Health & Dental
About the Health & Dental Plan
OCSU, along with many other colleges and universities across Canada, offers an extended health and dental plan to help students cover the cost of medical needs. Our coverage is provided by Green Shield Canada and covers a wide variety of services. The coverage term is 12 consecutive calendar months and is billed at the start of each school year.
Please note that the Students' Union is required to adhere to and respect legislation, which governs the protection of privacy. Accordingly, personal information relating to student accounts, health and dental plan enrolment and application, and claims shall remain confidential to approved parties; and the personal details of a student account shall remain confidential to the Students' Union, Okanagan College and the student. Therefore, private information about student accounts will not be released to parents.
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Your GSC ID is OSU[your student number]-00. So for example, OSU300123456-00. This is the number you give to your health care practitioner to directly bill your claim to Green Shield.
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Most students who are taking at least one semester of classes are eligible. All students who are eligible for the Health & Dental plan are automatically enrolled. If you already have coverage and would like to opt out, please see our opt-out section. Students who meet all of the following criteria are considered eligible:
The student is an OCSU member (taking classes in either Kelowna, Penticton, or Salmon Arm);
The program they are enrolled in is at least 16 weeks long; and
The student is taking at least two classes per semester. This means that most full-time and part-time students are eligible, as long as all other criteria is met.
Most Trades Foundations students are also eligible. Trades Apprenticeships are not.
Not eligible:
ABE students
Continuing Studies students
Co-op students
Distance education students
Trades Apprenticeship students
Any student whose program is less than 16 weeks long
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Students who have extended health and dental coverage through another provider can choose to opt out of the OCSU Health & Dental plan.
All Opt Outs MUST be submitted to OCSU no later than 30 calendar days after your program's start date.
To opt out, you must fill out the entire form found here. Late and/or incomplete opt-outs are not accepted under any circumstance. You must provide your current plan's policy number when filling out the online opt-out form in order to prove that you have valid coverage. If OCSU is unable to verify your coverage, you may be required to submit additional proof.
Students who do not submit a completed opt out form will be added to the plan and receive 12 months of coverage.
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Students who are enrolled in the Health & Dental plan may add their spouse/common-law partner and/or children under the age of 18 as dependants on their plan.
Students can add their dependants to their plan by logging into their AGA Benefit Solutions Online Member Portal. AGA Benefits Solutions will email the student to confirm plan enrolment as well as login instructions for their account 6-8 weeks after their program’s start date.
The deadline to opt in dependants is 15 days after the student receives their confirmation of plan enrollment email.
PRICE LIST
1 dependant: $275/year
2 or more dependants: $400/year (flat rate)
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It takes 6-8 weeks after your program's start date to activate your plan. This is known as the Registration (or Blackout) Period, and direct billing and online services are not available during this time. You will be notified by email when your plan has been activated, after which you may submit your current claims and any other claims for covered items back-dating to the start of the Registration Period.
Using your plan
Your Green Shield Plan Number will be OSU[your student number]-00.
In order to use your plan, you will need to provide your healthcare service provider with your Green Shield Plan Number. You can pick up a fillable card from your OCSU office, print one off online, or login to the Green Shield App (and then add it to your Apple/Google Wallet!)
Example:
Student number: 300123456
GS ID number: OSU300123456-00
Check if direct billing is available before your appointment.
You can go to any dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, etc, but it’s best to find a place that does direct billing by calling ahead of time. Direct billing means that the service provider charges the insurance company directly for their portion. In other words, you only have to pay for the balance that isn’t covered by Green Shield.
Example:
You just got out of an eye exam. Your bill comes to $110.00. You give the receptionist your insurance number. The receptionist contacts Green Shield and charges them $100, since your plan covers $100 towards eye exams every two years. You must pay the remaining balance out of pocket, which is $10.
Check your coverage before you commit.
Before you commit to a procedure or prescription, it’s a good idea to check if it’s covered by your plan. You can do this by logging in to your online account, checking the benefits book, or by calling Green Shield at 1-888-711-1119. If you’re having trouble accessing your account, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help troubleshoot.
If direct billing isn’t available, or you’re in the Registration Period…
Direct billing isn’t available everywhere. This is especially common at chiropractic offices. When you do have to pay upfront, make sure you hold on to all of your receipts and paperwork so you can submit them to Green Shield. The easiest way to do this is by signing in to your online account and completing a claim form there. Please note that claims cannot be submitted during the first 6-8 weeks of classes, aka the Registration Period. Claims must be submitted within one year of the date of the service/prescription.
Example:
You started your second year of your program on September 6th, which means that your coverage term starts September 1st, although you’ll be in the Registration Period until the end of October. Your doctor prescribed you a new medication, which you purchased on September 20th. It cost $40. Because of the Registration Period you’ll have to pay the full amount upfront, in this case $40. Once the Registration Period ends, you can log in to your online account and submit a claim to get reimbursed for Green Shield’s portion of the bill. Since Green Shield covers 80% of the cost of prescription meds, you are reimbursed $32.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Eligible students are automatically charged for the plan when they get their fee statement. The easiest way to determine if you are on the OCSU Extended Health & Dental plan is to look at your fee statement.
If you are already on the plan, you will see two lines: One for the extended health plan, and one for the extended dental plan. They add up to $250 combined.
Not eligible:
ABE students
Co-op students
Continuing Studies students
Distance Education students
Trades Apprenticeship students
Students enrolled in programs shorter than 16 weeks in length
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Students who have extended health and dental coverage through another provider can choose to opt out of the OCSU Health & Dental plan.
All Opt Outs MUST be submitted to OCSU no later than 30 calendar days after your program's start date.
To opt out, you must fill out the entire form found here. Late and/or incomplete opt-outs are not accepted under any circumstance. You must provide your current plan's policy number when filling out the online opt-out form in order to prove that you have valid coverage. If OCSU is unable to verify your coverage, you may be required to submit additional proof.
Students who do not submit a completed opt out form will be added to the plan and receive 12 months of coverage.
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Your plan costs $250 per year. You are only billed at the start of your school year.
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Your plan covers a wide range of services. We’ve listed some of the most asked-about ones below. You can check the full range here.
Prescriptions: 80% up to $2000/year
Dental: 70% for routine care & cleanings up to $700/year
Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor, or Master of Social Work: $75 per session up to $500/year
Chiropractors & Physiotherapists: $45/visit up to $300 a year
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Your GSC ID is OSU[your student number]-00. So for example, OSU300123456-00. This is the number you give to your health care practitioner to directly bill your claim to Green Shield.
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When you pick up prescription meds, or go to the dentist, or see a physiotherapist, be sure to let the practitioner (or the receptionist) that you have health insurance. Give them your GSC ID number, which is OSU[your student number]-00. A portion of the bill will immediately and automatically be paid by Green Shield (if the service/medical item is covered in your plan) so you pay less money out-of-pocket. This is called direct billing.
You can also manually submit claims. This is useful if your provider doesn't do direct billing, or you forgot to give them your GSC ID. You submit claims by creating an account on Green Shield's website - more on that below. A typical claim submission includes filling out a form and uploading a picture of a receipt. Be sure to sign up for direct deposit so you get your money back faster!
If you have any questions about your plan/coverage, feel free to ask us!
For technical issues with your GSC online account, Green Shield are your experts.
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While registering for an online account isn't necessary to use your plan, it's strongly encouraged. Registering for online services lets you submit claims manually and gives you access to things like your claims history, health tips, plan details, and more. You can even submit practice claims, which is useful for checking how much Green Shield will pay for your service and how much you will have to pay out of pocket.
Online services are not available during the Blackout/Registration period. Once the Blackout is over you will also get an email with instructions on how to set up your online account from our third-party plan administrator, AGA Benefit Solutions.
If you have any problems with registering your account, or you have any questions, please contact us.
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No, Guard.Me and MSP are quite different from the Health & Dental plan. Guard.Me and MSP provide basic health coverage, while the extended Health & Dental benefits plan covers things like medications, glasses, dental work, and more.
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Direct billing and online registration for the plan is not available for students in the first 8 weeks of their program, or the fall semester. This is because students are still adding and dropping classes, as well as adding and dropping the plan. Once the Registration Period is over, students can create their account at student.greenshield.ca and submit any current claims, or back-dated ones to their start date. Students will also be able to directly bill their claims from their service provider at this time.
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No, there is no option to sign up manually.
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Your coverage lasts for 12 calendar months, including summer. The length of your program does not affect the length of your coverage. In other words, even if you are only taking one semester of classes, you will still receive 12 months of coverage.
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Students who are in a program longer than 12 months and would still like to receive coverage throughout their entire program, please contact OCSU at health-dental@ocsu.ca to complete an opt-in form and arrange payment directly to us.
Please note that this only applies to students whose coverage term ends before the end of their program.
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Yes! You should still be automatically charged for the plan. If not, please contact us at health-dental@ocsu.ca to enroll.
GRADUATION AND SUMMER COVERAGE
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Yes! Your coverage lasts for 12 consecutive calendar months, even through summer.
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No, the summer semesters do not meet the minimum course length requirement. Students are not charged for extended Health & Dental during the summer. Students who started in the Fall or Winter semesters will most likely have coverage continued through the summer months due to their 12 month plan.
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The coverage period is 12 months after your program's start date, regardless of when you graduate.
For example, let's say you started your final semester in September and you'll be graduating in December. Your coverage will be valid until August, even though you are no longer in school.
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OCSU, the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS), and Prosum Health Benefits have partnered to offer affordable health and dental plans that you can access after you’re no longer a student.
Starting as low as $27 per month, Individual Health Assist plans allow you the flexibility to choose your level of coverage and more importantly find coverage that fits your budget. There are no long-term contracts which means once you get coverage through an employer or if you choose to continue your studies you can cancel your plan with 30 days notice.
If you are graduating, your coverage from your students’ union benefits plan ends 12 months after the start date of your program; once your coverage ends, you will have 90 days to apply for a GSC Health Assist plan. Click here to learn more about the plans available, or to start your application.
For more information contact Prosum Health Benefits at 1-855-751-6590 or info@ProsumHealthBenefitsInc.ca
Other benefits
Legal Assistance
OCSU Health Plan Members, through Prosum Health Benefits and Sykes Assistance Services provides you with timely, cost-effective access to experienced lawyers to guide you through most major types of law, including: Family, Criminal, Civil litigation, Landlord and tenant, Residential real estate, Wills and Estates, Tax, Employment, Condo/Strata, Immigration and Identity Theft Support. As a member of the Health Plan you have access to unlimited free summary telephone legal advice and unlimited referrals to local lawyers at preferred rates.
You can call on the toll-free number 1 877-333-3884 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak to a customer service representative who can put you in touch with a lawyer at no charge. Advice lawyers are available to call clients from 8 am to Midnight daily. Please do not hesitate to request a call back after regular business hours, on weekends or holidays.
GSC Health Assist Link
The GSC Health Assist LINK program offers guaranteed coverage (no medical questionnaire) for you and your family for day-to-day medical, dental and travel expenses, as well as unforeseen health expenses. This program may be your solution if you, your spouse or your dependent children are losing or have lost group health and/or dental benefits within the last 90 days and are looking for coverage. Click here to apply, or contact Prosum Health Benefits Inc. at 1.855.751.6590 for assistance.