Health and Medical
Good health starts with making sure you have up-to-date health insurance.
All students are required to have basic health insurance. International students are also required by law to have comprehensive health and accident insurance while staying in BC.
Medical Coverage
Medical Service Plan of BC (MSP)
Basic medical insurance includes doctor’s visits, hospital visits, and necessary medical tests or services.
The Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP) is the basic coverage for all residents of BC, including international students. You will qualify for MSP after a waiting period of approximately three months.
To avoid any gaps in coverage, all international students need to apply for MSP upon arrival in BC and coverage will begin after the mandatory three-month waiting period.
The current MSP fee is $75.00 per month and is subject to change without notice.
Temporary Medical Insurance
All international students have a variety of medical coverages depending on their date of arrival, length of stay, and current coverage.
Students in Regular Studies Programs who arrive in BC for their first semester of study at Langara College will be enrolled automatically in a temporary medical insurance plan (guard.me More Enhanced health insurance plan) for the duration of the three-month wait period.
The cost of guard.me More Enhanced* health insurance plan is $150.96 and will be charged upon course registration for the first semester only. The guard.me More Enhanced plan covers most basic and emergency medical services up to $5 million and is valid for the duration of the three-month wait period.
Coverage begins the first day of the first month of a student’s first semester (Spring Semester – January 1, Summer Semester – May 1, or Fall Semester – September 1**).
If you will arrive early in Canada before the start of your program and the start of your mandatory coverage that Langara enrols you in, you can apply for additional medical insurance coverage, up to 60 days prior to the start of your mandatory coverage. For more information about early arrival insurance, please visit the Langara guard.me portal.
Returning Regular Studies students continuing their studies in BC after starting their program outside of Canada will not be automatically enrolled. Returning Regular Studies students can obtain the guard.me Canada health insurance plan, which covers most basic and emergency medical services up to $2 million for the duration of the three-month wait period, by purchasing it through guard.me directly.
Continuing Studies and LEAP students can obtain the guard.me Canada health insurance plan by purchasing it through guard.me directly.
NOTE: guard.me coverage is not the same as MSP coverage. Coverages provided by guard.me include many additional benefits that MSP does not cover. For more information, please refer to the guard.me portal.
* guard.me More Enhanced health insurance plan is a group package based on full participation. Coverage can only be substituted by another guard.me product with the same dates of coverage.
** Students who qualify to opt out of guard.me temporary medical insurance must do so before the end of the first month of their first semester (Spring Semester – January 31, Summer Semester – May 31, or Fall Semester – September 30**). To learn more, visit Opt Out on the guard.me portal.
Extended Health & Dental Plan
Extended health and dental plans include coverage for some of the costs for vision care, dental care, prescription drugs, travel insurance, and other healthcare needs not covered by basic insurance. The Langara Students’ Union (LSU) Health & Dental Plan is extended health and dental coverage designed specifically for students to cover expenses not covered by basic provincial healthcare plans. The plan also includes Empower Me, a confidential counselling mental health line is available 24/7.
Who qualifies?
All full-time and part-time students (those enrolled in one or more credits) and students enrolled in certain Continuing Studies programs (Registered Massage Therapy, Supply Chain & Logistics Post-Degree Diploma, and 2D & 3D Digital Animation) are automatically covered by the LSU Health & Dental Plan.
Students in Continuing Studies programs not listed above, including LEAP, will need to arrange for private insurance during their studies.
How do eligible students enroll?
Students who are registered for the Fall Semester and who are members of the Langara Student Union (LSU) are automatically enrolled into the LSU Health & Dental Plan. Starting January 2023, students will be automatically enrolled if they begin in the Spring Semester. Students starting in May are not eligible until the following September.
Membership to the LSU is part of the student fees paid by students in regular studies programs as well as diploma and post-degree programs.
To learn more about coverage or to make a claim, visit Studentcare or contact the LSU directly.
Health and Wellness Services
Student Health Services provides accessible medical care for all students. Student Health Service staff includes three doctors, a registered nurse, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist. Services include: assessment and treatment of medical conditionals, mental health, birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, PAPs, STI screening and treatment, allergy shots, and immunizations. Health Services also maintains a list of additional health resources you may find useful.
Counselling Services provides short-term counselling, crisis counselling, and resources for currently enrolled students.
Peer Wellness Sessions support student well-being by creating a safe, welcoming, accessible environment to discuss mental health and wellness. During sessions, expect non-judgmental listening, information about available resources, opportunities to reflect, and strategies for healthy coping. The goal is to leave sessions feeling supported, optimistic, and empowered to make your own choices. One-on-one and group sessions are open for all students.
Accessibility Services can help facilitate appropriate support services to access courses, programs, and services. Staff will review medical documentation and work with students to determine access to academic accommodations and support services including access to the Learning Technology Lab.
Sexual Violence Support and Education is dedicated to supporting College community members who have experienced sexualized violence, and to foster education dedicated to ending sexualized violence and gender-based violence in our communities.
Additional Resources
For life-threatening situations (crime, health, fire), call 9-1-1 immediately.
When calling 9-1-1 include your name, the type of emergency, the specific location you are at, and the cause of the emergency, if known.
9-1-1 services are available in many different languages, so you don’t need to speak English to get help.
In Canada, you can be seen by a doctor at a walk-in clinic if your symptoms are mild. If you don’t have medical insurance (MSP), you can still be seen by a doctor, but there will be a cost associated with the visit, which is why purchasing health insurance is very important.
Look online to find a clinic near you. Canadian hospitals are to be used only for emergencies. If you have a broken bone, a serious injury, severe pain or illness, you can go to the hospital. Look online to find the nearest hospital or call 911. You will need to bring:
- Study permit, BC ID, or passport
- Proof of medical insurance (MSP card or private insurance number)
- Langara Student ID
If you are sick or injured and unsure of what to do, you can call HealthLink BC by dialing 811 to talk to a nurse any time day or night.
The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC (Crisis Centre) is a non-profit, volunteer organization committed to helping people help themselves and others deal with crisis. Help is provided in more than 140 different languages and more information is online at crisiscentre.bc.ca
Or you can call 1.800.SUICIDE (1.800.784.2433) from anywhere in BC, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
| OTHER SUPPORT CAN BE FOUND BELOW | |
| Mental Health Support Line | 604.310.6789 |
| Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line | 604.872.3311 |
| Online Chat Service for Youth (Noon to 1am) | |
| Online Chat Service for Adults (Noon to 1am) | |
For most students, post-secondary education is a time of mixed emotions as they learn to navigate a new routine, gain more independence, and balance competing social and academic priorities. The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone!
Here2Talk connects students with mental health support when they need it. Through this program, all students – domestic or international – currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.
If you missed a class because you were sick, talk to your instructor. Writing them an email explaining the situation is a good start. If you can let them know in advance of missing a class, that is always preferred. When you send your email, make sure to include:
- Your name and Langara ID
- The class you are missing
- Why you were absent
- For how long you will be absent
Ask how you can catch up on class materials you missed. You may need to show your instructor a note from your doctor. The consequences of any absence from your classes will vary depending on your courses. Be sure to check.