The GSA offers medical, dental and accident insurance plans designed to be relatively comprehensive and low in cost. All full-time students registered in the Fall term, including international students, are automatically covered by the plan for the entire September 1-August 31 plan year. Students who register as full-time in the Winter or Summer terms are not automatically covered. Students beginning during the Winter semester may optionally choose to join the plan. Students may also choose to add spouses (including common-law and same-sex spouses) and/or their dependent children. Those students with equivalent or greater coverage with another plan can submit an application to opt-out for a refund.
Students can use their Carleton ID card at participating pharmacies and dentists’ offices across Canada to pay only the deductible for their prescription or dental service. Tell them you have Green Shield Canada (GSC) student coverage, and that your ID number is CAR (for Carleton) plus your student number and add -00 (example: CAR101222333-00).
A comprehensive information booklet is available in our offices, on the 6th floor of the former UC building Nideyinàn, or can be downloaded. See the Benefits and Making a Claim page for a summary, claim forms, and the detailed booklet.
Part-time students are not automatically covered, but may elect to join the plan. Part-time co-op students are subject to the same rules as part-time students. If your part-time co-op is in the Fall Term, you will need to opt-in to the health plan within the applicable opt-in period while you are eligible.
Learn more about joining (opting-in), leave the plan (opting-out), and the associated deadlines at Opt-out and Opt-in page.
The healthplan opt-in and healthplan opt-out portal will open on September 1st, 2024. Check back on this webpage to access the portal. Opt-ins and opt-outs cannot be processed until the portal has opened on September 1st, 2024. The deadline to fill out the application portal information is by October 7th, 2024. No exceptions can be made after this deadline.
Plan Members
Full-time Students
All full-time students registered in the Fall term, including international students, are automatically covered by the plan. Plan charges are automatically added to your student fees when the Carleton computer registration system tabulates full-time student status. Students who register as full-time in the Winter or Summer terms are not automatically covered. Students beginning to studying for the first time for the Winter semester may opt-in to the plan at the beginning of the Winter semester during the Winter opt-in period.
Spouses and Dependents
Students who are enrolled on the plan may choose to opt-in to the plan their spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children to the plan. Students must opt-in their applicable dependents on an annual basis. Eligible children must be dependents of the student and must be under the age of 21 unless enrolled in post-secondary school, full-time, then up to age 25. No other family members may be opted-in to the plan.
Part-time Students
Part-time students are not automatically covered, but may opt-in to the plan during your first eligible term. Part-time co-op students are subject to the same rules as part-time students. If your part-time co-op is in the Fall Term, you will need to opt-in to the health plan.
January Start Students
If your studies started in January or you were otherwise not enrolled in September, you have an opportunity to opt-in to the plan in January. Only students beginning as a new student in January may opt-in during the January opt-in period. January start students may also opt-in dependents at this time. Students who were enrolled during the Fall may not use this opt-in period for themselves or their dependents and must wait until September.