Did you know that your YFS Health and Dental Plan offers you a ton of health benefits? If that’s news to you, check out this post to find out how you can take care of yourself with your student health benefits.
Note: The YFS Health and Dental Plan differs from the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). Learn more about UHIP in our “Using your UHIP” post.
What is the YFS Health and Dental Plan?
The YFS Health and Dental Plan, offered by the York Federation of Students (YFS), is a comprehensive plan that offers low-cost health insurance to York’s undergraduate students.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for coverage, you must be:
- a resident of Canada; and
- covered under your provincial health plan.
Once you are covered under this plan, you can also add your dependents (spouse, common-law partner and/or children); however, they must also be covered under a provincial health plan.
Before seeking treatments, medical services or medications, check your student account statement to confirm that you’re enrolled.
What is the coverage period?
Your coverage begins once you are enrolled under the plan.
If you are enrolled in the Fall term and in full-year studies, you are covered from September 1 to August 31 of the following year.
For example, if your term began in September 2023 and will end in April 2024, you will be covered from September 1 to August 31.
If you are enrolled in Winter studies only (for example, January to April 2024), you are covered from January 1 to August 31 of the same year.
What benefits can you claim?
With the YFS Health and Dental Plan, you can claim benefits for prescription drugs, hearing care, medical items like hospital-style beds, footwear, braces and casts, diabetic equipment, mobility aids like wheelchairs, canes and more!
Read the My Benefit Plan booklet for a detailed list of benefits.
How to access your benefits
The insurance carrier for this plan is Green Shield Canada (GSC). You must use your GSC identification number in all claims and communications to claim your medical benefits.
Note: Your GSC identification number begins with “YFS,” followed by your York student number, and ends with “-00.”
For example, if your student number is 123456789, your GSC identification number will be YFS123456789-00.
Before filing any claims, make sure:
- you are enrolled in the YFS Health and Dental Plan;
- your medical bills and documents are handy; and
- you have access to a computer and internet.
To submit your claim, visit the GSC website and log in with your identification number.
If you’d like your reimbursement directly deposited into your bank account, make sure to update your banking information on your GSC account.
GSC can also send a reimbursement cheque to you or directly pay your medical services provider.
Upload all medical bills and required documents and click “submit.”
It’s that simple!
What if you need to opt in or out of the YFS plan?
Opting in
If you are not enrolled in the plan but want to enroll, fill out the opt-in form on the YFS website before the deadline.
Note: The opt-in and opt-out deadline for Winter 2024 students is Friday, February 2, 2024. The opt-in and out-out periods for Fall term and full-year students have passed.
Please allow three weeks from the date you completed your application for your insurance to be active.
Opting out
To opt out of the YFS plan, you must have alternate health and dental insurance that is comparable to the YFS plan. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and UHIP are not considered alternate coverage.
Fill out the opt-out form before the deadline.
What if you have questions?
To determine your eligibility for a specific service, call the GSC Customer Service Centre at 1-888-771-1119. You can also email them your questions through the GSC website.