Health-care expenses can be costly for many students. In conjunction with Green Shield Canada, the Student Association of George Brown College (SA) has worked to provide students with health and dental coverage.

Tina Todaro, Staff Reporter 

Health-care expenses can be costly for many students. In conjunction with Green Shield Canada, the Student Association of George Brown College (SA) has worked to provide students with health and dental coverage. The goal of the SA is to provide students with protection against costly medical bills, which for many are too high to pay for on top of educational expenses.

Yukiko Ito, the SA’s senior co-ordinator of member services said, “It is beneficial for students to have the Student Association health benefits so they can focus on studying without worrying about health-care bills.”

There are three types of coverage provided by the SA:

1. International students under the post-secondary program have hos-pital and medical coverage plus health and dental coverage.
2. International students under the ESL program have hospital and medical coverage only.
3. Domestic full-time students have health and dental coverage.

The benefit booklet on the Green Shield website provides an outline of the health and dental coverage, as well as associated costs such as the percentage that students must co-pay.

Some benefits include: 

• Up to $5,000 of prescription drug benefits a year, including hormones for transgendered students and contraceptives.
• $500 for hearing aids, repairs or replacement parts every four years.
• $1,000 per year for psychologists or counsellors/social workers.
• $100 for glasses or contact lenses and $65 for eye exams every two years.
• Up to $2,000 for private tutorial service from a qualified teacher. To qualify, a student must be confined to home or hospital for a minimum of 30 consecutive days.
• $750 of dental coverage per benefit year.

Students can visit the SA office located at each campus for forms and information regarding the health benefits.

If a student already has existing equivalent coverage, and does not require additional coverage, they can opt out of the plan by the required deadlines. Domestic students must opt out through the Green Shield website while international students must pick up a form at an SA office.

Benefit cards can be picked up at the SA offices, but locations are specific to the types of coverage. International students can pick up their cards at their home campus, domestic students can pick them up at any campus, and ESL students at St. James campus only.