International Emergency Health Insurance

As an international student at UNB, you will receive health insurance through guard.me (while in Canada). Prior to your arrive in New Brunswick, there are a few health care precautions and routine processes you should take into consideration. Please see the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below that will provide further information related to health insurance coverage that will help you prepare for your arrival. 

Common questions

UNB policy states that all international students who have student or applicable visas must purchase international health insurance.  Although most full-time International students are eligible to apply for Medicare, not all students are (i.e. part-time, exchange) and the University must ensure that all students have appropriate health coverage during the application phase.

In order to access Medicare benefits, students must apply with the Province of New Brunswick prior to the start of a new academic year (September).  After applying, there is a 3 month residency requirement, however the student could receive their Medicare card prior to the end of the residency period. Students are responsible for all medical costs until they receive a Medicare card, so students must purchase emergency health insurance through UNB during this waiting period.

Applying for NB Medicare

International students taking classes at UNB are automatically enrolled in the guard.me international student emergency health insurance plan. This plan will begin on September 1, or the start of the term of your arrival.

Students who arrive in Canada before the start of the term can contact guard.me directly to enroll in a student early arrival plan, which will cover you until your UNB plan begins.

These plans are mandatory for all students studying in Canada.  


  • First year students will receive their guard.me policies the first week of classes.
  • Current/continuing UNB students will continue to receive their policies after the opt out date due to their access to NB Medicare. If you have not applied for NB Medicare, and are studying for a year or more, please do so. This will negate your need for emergency insurance, and it's free.

You are eligible to opt out if you have one of the following:

  • a valid New Brunswick Medicare card
  • the confirmation of insurance letter from SNB that is mailed out prior to you receiving your Medicare card
  • you are studying outside of Canada.

 


Term opt-out deadlines

The opt out portal for guard.me/UNB International Health Insurance is open the last week of the month prior to each new term start (last week of August for Fall, last week of December for Winter). The last day to opt out is always the third Friday of the term (see UNB academic calendar for specific dates). 

Complete the opt out process here.

Please save the email from guard.me confirming you have successfully opted out for your records. 

Any fee adjustments associated with opting out will show on your student account within 5 business days after the opt out deadline. *Please ensure that you pay all fees that you owe for the term, less $135.50 ($200.00 - $64.50) by the due date to avoid a late fee.

After the opt-out deadline date has passed, students will not be able to opt-out until the following term.


This emergency health insurance plan offers single or family coverage for health benefits while in New Brunswick.  If a student's family is accompanying the student to Canada, there is an additional charge for each family member.

Cost
$200 per person for a four-month term

Is the Annual Excursion Insurance Mandatory?

Yes.  All students with an active New Brunswick Medicare card are required to have the Annual Excursion policy as it will cover travel-related expenses that Medicare will not.  It is essential that all international students receive the same insurance coverage while attending UNB, therefore students are not able to be excluded from this coverage.

Cost: $64.50/year

 

How does the Annual Excursion Insurance work, and what does it cover?

An excursion refers to any leisure travel outside of your Canadian province of residence, with a return to your province. Excursions are limited to 30 days each (15 days when traveling to the USA). Your Excursion policy offers annual coverage in conjunction with provincial healthcare. Below are only a few of the many benefits that are included in this plan. 

  •  100% coverage for eligible charges related to hospitalization
  •  100% coverage for diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, lab tests
  •  100% coverage for ambulance charges
  •  100% coverage for prescription medications, up to a 30-day supply
  •  100% coverage for eligible emergency dental treatment due to an accidental blow to the mouth, up to a maximum of $4,000

In addition, this plan covers more serious issues such as repatriation and even a family transportation benefit, which provides coverage for two family members to be by your bedside, should you be hospitalized for more than seven days and you have no immediate family nearby. Please take the time to read your policy documents carefully as there are normal terms and conditions that apply. The policy documents are available through your guard.me Account in multiple languages.


As per page 2 in your policy under the heading “Excursion”, travel outside of Canada (other than to your home country) is covered subject to the following conditions:

  1. More than 50% of the total coverage period must be spent in Canada and
  2. Travel to United states in limited to 30 days per trip.

Please note - to view policy details, you are required to enter your policy number.  


No, the guard.me international health insurance does not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. The intent of the guard.me international health insurance is to cover emergency health conditions that begin after you arrive in Canada and purchase your insurance coverage.

Examples of pre-existing conditions include:

  • If you have thyroid disease and were diagnosed in your home country, your ongoing treatment and medication would not be covered by guard.me.
  • If you become pregnant more than 30 days before you leave your home country, your prenatal care will not be covered by guard.me.
  • If you are diagnosed with an ongoing condition while in Canada, guard.me will cover costs to stabilize your condition (up to 30 day supply), but ongoing treatment and medication would not be covered.

Please refer to the limitations and exclusions section of your policy document for more information. 


Family members can be added to your plan for an additional fee and must be registered with guard.me within 10 days of receiving your insurance policy. It will be your responsibility to pay guard.me directly for any family member enrolled in the plan.


If you are not registered for courses during the summer term, you will not be automatically enrolled in the guard.me insurance.  You will need to purchase insurance directly from them for this period on the guard.me/UNB site under the Gap Students tab.

Coverage must be purchased within 30 days of your winter term insurance expiration date and is only for one term.  Your guard.me International Health Insurance will automatically renew with your fall term registration.

For any questions, please reach out to international_insurance@unb.ca