About the APUS Health and Dental Plans
APUS provides affordable health and dental to you the members – part time students. As members of your student union, you have the collective power of securing the best possible coverage at low rates.
Green Shield Canada, the only national not-for-profit insurance provider in Canada, is the plan provider.
Know Your Plan
Browse your plan here: Brochure 2024-2025.
It’s a quick guide to submitting claims and using benefits.
Read your full plan here: My Benefits Plan. For everything on the description of benefits, deductibles/co-pays, definitions, privacy policies, etc.
And to help make sense of it all – see what you need below.
And to help make sense of it all – see what you need below.
Eligibility – Am I Covered?
If you are a part-time student registered in Fall and/or Winter terms – you’re an APUS member – you’re covered.
Part-time student status is based on enrollment credits. Your quick way to tell if you’re enrolled part-time is to check your University of Toronto ACORN invoice. If you see “APUS“ you’re an APUS member.
Coverage is annual, and runs for one academic year only (September 1 to August 31). APUS does not collect health and dental fees from students who are only part-time in summer term; so there is no APUS health and dental plan for summer students.
2024-2025
I’M STUDYING PART-TIME IN… | PLAN COVERAGE |
Both Fall and Winter terms | September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025 |
Fall term only | September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 |
Winter term only | January 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025 |
Summer term only | Ineligible |
Full-time students and part-time grad students have different health and dental plans through their respective student unions:
University of Toronto (full-time) see UTSU website (utsu.ca/health-and-dental)
University of Toronto Mississauga (full-time) see UTMSU website (utmsu.ca/service/health-dental-plan) and email health@utmsu.ca.
University of Toronto Scarborough (full-time) see SCSU website (scsu.ca/health-dental) and email health@scsu.ca.
University of Toronto Graduate Students (all) see UTGSU website (utgsu.ca/health-and-dental)
Coverage – What Do I Get?
Your health and dental plans offer comprehensive benefits, ranging from drug, paramedical, dental, and more.
For more details about your health and dental plan, check out the 2024/2025 benefit plan booklet, which can be found here.
Fees – What Do I Pay?
Always low-cost and affordable.
2024-2025 premium rates:
Health & Dental plan = $167.36 per term
*All APUS health and dental plan fees are automatically charged through your University of Toronto incidental fees.
Use Your Plan
To use your APUS health and dental plans, you need your Green Shield ID Number (also known as your insurance policy number).
The number follows this format: APU[your student number]-00. For additional family members and dependents added on the plan, the suffix may be “-01” or “-02”.
The number is all you’ll need. And you can print it out here. Ready to make a claim?
Claim Direct
Direct billing is when a health and dental provider submits electronically on your behalf at the time you’re charged. You provide your policy number, they confirm the amount covered. Then, you only pay any remaining balance. Direct billing is convenient for you, and relieves the stress of having to pay for an entire bill upfront. Caution, direct billing isn’t offered by many health and dental providers. If looking for this option, ask your health or detail provider if they offer direct billing in advance of your treatment.
Claims Online
When you pay for your health and dental treatments up-front, you can then submit eligible claims for reimbursement online via GSC either through the App or the web.
GSC’s Mobile APP – GSC On The Go: Submit claims directly from your smartphone.
GSC’s Self-Serve Website: In just a few clicks, get immediate confirmation of your reimbursement amount.
Tip: Register for direct deposit with GSC and have your claim payments deposited directly securely – with speed.
Get More From Your Plan – Opt-Ins & Discounts
Opt-Ins – Family/Partner Enrollment
Add your family to the plan.
APUS members may enroll a spouse/partner and/or dependent children on the plans.
All family members enrolled must be residents of Canada.
You can only opt-in family/partner at the beginning of your first eligible study term.
For instance, to enrol family members in January 2025 (winter term), you must not have been an APUS member in fall term.
2024-2025
I’M STUDYING PART-TIME IN… | OPT-IN PERIOD RUNS | OPT-IN DEADLINE |
Both Fall and Winter terms | September 1-30, 2024 | September 30, 2024 |
Fall term only | September 1-30, 2024 | September 30, 2024 |
Winter term only | January 1-31, 2025 | January 31, 2025 |
Summer term only | Ineligible | Ineligible |
The family enrolment premium rate per session for the 2024-2025 academic year is:
Health & Dental plans = $226.56 per term
To opt-in complete and submit the APUS Health & Dental Opt-In Form – NOW CLOSED
Senior Students/Partner Enrolment form
APUS members (aged 65-80) have the option to opt-in to APUS health and dental plan. Senior students study free, and so aren’t charged incidental fees by the University, and so aren’t automatically charged APUS fees.
To opt-in as a senior student, complete and submit the APUS Health & Dental Opt-In Form – NOW CLOSED
Member Discounts
Dental, Vision, and Hearing Discounts
Your plan includes access to the Student Dental Discount Network; a network of providers offering students up to 30% off services. See list here.
Or, Don’t Use Your Plan – Opt-out
Process
APUS members may choose to opt-out of the APUS health and dental coverage to be refunded the fee. To opt-out you must demonstrate proof of alternative coverage (i.e. employer coverage, partner/spousal coverage, parental/guardian coverage). This proof includes the name of your insurer and policy number.
You can apply to opt-out once per academic year in the session in which you are first registered. Opt-outs do not carry over year-over-year, or student union over student union (i.e. if you become full-time student see your full-time provider). There are no extensions to opt-out deadlines.
Deadlines
2024-2025
I’M STUDYING PART-TIME IN… | OPT-OUT PERIOD RUNS | OPT-OUT DEADLINE | REFUNDS ISSUED (approx) |
Both Fall + Winter terms | September 1-30, 2024 | September 30, 2024 | January 2025 |
Fall term only | September 1-30, 2024 | September 30, 2024 | January 2025 |
Winter term only | January 1-31, 2025 | January 31, 2025 | May-July 2025 |
Summer term only | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The APUS Health & Dental Opt-Out form can be found here.
Refunds
What happens next? Approved opt-outs receive a refund.
Shortly after your opt-out request is received, GSC will send you a confirmation email with a transaction number. Do keep a copy of the email until your refund is issued (end of term). That confirmation email is your proof.
It takes time. Why? In short, because opt-outs are validated against the University of Toronto’s student lists only after the final drop deadline dates of the term, and then arranged with GSC. APUS advocates for faster turnaround times, and we hope you see improvements.
Issues? Check here first.
Problem: Denied Claim
Check: Black-out Period
At the beginning of Fall and Winter term, the insurance provider processes member information. Until the school’s information is processed you can’t register for an online account and they can’t process any claims. This is called a black-out period or inactive period.
As a member, you are covered. Keep those receipts and you can submit once the inactive period is over.
APUS is working with Green Shield Canada to shorten these periods.
Problem: Pharmacist Says I’m Not Covered
Check: Contact GSC
Sometimes treatments are covered, but brand name prescriptions are not. Call GSC.
Tip: Call in advance to see what options are covered.
Problem: It’s Says I’m Terminated
Check: Your Insurance Number and Student Status
If you’ve become a full-time student, remember your insurance number changes. It will no longer start with APU[student number]. Re-register with your current student number and plan.
Your plan is tied to your student status. If you are no longer a student, your plan ends. Contact: services@apus.ca
Problem: Missing Refund
Check: Contact info on file & spam
If you received confirmation for your opt-out but haven’t received your refund (either January or May), check that GSC account has your right email on file. And because they send refund details by email, check your spam folder.
If you still have issues, contact services@apus.ca for updates.
I Still Have Questions
Sure. We’ve got you covered.
Contact a Green Shield Canada Representative at 1-888-711-1119 for questions on:
- what’s covered and what’s not
- remaining coverage/amounts available
- status of claims
Contact the APUS Member Services Coordinator at services@apus.ca for questions on:
- help needed with a denied claim
- help needed with status/eligibility
- status of opt-ins and making payment
- status of opt-out and refunds
Additional Resources:
Because you’re doing all the work to study and take care of your health, for any help making sense of your APUS Health & Dental Plan contact the Member Services Coordinator at services@apus.ca.