Coverage for your family

How to enroll eligible family members
When will my family members’ UHIP coverage begin?
How to renew family member coverage

Do you have family members who will be moving with you to Canada? If they are eligible dependants, you must buy them UHIP coverage if they will be living with you in Ontario. Only dependants with an exemption can opt out of UHIP.

Eligible dependants include:

The legal or common-law spouse who is living with the eligible student or employee, where the common-law relationship has existed for at least 12 months.
The natural or legally adopted child, stepchild, or child for whom the eligible student or employee has been appointed legal guardian, whose primary residence is with the student or employee, is unmarried, dependent on the student or employee for support, and under age 22 (under age 25 if studying full-time at an accredited educational institution, or any age if mentally or physically disabled.
Dependants of Primary Members whose coverage under this policy terminated in the last five years are eligible for coverage under this policy while waiting for OHIP approval.
Other family members, such as your siblings or parents, aren’t eligible dependants.

How to enroll eligible family members

Your dependants won’t be automatically enrolled. You need to enroll your eligible family members. Here’s how:

Download an application form.
Take the completed form in person to the UHIP office at your University.
Bring documentation to show your family’s arrival to Canada (passport).
You will need to pay for UHIP coverage when you enroll them.

You can see the current annual premium costs here.

It costs more if you enroll them late

You will need to pay a $500 late application fee if you don’t enroll your dependants within 30 days of the date they’re eligible.
There’s no discount for the time they had no coverage if you were late enrolling them. You will have to pay the premium for your dependant(s) as of one of the following:
1. Date your dependant(s) arrived in Canada and became eligible for UHIP.
2. First day of the month your term started at the University.
3. Your employment start date at the University.

When will my family members’ UHIP coverage begin?

Coverage begins the date they arrive in Canada, but no earlier than the 10th day of the month before your studies or employment begins.
For example:

Arrival in Canada	August 5
Start of your studies or employment	September 1
Start of UHIP coverage	August 10

When will my dependants’ UHIP coverage end?

Your dependant’s coverage ends whenever one of the following happens:

Your coverage ends. This happens on the last day of the month for which you purchased coverage.
Your dependant stops meeting the definition of an eligible dependant. Coverage ends on the last day of the month in which this happens.
Your dependant acquires OHIP coverage. Coverage ends on the date this becomes effective.
Your dependant is denied OHIP coverage. Coverage ends 24 months after the date he or she receives notification of this refusal.
Your status changes to that of visitor under a permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Coverage ends on that date.
You or your dependant misuse your coverage card. Coverage ends on the date Sun Life obtains evidence of this.
You or your dependant fail to report medical test results or submit false medical test reports to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in order to obtain medical clearance. Coverage ends on the date Sun Life obtains evidence of this.

If your University extends your coverage

You must enroll your eligible dependant for the extension period, even if they weren’t enrolled in UHIP before. Only dependants with an exemption can opt out of UHIP.

Renew coverage at least 30 days before it expires

You will need to renew UHIP coverage for your dependant family members each year, if they are still eligible.

How to renew family member coverage:

Download an application form.
Take the completed form in person to the UHIP office at your University.
Bring documentation (passport) to show your family’s arrival to Canada.
You will need to pay for UHIP coverage when you enroll them.

Was this helpful?

20 out of 42 people found this helpful.