Medical Insurance
You are required to have adequate medical insurance to enrol in ELI programs. The majority of our students must purchase the insurance policy offered by UBC, called iMED. This medical insurance will be effective for the duration of your ELI program, and the fees will be added to your final tuition fee balance.
Please be aware of the following information:
For students registered in any program starting before August 30, 2026
If your program starts before August 30, the insurance provider is David Cummings Insurance. This company will email your card prior to arrival.
View the David Cummings Insurance website for detailed information about iMED and the full policy. Visit the David Cummings Insurance website for instructions on how to submit claims and how to download claim forms.
For students registered in any program starting after August 31, 2026
If your program starts after August 31, the insurance provider is GuardMe. This company will email your card prior to arrival. Visit the GuardMe site, under the ELI tab, for more information about the policy, how to submit a claim and find a clinic.
Regardless of the provider, please remember to carry your iMED card with you at all times in case of medical emergencies.
Please visit your provider’s website for detailed information about eligible clinics, medical benefits and available services. Please be aware that you can see a doctor at any clinic or hospital in BC. However, you may need to pay upfront at clinics that are not listed on your provider’s website, and then submit a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
DISCOVER & English for Academic Purposes
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| January 5-February 26, 2026 | December 22, 2025-March 2, 2026 | $200 |
| March 2-April 23, 2026 | February 27-April 27, 2026 | $200 |
| May 4-June 25, 2026 | April 27-June 29, 2026 | $200 |
| June 29-August 20, 2026 | June 26-August 24, 2026 | $200 |
EXPLORE
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| May 19-June 18, 2026 | May 15-June 22, 2026 | $125 |
ASPIRE & ASPIRE Intensive
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| February 23-March 20, 2026 | February 20-March 23, 2026 | $100 |
| June 1-26, 2026 | May 29-June 29, 2026 | $100 |
| June 29-July 24, 2026 | June 26-July 27, 2026 | $100 |
| August 4-28, 2026 | July 31-August 31, 2026 | $100 |
DISCOVER & English for Academic Purposes
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| August 31-October 22, 2026 | August 24-October 26, 2026 | $200 |
| October 26-December 17, 2026 | October 23-December 21, 2026 | $200 |
| January 4-February 25, 2027 | December 21-March 1, 2027 | $200 |
| January 4-January 28, 2027 | December 21-February 1, 2027 | $100 |
| February 1-February 25, 2027 | January 29-March 1, 2027 | $100 |
| March 1-April 22, 2027 | February 26-April 26, 2027 | $200 |
| May 3-June 24, 2027 | April 26-June 28, 2027 | $200 |
| June 28-August 19, 2027 | June 25-August 23, 2027 | $200 |
EXPLORE
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| May 25-June 24, 2027 | May 21-June 28, 2027 | $125 |
ASPIRE & ASPIRE Intensive
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| August 31-September 18, 2026 | August 28-September 21, 2026 | $100 |
| February 22-March 19, 2027 | February 19-March 22, 2027 | $100 |
| May 31-June 25, 2027 | May 28-June 28, 2027 | $100 |
| June 28- July 23, 2027 | June 25- July 26, 2027 | $100 |
| August 3-27, 2027 | July 30-August 30, 2027 | $100 |
DISCOVER & English for Academic Purposes
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| August 3-October 21, 2027 | August 23-October 25, 2027 | $200 |
| October 25-December 16, 2027 | October 22-December 20, 2027 | $200 |
| January 4-February 24, 2028 | December 20-February 28, 2028 | $200 |
| January 4-January 27, 2028 | January 1-January 31, 2028 | $100 |
| January 31-February 24, 2028 | January 28-February 28, 2028 | $100 |
| February 28-April 20, 2028 | February 25-April 24, 2028 | $200 |
| May 1-June 22, 2028 | April 24-June 26, 2028 | $200 |
| June 26-August 17, 2028 | June 23-August 21, 2028 | $200 |
EXPLORE
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| May 23-June 22, 2028 | May 19-June 26, 2028 | $125 |
ASPIRE & ASPIRE Intensive
| Program Dates | iMED Coverage Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| August 30-September 17, 2027 | August 27-September 20, 2027 | $100 |
| February 22-March 17, 2028 | February 18-March 20, 2028 | $100 |
| May 29-June 23, 2028 | May 26-June 26, 2028 | $100 |
| June 26-July 21, 2028 | June 23- July 24, 2028 | $100 |
| July 31-August 25, 2028 | July 28-August 28, 2028 | $100 |
Cancellations
Having private insurance from your home country does not make you eligible to cancel iMED as holding this policy is mandatory.
If you purchase MSP before the program cancellation deadline, you can cancel iMED and may be eligible for a refund. All cancellation requests must be submitted to the ELI Registration office before the cancellation deadline.
If you have MSP, you must show your BC Services Card or a letter from MSP confirming your coverage dates to an ELI Student Services representative. You can contact them at eli.registration@ubc.ca.
Note: iMED fees are non-refundable if any claims have been made. After any iMED insurance policy has ended, the insurance card will be invalid.
Withdrawals
If you drop all your classes after the cancellation deadline, you will not be eligible for reimbursement of the insurance fees.
I have MSP coverage; can I receive a refund for my insurance?
You must have a valid MSP during the duration of your studies to opt out of iMED. You may be eligible for a partial or full refund if your MSP coverage begins before the program cancellation deadline. You must make your request for a refund directly with the ELI Registration team at eli.registration@ubc.ca
How can I receive my refund?
Refunds may take up to 3-4 weeks to process, the same way as it was received.
I already have insurance from my home country; do I need an iMED insurance policy?
Yes! Everyone is automatically enrolled in our mandatory health insurance. Even if you already have medical insurance from your home country, you will still need to pay for mandatory iMED insurance.
What does my coverage include?
Generally speaking, iMED is an emergency insurance plan that will cover regular doctor visits (if you’re sick) and emergency situations. Please refer to the iMED website for a detailed description of iMED medical coverage.
Should I apply for MSP? How can I apply?
If you are staying in Canada longer than 6 months, you should apply for MSP coverage as soon as possible. You can apply for MSP online. You must submit a copy of your study permit as a supporting document.
Where can I get my iMED insurance card?
You will receive your insurance card before the program start date via email to the email address provided to ELI upon registration. You may print out your insurance card yourself and should keep it with you at all times. If you have problems printing, opening the document, or did not receive the email, please come to the Registration office for assistance.
Where can I use my iMED?
The easiest thing to do is visit UBC's Student Health Center, where iMED is accepted and no payment is required for most visits. There are other locations in Vancouver where iMED is accepted. Please visit your insurance provider website for a full list of eligible clinics.
