Details of the UMSU health and dental plan by Studentcare was presented at the Sept. 4 UMSU board of directors meeting.

Ali Versi, the program manager of the UMSU health and dental plan, provided attendees with an introduction of Studentcare and an overview of the current plan.

Versi described Studentcare as a broker between the service provided for the students and the insurance company.

“We are not the insurance company, we are the broker and the administrator and we work for you. We work for the University of Manitoba Students’ Union and we sit on your side of the table against the insurance companies, to make sure that you folks are indeed getting the best level of service as possible,” said Versi.

“On top of health and dental insurance, [and] administrative work, we also provide other programs, some of which the University of Manitoba already has in the mental health and wellness space and virtual healthcare, legal programs and gender affirmation care.”

Versi said that, “we go above and beyond just insurance and provide students with other supplementary services that all encompass general health and wellness.”

The UMSU health and dental plan is described as a supplemental plan and works on top of provincial coverage — your primary health insurance plan — said Versi. If you are a Canadian citizen and resident of Manitoba, it is added on top of your Manitoba health coverage. If you are an international student, you have Manitoba International Student Health Plan, explained Versi. Out-ofprovince students attending the U of M were said to likely have coverage through their home province.

“We know there are gaps that exist in provincial health or other basic health care services, so things like dental, vision, mental health are not fully covered by those programs, and that’s why we provide this service to our members,” said Versi. It is to supplement provincial coverage — “it’s not there as a replacement.”

Students with any other private plan, such as through their employer, spouse or parent can use that coverage on top of their UMSU plan.

Versi explained that this group health and dental plan is advantageous due to cost, amongst other reasons. “When it comes to an individual plan, students would pay up to seven times more than they would in a group plan, because the risk is not spread amongst a wider population, it is risk underwritten based on an individual […] Having a group plan really lowers the cost.”

Individual insurance can also be discriminatory on the basis of age and gender, which are cancelled out under the group plan, said Versi. A group plan also does not factor in any pre-existing health conditions. “Everyone is considered of one uniform characteristic” under the group plan.

With over 20,000 students enrolled in the plan at the U of M, over $6 million is estimated to have been paid out in claims in the recently concluded coverage year. This year, the plan will cost $365 per member and is automatically included in university fees for all eligible students.

“Students have the option to downgrade their plan to a basic plan if they wish to save some money and reduce their coverage,” said Versi.

Mental health claims were noted to have substantially increased in recent years.

“What we are noticing is a drastic increase in mental health claims over the past five years, so that’s psychology, clinical counselling and therapy that your plan covers. In 2018-2019 we had seen just under $90,000 in mental health claims whereas in ’22-’23, that increased to $812,000, so almost a tenfold increase,” stated Versi.

“In ’23-’24, we are projecting that to exceed one million dollars,” said Versi, in reference to insurance claims for mental health under the plan.

The health and dental plan also provides networks to offset out-of-pocket costs in accessing care.

“We have over 2,500 professionals located across Canada, including here in Winnipeg, that students can go to in order to use their health and dental benefits and offset some of those out-of-pocket costs […] Students can get 20 per cent off on dental services, some preferred rates on vision benefits, some discounts and preferred rates on chiro, physio and massage therapy.”

A new initiative shared at the board meeting will be a “psychology network,” said Versi.

“Students will be able to access their health and dental benefits, their mental health benefits through their health plan with My Student Wellbeing at a preferred rate of between $95 to $130 per session, whereas the market rate for a mental health session can be between $150 to $175,” said Versi. Direct billing is set up, such that no out-of-pocket costs will be incurred.

Through an online booking tool, students can have access to mental health counselling within 24 to 48 hours.

Starting Sept. 1, students can receive an enhanced discount of 20 per cent at Rexall pharmacies. The insurance plan will cover the remaining 80 per cent, permitting total coverage at no out-of-pocket cost.

Empower Me is another mental health service made possible with the plan, described as “a short-term solutions-based counselling platform.” Starting in September, students can once again access in-person sessions, in addition to virtual sessions. The service is available 24/7 in many languages with no out-of-pocket costs.

“Out of country coaching” will also be a new service introduced. This service will provide students who are temporarily abroad and need access to mental health coaching with such assistance.

The legal program was another element highlighted during the presentation, with undergraduate students receiving access to legal consultation and legal representation.

Legal consultation will provide counselling in any area of the law. Students can access this service virtually or in-person.

“That lawyer will help you conduct legal research, document analysis, will interpret the law on your behalf, will explain to you any legal concepts, will share that legal information with you and provide you with general legal advice,” said Versi.

“Legal representation on the other hand is there to provide you with representation in court when it comes to issues related to housing, employment and disputes with an academic institution.” All legal disputes with an academic institution — excluding cases pertaining to criminal acts or sexual misconduct — will be covered.

Versi told the UMSU board of directors that, “you folks are here to steer the big picture success of the health and dental plan […] We rely on you to make the big policy decisions.”

“We rely on you to be able to gather that feedback from your constituents. Each one of you here are representing your unique demographic and your unique subculture within campus, and we welcome that feedback from your constituents on any improvements.”

For more information on student plan coverage, visit studentcare.ca