INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE (UHIP) FEES JUMP NEARLY 20% AT 22 ONTARIO UNIVERSITIES
International students at 22 publicly funded Ontario universities will pay significantly more for mandatory health coverage starting this fall. Effective September 1, 2026, premiums under the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) will rise by nearly 20%, adding a new cost pressure to the tuition, housing, and living expenses international students already budget for when studying in Ontario.
New UHIP Rates for 2026-27
An individual student's annual premium rises from $792 to $948, an increase of $156. A student with two or more dependants — for example, a spouse and child — will now pay $2,844 for the year, up from $2,376. UHIP has stated the increase reflects rising healthcare costs and claims experience across its membership; premiums are reviewed annually and can change every September 1 based on these factors. Students beginning their studies partway through the academic year pay a prorated amount: $632 for a January 2027 start and $316 for a May 2027 start.
Why UHIP Is Mandatory
UHIP exists because most international students in Ontario do not qualify for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), the provincial plan available to permanent residents and eligible workers. Created by Ontario's universities as a not-for-profit alternative, UHIP is designed to mirror OHIP's core coverage and is automatically applied to eligible international students at 22 participating institutions, including the University of Toronto, McMaster University, Queen's University, York University, and the University of Ottawa, among others. The University of Windsor is a notable exception, offering its own separate health plan instead. Exemptions from UHIP are narrow: students must generally already hold OHIP coverage or an approved alternate government health plan to qualify, and having private travel or supplemental insurance on its own does not meet the exemption criteria.
What UHIP Covers
The mandatory plan provides up to $1,000,000 CAD in coverage per policy year (September 1 to August 31) for eligible, medically necessary health services. This includes physician visits, emergency care, diagnostic and lab testing, and hospital services such as surgeries and in-patient stays. Coverage outside Ontario but within Canada is limited to emergencies, and coverage while travelling outside the country is minimal — a distinction international students and their families should keep in mind when planning travel during their studies. UHIP does not cover prescription drugs, dental care, or vision services, which many students supplement through university-administered plans.
What This Means for Prospective and Current Students
For students planning to study in Ontario starting this fall, the higher UHIP premium should be factored into overall budgeting alongside tuition and living costs — particularly for those bringing a spouse or children, whose coverage is mandatory and adds substantially to the annual cost. Because premiums are charged directly to student accounts by participating universities, the increase will generally appear automatically rather than requiring separate action. Students who believe they may qualify for an OHIP-based exemption should confirm their eligibility with their university's international student office as early as possible, since exemption windows are typically time-limited after the start of term.
Planning your study permit budget and not sure how costs like UHIP factor into your overall application?
Understanding the full cost of studying in Ontario — tuition, mandatory insurance, and living expenses — is an important part of building a realistic, successful study permit application. Global Opportunitieshelps prospective and current international students navigate study permits, program selection, and the practical realities of studying in Canada. Contact us today.