type and period of studies. You may have iMED coverage for one academic term (same as exchange students above), or for a specific number of months (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months). Refer to your iMED Card to confirm your coverage period.
Students in a program longer than 6 months
(Degree seeking, two-term exchange, VIRS & other students studying more than 6 months)
Your iMED coverage period is designed to cover you for the waiting period before you become eligible for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), up to a maximum of three months. (Enrolment on MSP is mandatory for all eligible BC residents including study permit holders). The MSP waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC, plus the next two calendar months. For example, if you were to arrive in BC on August 25, you should be eligible for MSP on November 1.
The default iMED coverage periods for students in a program of 6+ months duration are:
Students starting Winter Term 1: August 1 – October 31
Students starting Winter Term 2: December 1 – February 28
Students starting Summer Term 1: April 1 – June 30
Students starting Summer Term 2: June 1 – August 31
Note:
1. Within your assigned coverage dates coverage takes effect on the date you arrive in Canada.
2. If during your iMED coverage period you enter Canada outside BC, and do not enter BC within the same calendar month as your date of entry into Canada, then you may need to purchase an iMED Extension in order to be covered for your full BC MSP waiting period. For this situation please contact DCIS.
3. iMED members are also covered while travelling from your home country or primary place of residence to Canada, if your total travel itinerary is ten days or less and your arrival date in Canada is not earlier than the start date of your iMED coverage.
What if I will arrive in Canada before my iMED start date?
If you will arrive in Canada before the iMED coverage start date assigned to you, you may purchase Advance Coverage through DCIS. Be sure to buy advance coverage before you arrive in Canada.
What if I arrive in Canada in a calendar month later than my iMED start date?
If your UBC program is over six months duration and you will arrive in Canada after the calendar month in which your iMED starts (for example if your iMED starts August 1, but you arrive in September or later), then you must apply to DCIS for a Coverage Dates Change so that your iMED coverage aligns with your MSP waiting period. DCIS will issue you a new iMED Card based on coverage that starts in the calendar month you arrive.
Note: Coverage date changes do not apply to students in programs with fixed iMED coverage dates, such as one-term exchange students.
