Health and Wellness - University of Niagara Falls Canada

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At UNF, your health and wellness are our priority

At the University of Niagara Falls Canada, we understand how important your health and wellbeing are to your life inside and outside the classroom. That’s why we’ve established a comprehensive health and wellness program to support you and your needs. Read through the sections below to learn more about the health and wellness supports that are available to you as a UNF student.

Student Wellness Appointments

Students who would like to speak with UNF Student Wellness staff can attend weekly in-person and online drop-in hours with the Student Wellness team. Current UNF students can refer to the Campus Events Calendar for an up-to-date schedule of drop-in hours.

Students can schedule private appointment times with Student Wellness for additional health and wellness support by emailing studentwellness@unfc.ca.

Student Wellness Programming

UNF Student Wellness offers a variety of health and wellness programming, information, and resources. Current UNF students can visit our Campus Events Calendar and our Student Experience Hub to access health and wellness events, educational resources, community resources, and more!

GuardMe Student Support Program

Moving to a new city for university can be a wonderful and exciting life experience. Simultaneously, it can also be a time of tremendous stress and isolation as you learn to navigate a new landscape and begin campus life.

The GuardMe Student Support Program is a support service available to UNF students that can help them with challenges faced when studying or living abroad. You can use the GuardMe Student Support Program anytime – day or night – to speak with a counsellor who has experience supporting the unique challenges students face.

Through this program, students can also access several online resources including peer support groups, articles, podcasts, virtual fitness resources, and self-help tools.

GuardMe International Health Insurance

All enrolled in-person international students at UNF are covered by a health insurance plan provided by GuardMe. This insurance is mandatory and included in your student fees. Please note that, as a student, you do not need to pay additional money to the university beyond your standard student fees. Your health insurance coverage will automatically start on the first day of the first month of your studies. For Fall Term intake, insurance coverage is extended to include coverage for New Student Orientation in September.

Student health insurance policy start dates

Winter Term 2025 – Jan.1, 2025
Spring Term 2025 – April 1, 2025
Summer Term 2025 – July 1, 2025
Fall Term 2025 – Sept. 22, 2025

The GuardMe insurance policy covers certain medical services and expenses for in-person international students at UNF and is valid all over the world except in your country of origin.

Students have the responsibility to review their own insurance policy. The easiest way to review your full insurance coverage is to visit UNF’s GuardMe webpage.

Watch this video for more information about GuardMe and how to access your health insurance benefits:

Health Insurance – Frequently Asked Questions

UNF international students are eligible to opt out of the GuardMe international student health insurance plan if they provide proof of insurance coverage through a valid government health insurance plan in Canada, such as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

All eligible students choosing to opt out must do so through the Student Request Form during an active opt-out period.

Opt Out Periods / Deadlines

UNF students can opt out of health insurance coverage during the following opt-out periods. Students must apply by the deadline each term they wish to request opt-out consideration.

Winter 2025 Intake: Dec.1 – Jan. 1
Spring 2025 Intake: March 1 – April 1
Summer 2025 Intake: June 1 – July 1
Fall 2025 Intake: Sept. 1 – Oct. 1

The GuardMe International Insurance policy allows students to add coverage for a spouse and/or any dependents who are over the age of 15 days and under 19 years of age. The additional coverage has a cost of $1.65 per person per day. Students who purchase insurance coverage for dependents will pay these fees directly to GuardMe via Dependents – University of Niagara Falls Canada | guard.me.

Once your GuardMe insurance is activated and you receive your policy number, you can purchase insurance for a family member who meets eligible criteria by visiting Dependents – University of Niagara Falls Canada | guard.me.

Once students add a dependent, the dependent will be subject to the same insurance policy as the student. Please note that new UNF students can expect to receive their policy number from GuardMe within the first few weeks of their program start.

In-person international UNF students can apply for Early Arrival insurance if they plan on arriving to Canada before their UNF-provided insurance plan begins. As a reminder, student health insurance plans begin on the first day of the first month of your studies and includes coverage during New Student Orientation.

It is important to understand that Early Arrival insurance is a separate policy from the UNF-provided student insurance plan. You can choose to apply for and purchase Early Arrival insurance directly through GuardMe at Early Arrivals – University of Niagara Falls Canada | guard.me. UNF students have access to purchasing this policy through GuardMe for $1.45 per student, per day. The policy documents for GuardMe’s Early Arrival medical insurance are available in 14 different languages at Early Arrivals – University of Niagara Falls Canada | guard.me by clicking “Policy Documents for GuardMe Canada Drug Card”. You can also add Early Arrival insurance for dependents as well, also at a cost of $1.45 per dependent, per day.

If you are going to purchase Early Arrival insurance, please note that you will only be eligible to purchase it up until the last date before your UNF-provided health insurance begins. For example, if your insurance plan is scheduled to begin on Jan. 1, 2025, you can apply for Early Arrival insurance coverage up until Dec. 31, 2024.

If you are taking one semester off and returning to school after the break, you are eligible to buy health insurance coverage online for the gap period between semesters. You have only 30 days from the expiry date of your latest GuardMe policy to apply for coverage for the gap period.

If you miss the deadline, you will not be eligible to apply for coverage for the gap period.

Land acknowledgement

University of Niagara Falls Canada acknowledges that the land we gather on is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Hatiwendaronk and Anishinaabe peoples. We also acknowledge the many other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who call this region home.

We commit to building relationships based on respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation as we work, learn, and gather on this land. Furthermore, we acknowledge that the Niagara region is situated on treaty land, and we stand with all Indigenous peoples, past and present, in promoting the wise stewardship of the lands on which we live.

Designated Learning Institute Number: O287430643972.

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