This insurance is very high quality medical insurance for international students coming to B.C. or Alberta, Canada. It is low cost, with generous definitions for covered illnesses or injuries.

1. Summary
2. Benefit Definitions & Details
3. Limitations and Exclusions
4. Enrollment, Expiry, Termination, and Premium Selection
5. Claims Procedures & Payments
6. Why enroll onto this plan?
7. Privacy Policy

Condition to qualify:
To enroll you must be accepted as a registered student or employee of a Canadian client-school, college or university. This insurance is effective only as long as you are a registered and active student or employee at a client-school, college or university in Canada. You may change client-schools while insured.

Benefits, terms and conditions are governed by Master Policy #9220686 issued by The Citadel General Assurance Company. A copy of the Master Policy, enrollment material and documentation are on file with the International Education Offices of those Universities, Colleges and Public School Districts and Private Schools in B.C. and Alberta which are clients of Strategic Financial Services.

Exclusively Designed, Managed and Provided By:
Mr. R. Rhys Jones, Strategic Financial Services
Phone: 1-250-383-3634 Fax: 1-250-383-3027
#500-2950 Douglas Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. V8T 4N4

(c) R. Rhys Jones, Strategic Financial Services, 2000. E&OE

To enroll for this insurance, you must contact the school you will be attending.

See Summary in:
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#1 Summary

This insurance is exclusively for: short term or full term, international or returning Canadian, students or employees registered with our client-(schools, colleges and universities) in Canada, and their spouses and dependent children. To maintain the very high quality and very low cost of this program some restrictions apply, and proof you do qualify for this insurance will be required from your Canadian school.

Pays up to One Million Dollars Canadian (C$1,000,000) per illness or per injury per insured person, as determined by the Master Policy. Definitions, Benefits and Limitations are detailed in the following.

Hospital benefit: In-Patient, Out-Patient, Day Surgery expenses resulting from Illness or Injury.

Medical benefit: Doctors, Surgeons, Medical Specialists, Nurses, X-Ray and Lab Tests.

Extended medical benefits: Prescribed Drugs, X-Rays, Lab Tests, Dental Injury, Paramedical Professionals, Vision Test, Health Exam, Ambulance, Nursing, Physiotherapy

Supplies; medical and rehabilitation: During treatment and during recovery while insured.

Travel Outside of Canada: Part A) Independent Travel, and Part B) School-Organized Travel

Repatriation of deceased: Back to home country

Family Transportation: To the hospital bedside of a deceased, ill or injured student/employee

No deductibles or co-insurance cost-sharing amounts: Actual Costs, up to the amounts of the Provincial Non-Resident Medical and Hospital Fee-Guides, set by the Provincial Government and Provincial Medical Association in your province of study. (See... Deductible Amounts, coordination with other insurers)

Direct-Payment: Doctors or Hospitals may direct-bill the insurer with diagnosis codes for direct-payment.

Important Condition:
- First signs of Illness must appear after the insurance is effective for the insured person.
- Injury expenses must be for a non-recurrent injury which first occurred during the person's effective period.


#2a Definitions

Policy-Holder: Any private school, or, public school district, trade, technical or professional school, college or university (English Language or International Student or Student Services Office, or Students' Union, or Human Resources, or Central Management Office, or Health Services Dept.) which has requested, in writing, that their school be endorsed onto the master policy as a joint policy-holder, and where The Insurer and Strategic Financial Services have issued a letter of endorsement accepting that school as a joint policy-holder.

Insured Person: Registered and Active Student or Employee, and Spouse of insured student or employee up to their age 69, and dependent child of student or employee who is under the age of 21 and who is named on the enrollment card as being insured. The insured spouse and/or dependent child(ren) must live in the same home with the student or employee in Canada while being insured.

Spouse: Legally married as the conjugal partner, husband or wife of the student or employee and be on record as being insured and who lives in the same home with the student or employee in Canada while insured. The insurer reserves the right to review documentation proving marriage.

Or: A person of the opposite sex who co-habited with the student or employee for more than one year before being insured and who is publicly held out as the common-law husband or wife of the student or employee and who lives in the same home with the student or employee while being insured.

Dependent: Natural or legally adopted children of the student or employee who are under the age of 21, and who live full time in the same home with the student or employee in Canada while being insured.

Injury: Non-recurrent Injury to the insured person's body, being the result of an accident which first occurred while insured, and the expenses to treat such injury or injuries are incurred in the Province of Residence of the insured student or employee, spouse or dependents. (also see Travel Medical)

Sickness / Illness: After the insured person's effective date and during the insured period, a disease causing illness provided the symptoms of illness are first evident within the insured period, and the expenses to treat such illness are incurred in the Province of Residence of the insured student or employee, spouse or dependents. (also see Travel Medical and Chronic Illness)

Pre-Existing Condition: Any illness or injury or cosmetic skin condition or medical treatment which the insured person had symptoms of, or which had occurred within the six month period before this insurance was made effective for the insured person. (also see Limitations and Exclusions or Chronic Illness) 
"Pre-existing condition" includes old injuries which are occasionally recurrent.

Pays "Actual Expenses" or "Reasonable and Customary Expenses": The payment for required medical treatment received, in the Province of Canada where the student or employee works, studies and resides. In Canada, this means the amount of the actual expenses up to the non-resident fee-schedule published by that Provincial Government's Medical or Hospital Services Plan, and that Province's Medical (Doctors') Association Non-Resident Fee-Guide. (Expenses in excess of that Guide or Schedule are the insured person's personal expense, and will not be paid or reimbursed by this insurance.)

Outside of Canada, reasonable and customary fees means the average fees charged for similar emergency medical services and supplies to individuals in the state or country where the emergency services were medically required. Outside your province of residence, but in Canada, this means non-residents' fee-guide charges.

Physician, Attending Physician, Surgeon, Specialist: Each must be a certified, recognized Medical Doctor (M.D.), with recognized education, registered and legally certified to practice in their area of specialty. "Attending Physician": is the M.D. who has primary responsibility for the overall care of the patient. (This is usually the doctor who provided the initial care, or is coordinating care.)

Effective Date: The date your insurance becomes effective. If January 01 is your effective date, the time it takes effect is 12:01A.M., January 01. This is on the condition you are not injured or sick on that Effective Date. If you are sick or injured on the Effective Date, no payments will be made for treatment for that injury or illness. However, any new qualifying illness or injury which occurs after this effective date will be insured as in the terms of the policy.

Expiry Date: This is the date your insurance expires. If your expiry date was March 31, it will expire at 11:59 P.M., March 31.

Extending Insurance: You may extend your insurance BUT, you must extend it before the expiry date. If you attempt to extend your insurance after the expiry day, you will only be able to enroll into a new term of insurance. A new term of insurance will insure medical conditions, according to the policy, against illnesses or injuries which did not exist within the six months before being insured by this new term of insurance.
(With no exceptions, this means if a person was insured and became ill or injured under the terms of the first certificate of insurance, and they did not extend that first term before expiry date, but allowed any time or days to separate the last day of the first certificate and first day of a new certificate, that illness or injury under the first term of insurance has become a "pre-existing condition" and will not be insured by the new term of insurance.)


#2b Medical, Surgical and Diagnostic Benefits

Pays actual expenses when, as a result of injury or illness which first occurred while insured by this policy:

1. Hospital Benefits: When injury or illness of an insured person medically requires confinement or out-patient treatment in a hospital, the insurer will pay the actual expenses charged by the hospital, up to the non-resident daily public ward fee, or out-patient fee set by that Province's Ministry of Health, and charged by the hospital. (We suggest using hospitals only in emergencies as some hospitals' fees exceed Government non-resident fee guides. Over-charges paid by the student will not be reimbursed.)

2. Surgical, and Anesthetists: When necessary due to injury or illness, the insured person incurs eligible expenses for surgery or anesthetic treatment by legally qualified physicians and surgeons the insurer will pay the actual expense for such services and treatment.

3. Medical Care: When the insured requires treatment by legally qualified Physicians (doctors), Surgeons, or certified and registered Medical Specialists as ordered by the Attending Physician, the insurer will pay the actual expense for such qualifying treatment.
(Exclusions include: Expenses for consultations or treatment for contraception, pregnancy, infertility, hair loss, or male impotency are not eligible for payment. Treatment for cosmetic conditions must be necessary due to accidental injury which occurred while insured, otherwise cosmetic treatments are not eligible. See Stress for comments on psychological conditions)

4. Cosmetic Treatment: When an insured person requires cosmetic treatment due to injuries incurred in an accident which occurred while insured, the insurer will pay the actual expense for medically required treatments. (Ordinary acne, skin blemishes and birthmarks, etc... are not eligible.)

5. Diagnostic Laboratory Tests and X-Rays: If the Physician orders X-Ray or Laboratory examinations and analysis as a result of an injury or illness, to assist in diagnosis and treatment, the insurer will pay the actual expense for such tests.

(Note: many hospitals charge $350 or more for Lab tests or X-Rays. This plan pays to non-resident fee guides. In B.C. insured students will be forced then to pay any additional amounts for such tests at B.C. hospitals. High quality, fully competent Private Laboratories, such as Metro, charge lower fees, and this plan pays those eligible costs entirely. We recommend using private laboratories for Lab Tests and X-Rays.)

6. Nursing Care: Only as required by the written order of the Physician, expenses up to $10,000 per injury or illness will be paid provided the nurse was never ordinarily resident at the insured person's home, and is not related to the insured person's family.


#2c Extended Benefits

Provided the insured person's injury or illness and treatment occurred while insured by this policy and expenses are incurred as follows on the order of the Attending Physician, the insurer will pay the actual expenses as defined, subject to the terms and limitations of the master policy. As reviewed below:

1. Drugs, Medicines, Serums and Vaccines: Drugs which are only available by a written prescription from a Physician or legally qualified and licensed Dentist, and which are dispensed by a legally qualified and registered Pharmacist, which are required as a result of illness or injury which occurred while insured, up to a 90 day supply. This will include the charges for the administration of serums, anti-toxins and vaccines, but will not include the charges for the administration of injectable prescription drugs.
Not insured are any drug: not having a "D.I.N." nor drugs prescribed for: contraception (birth control or spontaneous abortion drugs); fertility; hair loss; cosmetic purposes (example: acne); sex change or sex-performance enhancement; smoking cessation; experimental, or "over-the-counter" non-prescription medicines or, generic or branded non-prescription patent medicines. Non-prescription vitamins, natural or herbal remedies are also not insured.

2. Ambulance Services: In a medical emergency, transportation charges for a licensed ground ambulance to the nearest hospital equipped to provide the required treatment. Or if a physician prescribes it, an emergency air ambulance, to a maximum of $5,000.00 per injury or sickness.

3. Supplies:
- Up to $5000 Rental Cost: Wheelchair, drug pumps, hospital-type bed, or other durable medical equipment required for temporary therapeutic use, as prescribed by the Attending Physician.
- Blood Charges: This will include the cost of administering blood or plasma.
- Up to $2,000 for Devices: At the insurer's option, the rental or purchase cost for braces, splints, artificial limbs or eyes, or prosthetic/ambulatory devices, as medically required and ordered by the Attending Physician.

4. Paramedical Treatment: At the i) Chiropractor; ii) Osteopath; iii) Podiatrist; iv) Speech Therapist; v) Physician-prescribed Masseur; vi) Licensed Psychologist. Each has a maximum of $300 per year. If a Chiropractor, Osteopath, Podiatrist or Chiropodist requires a diagnostic X-ray, the limit is one x-ray per insured person.

5. Physiotherapy: to a maximum of $1,000 per year, as referred by the Attending Physician.

6. Vision Test: For new vision difficulties, one test per insured person by either an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist. The cost of eyeglasses or contact lenses or corrective surgery are not insured.

7. $2,000 Dental Injury: If, during the period of insurance, an external blow to the face results in injury to whole and healthy teeth which require X-rays, Emergency Treatment, Restorative Treatment or Replacement, by a legally qualified and registered Dentist or Oral Surgeon, the insurer will pay the reasonable and customary expenses actually incurred within 52 weeks of the date of the accident to a maximum of $2,000 for any one accident. The actual expenses incurred are not to exceed the Province's Dental Association Fee Guide for the services provided.
(Capped or Crowned teeth will be considered whole and sound.)

8. Repatriation of a Deceased Person: If injury or illness which first occurred while insured by this policy, results in the death of an insured person, the insurer will pay the necessary expenses to prepare and transport the deceased person's body to a funeral home or place of burial or cremation in their city of permanent residence or home country of origin. Maximum $5,000. (see Suicide Exclusion)

9. Family Transportation Benefit: If an illness or injury, which occurred while insured by this policy, results in the loss of life of the insured person, or results in a hospital confinement longer than 4 consecutive days and requires the regular care and attendance of a Physician, the insurer will pay the reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred by one member of the insured person's immediate family (father, mother, spouse, son, daughter) for accommodation and meals, round-trip economy transportation by the most direct route from their normal residence to the place of study or hospital, if the insured was not already traveling with such a family member, as follows:

Limitations: Maximum total combined expense: $5,000 CDN, as follows:
75% of the cost of one round-trip economy fare by Air, Bus, Train or Boat, each holding current Government Certification as being for the use of For Hire Public Transportation.
- or -
$0.20 per Kilometer for auto transportation if driving from original place of residence.
- and-
Board and Accommodation maximum, $50CDN /day.

All expenses for Board & Accommodation are limited to a maximum time-duration:
5 consecutive days if Loss of Life requires Family Transportation to the location of the deceased.
-or-
A maximum total of 20 consecutive days of Hospitalization, whether or not loss of life occurs.

10. Out-of-Canada Travel Benefit:
Part A: Independent Travel: U.S. only travel which is not school-sponsored travel. If you choose to travel out-of-Canada while still an active student there is a four (4) day emergency medical benefit, which includes only Medical, Surgical & Diagnostic Benefits, #1, 2, 3, 6, & 7, plus Extended Benefits: #1, 2, 3 & 4 (#3, Devices limited to Emergency Treatment). This expires after the fourth (4th) day of departing Canada. Travel to Alaska, California and New York City are not insured (excluded).

Part B: If you travel on a school: -sponsored, -organized and -supervised event, world-wide, there is a thirty (30) day full, complete policy benefit. This includes organized humanitarian, sports, study or cultural trips.


#3 Limitations and Exclusions

Deductible Amounts: There is no user-fee "deductible" amount. But, there are amounts which the insurer will not pay, or which would or should be paid by other organizations. Any expenses payable by any of the following will not be considered eligible for payment by this insurance:
a) any other Government or Group Hospital, Surgical, Medical or Dental plan, or
b) any Workers' Compensation Act, or
c) any Public or Tax-supported Agency.
d) any automobile Insurance
And, no expenses will be duplicated by this insurance. Expenses may be coordinated with any pre-existing, or second, medical insurance plan the insured person may hold. That first, pre-existing insurance is considered the "First-Pay Insurer". (This insurance may then pay the remainder of eligible expenses up to the policy limits for required eligible services.)

This policy does not pay expenses or losses, fatal or non-fatal, caused or resulting from:

1) service or treatment for sickness or injury incurred while not insured;

2) pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or any complication to pregnancy, nor any consultation, treatment or drugs for contraception, fertility, or infertility, or impotency, or spontaneous abortion. However, complications causing sickness to the mother while insured will be treated as Sickness, provided the sickness commenced during the period of insurance;

3) acts of declared or undeclared war; participating in criminal acts; participation in a riot or civil commotion;

4) intentional self-inflicted injury while sane, nor unintentional self-inflicted injury while insane; suicide or attempts at suicide or self destruction;

5) drugs, medicines, preventatives, vaccines (other than as noted in Extended Health; Drugs); nor experimental treatments, over-the-counter preparations or patent medicines; nor general health examinations nor health examinations for third party (example: application for employment or immigration)

6) cosmetic or dental treatments unless specifically required as a result of an accidental injury which first occurred while insured;

7) any dental treatment or injury to teeth except as is described in Dental Injury;

8) costs for treatments covered by automobile insurance or any Workers Compensation or Occupational Disease Act or Law; or, as provided, or paid, or due from any Federal or Provincial Hospital or Medical Plan or Act;

9) active full-time services in any armed forces of any country;

10) injuries occurring as a result of participating in stunt/acrobatic flying, hang-gliding, motorized racing or speed contest, or any professional athletics;

11) any expenses which are incurred outside of Canada except those as provided in Travel Medical; Expenses incurred during Independent Travel outside of Canada and the USA will not be insured. The benefits which apply during Independent Travel are limited to the Emergency Medical and Hospital Benefits required as a result of Emergency Treatment for Illness or Injury which occurred in the area of Canada or the USA and where treatment was obtained. Alaska, California or New York City are excluded areas for illness or injury under the Independent Travel Benefit.

School-Sponsored Group Travel benefits include full policy benefits for treatments obtained in the area in which injury or illness first occurred. The insurer retains the right to transport the insured person to the hospital nearest their Canadian residence (area of school)

12) consultation or services or treatment for any illness or injury conditions which the insured person was receiving treatment or change in prescription within the 6 months before they became insured by this policy. Except, medical service for a chronic sickness or syndrome which is treated and stabilized through the regular use of prescribed drugs, and which did not require a change in prescription during that 6 months, as described in the Master Policy.

A history of repeated, recurring specific injury before becoming insured under this policy, (example: torn ligaments, or dislocated shoulder) will cause any claims to treat repeats of that injury occurring while insured to possibly be declined.


# 4 Enrollment: Becoming Insured

To enroll for this insurance, you must contact the school you will be attending.

It is best to be insured before you arrive in Canada. Then, your Effective Date can be your arrival date and you can be insured the moment you arrive in Canadian airspace or, if driving, when you cross into Canada over the Canadian Border.

To do this:
1.) When you have a Letter of Acceptance from the school you will attend, and your Canadian Student Authorization or Work Permit for your Passport and you know the day you will arrive in Canada, contact the international education office at the school and enroll for this insurance. If your entry into Canada is delayed, then the effective date will be your date of entry, as stamped on your passport or other proof of entry.

- Your insurance card will be at that International Education or Student Services Office.
- You must obtain and sign your card at that office for your insurance to become effective.
-or-
2.) Choose to enroll after you arrive at your school, college or university in B.C. or Alberta. If you do this, and only if your school is a Strategic Financial Services client, your Effective Date becomes the date you complete, sign and pay for your enrollment card. Your school will mail us the premium and card.

However, this means if you were injured or developed any illness after you entered Canada, but before you enrolled into this insurance, that injury or illness may become an excluded Pre-Existing Condition, and no benefit will be paid for treatment to that pre-existing injury or illness.
-or-
3.) Your school may include medical insurance fees in your registration fee or deposit. Then you will complete the enrollment card at that school, and the Effective Date becomes (1) the date you arrive in Canada, or (2) the date you arrive at the school to commence classes, whichever procedure that school and international student coordinator uses for their enrollment procedure. The school will then send Strategic Financial premium payment and enrollment information.

NOTE: If you are the student and your spouse or dependent children also need medical insurance, your school's registration deposit may include your medical premium, but never includes premiums for spouse and dependent insurance. Spouse and dependent premium must be paid to the school in addition to any deposit you may pay. Add your spouse and children's names onto your insurance enrollment card.  If you pay for your self and dependents at the school, they will remit the correct premium and enrollment information to us.

If you enroll at your school, some schools choose the start date of classes as the Effective date. Other schools fax us a list of students and their expected entry dates into Canada, and ask for the Effective Date to be the students' entry date.

If you were injured or developed an illness before the Effective Date on your card, that would be a pre-existing condition, and no benefit will be paid for treatment to that pre-existing injury or illness. For this reason it is good to be enrolled before you enter Canada.


Expiry Date: (is different in each Province)

In Canada, residents have Provincial Government Medical and Hospital Insurance. Each Provincial Government independently administers their plan in their province and independently make their own rules about Government Medical Insurance eligibility. Provinces do not allow competition from private medical insurance companies. See Provincial Rules to determine your Expiry Date, and for an eligibility summary for the province you will be studying in.

If you are not eligible for government medicare, your expiry date should be the expiry date of your Visa, not to exceed eight (8) months, after which you may enroll in a new period of insurance for another eight (8) month term, so long as you remain an active, registered student at the client-school, and are not eligible for Government medical insurance.


Termination or Expiry of Insurance

This insurance (of any insured student, staff, spouse and dependent) will end, expire or terminate on the earliest of the following dates (whichever occurs first):

- The expiry date on your insurance card or certificate...

Or... if your card has not yet expired...
- The day any insured person becomes age 69, or
- on the seventh (7th) day after no longer being an actively registered and studying student or actively working employee of your Canadian school, college or university, or
- on the day of becoming ineligible for insurance (example: dependant turns age 22), or
- the date your school, college or university requests their endorsement as a policy-holder be canceled or terminated or lapsed, or
- the date you become eligible for a Canadian Federal or Provincial Government Health, Medical, Hospital Insurance Plan in your Province of study or employment.
- Insurance is ineffective as long as any insured person's insurance premium remains unpaid and due.

This insurance will cease to be effective seven days after you leave your school to travel and are not registered to return and your registration fees are not paid for your return to that client-school. No refunds will be made in any such case for any unused period of insurance.

If you are leaving your school for a short period during a Christmas, Easter or Spring break, and you have paid your registration fees for your return, and you are registered to return, coverage can continue, subject to any Travel Benefits limitations (i.e. four day independent travel condition, etc...)


#5 Claim Payments

All Claims: Your invoice for payment, or receipt for reimbursement MUST show; Date of Service, Diagnosis Code and Procedure Fee Code, your certificate number and your name. We must also be instructed to either: refund the student, or pay the medical service provider. In either case we must also know an address where to mail the payment.

Occasionally, the insurer will send a student a claims-form for the Doctor to complete. The student is responsible for any cost in completing this form. This almost always happens when the student's receipt does not have full information on it. When a student obtains a receipt from a doctor or medical facility the required information must be on that receipt, or you will get a claim-form, which will delay your payment. Be certain to have the medical office PUT THE INFORMATION ON YOUR RECEIPT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THEIR OFFICE. (required information is listed on the back of your card.)

Claims sent to us with complete information are normally paid within five weeks:
a) directly to the provider of medical service, if they will invoice or bill us. Or,
b) reimbursed directly to the insured student or employee. You must send us the original receipt showing you did pay the billing. Or,
c) reimburse or pay your school, if they paid the medical expense, or the school's medical clinic if they bill us. Original receipts or invoices are required.
Claims will not be paid if you send a photocopy or facsimile of a receipt. The original is required.

All claim payments are made according to the Provincial Doctors' Medical Association and Provincial Ministry of Health Non-Resident Medical and Hospital Schedule of Fees. Each Province has different fee charges for "non-residents".

Claims are paid only in Canadian Dollars (CDN). Eligible claims incurred in any other country, which are billed directly to the insurer by the medical service provider in that country, will be paid to that service provider in their currency. But all amounts are limited to the Canadian Dollar equivalent maximums after currency exchange, for each service as noted in the policy and on this website. 
(For example, an eligible claim incurred in the U.S.A. for chiropractic service may cost $50.00 US. If the Canadian dollar was $0.65 US, the amount will approximate $76.92 CDN. If $50.00 US is the reasonable and customary amount in that state, that amount would be paid, as the limit for Chiropractic expenses is $300 CDN. If the claim was $300 US ($461.54 CDN), the maximum payment is $300 CDN, approximately $194 US. You then will not be reimbursed for approximately $106 US)

If the insurer has a reason to believe the illness or injury you received treatment for is a "pre-existing medical condition", they have the right to request further medical information from your attending physician or home-country doctor. They have the right to delay payment of your claim until the doctor's report is received. (In sixteen years, the insurer has only asked for a home-country doctor's report twice.)


#6 Why Enroll In This Policy?

If you have travel insurance or student insurance from your home country...

Those plans most often are Emergency and Acute Illness or Injury coverage only. They do not cover most needs of most students, most of the time.
Our program also insures against minor illness and injury because of our definitions of eligible injuries or illnesses. Our intent is to keep students healthy and at school.

Those plans most often insure emergency treatment only, and may not insure follow-up treatments. All emergencies require one or more follow-up treatments or consultations after the emergency is over.
Our program insures physician ordered follow-up treatments.

Most home-country plans have deductibles of $25.00- $300 US either one-time or per use. Some deductibles are $750 US per day in the hospital. Students must pay those costs before those policies will pay other amounts. They do so to keep the claims frequency low, and to eliminate insuring students for minor illnesses or injuries. Deductibles often stop students from seeking early medical attention.
Our student program has no deductibles, and is limited only by policy dollar limits, or by the non-resident fee schedules posted by the doctors' provincial medical associations, or the provincial government ministries of health for hospital fees to non-residents. If doctors or hospitals charge more than their non-resident fee guide, we will not pay or reimburse any over-charges.

We see students from the Pacific Rim, notably Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia, who purchased Accidental Death, or Dread Disease insurance from their home country. That is not medical insurance. Those types of plans can pay nothing toward the cost of health maintenance, but only a lump sum payment if you contract Small Pox or other rare and now obscure diseases. (They most often exclude malaria and tuberculosis, diseases prevalent in less developed or tropical regions).

Home country medical insurance excludes pre-existing medical conditions. We also exclude those, except for chronic medical... They exclude pregnancy and contraceptive consultations. We exclude those also. They exclude self-inflicted injury, we also exclude those.

Home-country policies are almost always more expensive than our program.

American students, coming from the USA, often carry their family's health plan. Those may be good plans in the US, but if you check with your insurer, you will find they insure your student outside the USA for Emergency Services only, excluding follow-up treatments, forcing students to return home to continue treatment through the insurers' Health Management Organization (HMO). Also, students will first pay for treatment then seek reimbursement from your insurer. Your student then will choose to spend money to stay healthy, or spend the money on their costs of living. 
We will pay for routine or emergency treatments, and follow-up treatments, and if a doctor or hospital will bill us directly, we will pay direct.

No insurance plan is perfect. Provincial Government plans are very good. Our student plan is very good, low cost and includes extended benefits. Our policy terms and conditions are more comprehensive than emergency plans. US students are well-advised to enroll onto our plan and the government health plans when possible. Emergency plans can be false economy. In some circumstances some costs may not be completely paid by any plan.


Provincial Government Medical Insurance Plans

International Students, Students applying for Landed Immigrant Status, or Returning Canadian Students...

In every province which allows International Students to be insured under their provincial medical plan you must apply directly to the government. Also, you should apply as soon as you arrive in that province. It can take a long time to get your card. Many International Education offices have the applications, but if they do not, you will obtain them from the Provincial Government, Ministry of Health office.

Most students ask to be insured by our plan for their entire stay in Canada, because we provide many supplementary medical benefits. This is not acceptable because the government does not allow us to insure a person who is eligible for government insurance. Government plans are economical, very easy to use, and are very good basic medical and hospital insurance.

For this Strategic Financial Student Insurance to remain effective, you must be registered as a student and actively studying at a client-school. When your studies terminate, your eligibility for insurance will terminate seven days after your studies terminate.


Alberta: 
(phone area codes: South: Calgary, Banff, Lethbridge, Red Deer 403; North: Edmonton, Jasper, Grande Prairie, Camrose, Lloydminster 780)

If you are registered to study in Alberta for twelve (12) months or longer, and your visa is for 12 months or longer, you may immediately be insured under the Alberta Health Care plan. You must apply and provide a copy of your Student Authorization to the Alberta Ministry of Health as soon as you arrive in Alberta.

If you are studying in Alberta for longer than twelve months, and have a student or work visa for 12 months or longer, do not enroll onto this Strategic Financial insurance plan, immediately apply for Alberta Health Care.

If you are studying in Alberta for less than 12 months, enroll onto this Strategic Financial plan for the full number of months you will be studying in Alberta. For our insurance to be effective, you must be registered at a client school for the whole time you are being insured. If you are not: registered and actively studying, this insurance becomes terminated seven days after your studies terminate.

Student Insurance:
Effective Date should be date of arrival in Alberta.
Expiry Date should be seven days after studies terminate.

Your premiums will be for the required period of time. Call the International Department of your intended school.


British Columbia (BC): 
(phone area codes: Victoria on Vancouver Island and the rest of B.C. is 250, except for Vancouver and Lower Mainland is 604.

The Province of B.C. will allow you to be insured by the B.C. Medical Services Plan (MSP) if you hold a Student or Working Visa after you have been in B.C. for three (3) months, and your visa and registration as a student are for a period longer than six (6) months.

For the first three (3) months you may only be insured by private plans, such as Strategic Financial Services International Student Medical plan. After 3 months, if you are eligible for MSP, you may only be insured by MSP.

The first three months are calculated as: The month you arrive is considered one month, plus two full months. You should apply for MSP upon arrival, provide a copy of your visa, and at least one month's premium of $54.00 payable to MSP. You will receive your card at the end of the three month period.

The B.C. Government will not allow you to apply for B.C. MSP (CareCard) if you are registered to study in B.C. and have a Student Visa or Student Authorization which is less than six (6) months,.

This means you must enroll onto this Strategic Financial Plan for the full time you are registered as a student. Enroll for the number of months you are registered as a student with a client-school.

­ If you hold a Visitor's Visa, you may not apply for government medical insurance, and must enroll onto this plan for the number of months you are registered as a student at a client-school.

­ If you have applied for Landed Immigrant Status, you must be insured by Student or Visitors Medical Insurance for the time your application is pending, plus the first three months after your status has been granted, then you may be insured by B.C. MSP.

­ If you are a returning Canadian, or B.C. citizen, who has been absent Canada for longer than 12 months, and has not been insured by B.C. MSP for the past 12 months or longer, then you must have private medical for the first three (3) months, and apply for your CareCard (MSP) as do international students. If you are not planning to live in B.C. for longer than six months before returning to international travels, you might be declined by MSP.

Student Insurance:
Effective Date is the date your school enters on the enrollment card. It will be your date of arrival or registration at school or start of school term.
Expiry Date is three (3) months from the effective date, if you are eligible for the government plan,
or..If you will not be eligible for B.C. MSP, your expiry date should be seven(7) days after your studies will terminate.

Your premium will be for the required periods.


Ontario:
(phone area codes: Toronto 416, Ottawa Kingston 613, London Windsor Waterloo 519, Mississauga St Catharines 905)
International Students are not eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). You may only be insured by an International Student Plan, or Visitors to Canada Plans.


Other Provinces . . . are under construction:
Saskatchewan, (phone area codes: 306)
Manitoba, (phone area codes: 204)
Quebec, (phone area codes: Montreal 514, Quebec City 418, Hull 819)
New Brunswick, (phone area codes: 506)
Nova Scotia, (phone area codes: 902)
Prince Edward Island, (phone area codes: 902)
Newfoundland, (phone area codes: 709)
Yukon Territory, (phone area codes: 867)
Northwest Territory, (phone area codes: 867)
Nunavut, (phone area codes: 867)

#7 Privacy Policy

I authorize The Citadel General Assurance Company ("The Citadel") and its authorized representatives to collect, use and disclose personal information about me and, where applicable, about my spouse and dependent children, as permitted by law, from and to the following organizations:

- any licensed medical practitioner or licensed health professional, hospital, clinic, or medically related facility;
- any other insurance company or financial institution, including any reinsurance company;
- any other person or organization with relevant information about my claim;
- any person or organization that provides information services or insurance services to, or that acts as insurance intermediary for The Citadel;

for the following purposes:
- establishing and maintaining communications with me;
- underwriting group risks on a prudent basis;
- investigating and settling claims;
- detecting, preventing and reporting fraud;
- compiling insurance statistics, and;
- complying with the law.

The personal information collected by The Citadel will be entered into a file whose subject is accident and sickness insurance. The file will be kept at The Citadel's offices. Within The Citadel, this file will only be accessed by those employees who require access in order to fulfill the purposes listed above. I understand that I may access my personal information contained in my file (in English) and correct such information if necessary by directing a written request to:

Privacy Officer, The Citadel General Assurance Company
1075 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2W5
CIT-Privacy@citadel.ca

This consent shall be valid for the length of time necessary for The Citadel to achieve the purposes listed above. I may withdraw my consent at any time by giving The Citadel written notice of my withdrawal. I understand that withdrawal of my consent might result in The Citadel being unable to provide me with a product or service such as effective claim service.

A copy of this consent, with a copy of my signature or the signature of my guardian or of a person having some responsibility for me on the opposite side of this enrollment card or of my pocket insurance card, shall be considered as effective and as valid as the original.