Health Insurance

Important information for our international students

Manitoba Blue Cross logo

Brandon University has secured health insurance coverage through Manitoba Blue Cross for our international students.  We are part of the Manitoba International Student Health Plan (MISHP) that is also available to international students at University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg.

This insurance plan ensures you have coverage to access health professionals when you need to for both emergent and non-emergent care.  It is a true replacement for the Provincial Health Care plan that is available to Manitoba residents.  Details can be found here:  https://mishp.ca/coverage

Plan Cost

$1,104 for one year (non-refundable coverage from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025)

The Manitoba Blue Cross insurance plan is all-encompassing with no exclusions for things like pre-existing conditions, and the insurer will not question why you visited the doctor in order to determine if the visit is eligible for coverage.  Additional benefits of this insurance plan include the following:

Coverage Card

Manitoba Blue Cross will send you an email from containing a download link for your new Coverage Card, which must be presented with a photo ID (e.g. student ID card, driver’s license) when receiving medical care for services covered by MISHP.

If you require unexpected medical care before then, please pay upfront for any medical expenses you incur, keep your receipts, and once you’ve received your Coverage Card, submit a claim form to Manitoba Blue Cross to be reimbursed for eligible expenses. Claim forms are available for download here.

Direct billing options

Direct billing relationships have been established with local health care providers in Brandon.  This will reduce the number of times you may need to pay for health care services out-of-pocket and then seek reimbursement. To find the most up-to-date information on clinics:  https://mishp.ca/find-clinic

Dependent coverage

You can enroll your spouse and dependents under the age of 18 within 30 days following the start of an academic term for an additional fee.

Opt-out

If you currently have provincial health coverage, you will need to email:  service@mishp.ca You will need to provide proof of coverage, a signed, dated letter indicating that you would like to opt-out of the MISHP plan for the policy year ending August 31st.  Once the adequate documents are received, they will be reviewed, and confirmation will be sent to you once your opt-out has been processed.  Once that is complete your BU student account will be adjusted.

For additional help with opt-out, please contact Feras directly (service@mishp.ca),  who will assess their proof of coverage and notify us when they are approved for opt-out.

This plan is in addition to the Brandon University Student Union (BUSU) Supplemental Health & Dental Plan.  The BUSU plan covers you for prescription drugs, dental care and other benefits that would otherwise be out-of-pocket (even when Provincial Health Insurance was in place).  Visit http://www.busu.ca/healthplan/ for details on the BUSU supplemental insurance plan.

Both of these plans (Manitoba International Student Health through Blue Cross and BUSU Supplemental Health & Dental) have an annual cost and are mandatory.  All applicable fees will be applied to your BU Student Account when you register for courses.

Questions?