Busy schedules, study sessions, midterms, essays, extracurriculars, final exams, part-time jobs, relationships, social challenges, family problems - anyone who is a student can tell you that student life can have a trying effect on mental health.
In fact, a 2022 study of Canadian post-secondary students found that COVID-19 has increased mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and increased feelings of isolation and loneliness. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened many of the issues undergraduate and graduate students were already facing, making it even more challenging. You may have noticed this issue being covered in the news the past few years, as students have been demanding better mental health support from their institutions in response to rising mental health concerns and mental illnesses. We want to learn more and understand how post-secondary students can be better supported.
A first question that came to mind is one that we often receive from our post-secondary clients:
Do students at my school have coverage for mental health services? How much is covered?
Students experiencing mental health problems have access to counselling and free resources provided by their college or university. But what if a student is in need of additional support, is facing long wait times to see an on-campus counsellor, or is more comfortable accessing services off campus?
Post-secondary students who are opted into their university or college health insurance plan do have coverage for private mental health care services. This means they have coverage to see therapists or counselors in their community who do not have wait lists and specialize in areas they are looking to address! In our experience however, students don't always know what kind of coverage they have.
If students in need of mental health support don’t know what coverage they have for mental health services, or even that they have coverage at all, they will be much less likely to reach out and access these services. That’s a problem. So how much coverage is available? And what kinds of mental health care providers are covered? We looked at institutions in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia and have shared our findings below. If your institution is not listed, we encourage you to contact the student services at your school to find out what coverage you have available to you.
Ontario Schools
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Undergraduate Students
St. George Campus
2000 per benefit year combined maximum, including $300 per benefit year for Mindbeacon program (Psychologist, Mindbeacon Therapist Guided Program, Social Worker/Counsellor, Master of Social Work or Psychotherapist). For a Psychologist, there is a 20% co-pay. All other health benefits 0% co-pay.
Insurance Plan
Mississauga Campus
$125 per visit up to 25 visits per benefit year for all services combined (excluding MindBeacon) $300 per benefit year (Psychologist or Counsellor/Social Worker or Master of Social Work or Psychotherapist • MindBeacon Therapist Guided Program).
Insurance Plan
Scarborough Campus
$100 per visit and up to 15 visits per policy year (combined for all practitioners - Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Clinical Counsellor, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
Undergraduate Students
Counselling covered up to $750 per benefit year combined (Psychologist, RSW, Psychotherapist).
Insurance Booklet
Offer short-term individual therapy, group, and workshops
Graduate Students
Covers 80% of the cost for a maximum of $500 per policy year. (Psychologist, psychotherapist, RSW, guidance counselling practitioner registered with the Ontario College of Teachers).
Insurance Booklet
Offer short-term individual therapy, group, and workshops
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
Undergraduate Students
$2000 per benefit year combined maximum, 20% - co-pay. (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Social Worker/Counsellor, or Counsellor who has a Master's degree in Social work).
Insurance Booklet
Undergraduate on-campus support: short-term counsellor for up to 8 appointments at Studentcare
Graduate Students
50% per visit up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for each covered person per calendar year (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychoanalyst, Marriage/Family Therapist, Clinical Counselor and Clinical Social Worker)
Insurance Plan
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
Cover 100% to a max of $1000 per year. (Psychologist, clinical counselor, or Master's degree in Social Work).
Insurance Booklet
Graduate Students
Covers 100% per visit, up to a combined maximum of $500 per policy year (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, or Social Worker).
Insurance Booklet
TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY (Formerly known as Ryerson University)
Undergraduate Students
$1,000 per benefit year combined (Psychologist, Social Worker, Psychotherapist).
Insurance Booklet
School provides short term individual counselling, group counselling HERE.
Graduate Students
The plan covers 100% up to $1000 (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, or Social Worker).
Insurance Booklet
School provides short term individual counselling, group counselling HERE.
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Undergraduate Students
Covers 80% up to $800 per calendar year (clinical counsellors and psychotherapists, in addition to licensed psychologists and practitioners with a Master’s degree in Social Work)
Insurance Plan
School offers individual therapy, groups and workshops HERE.
Graduate Students
Covers 80% up to $800 per calendar year (clinical counsellors and psychotherapists, in addition to licensed psychologists and practitioners with a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
Offers individual therapy, groups and workshops HERE
McMaster University
Undergraduate Students
Covers 80% up to a maximum of $300.00 each policy year for each type of practitioner listed below: a) Combined services a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist or speech therapist
Booklet found here
Graduate Students
Psychologists/Clinical Counsellors/Masters of Social Work/Psychotherapists - $100 per visit for an annual maximum of $400 (Please note that you need a referral by a medical doctor to be covered for visits to psychologists, clinical counsellors, Masters of Social Work, or licensed psychotherapists).
Booklet found here
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
Covers the cost of a mental health practitioner for a maximum of $75 per visit and up to $300 per policy year (Psychologist, MSW, registered clinical counselor).
Insurance Plan
YORK UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
$50 per visit up to a maximum of $600 per benefit year combined maximum, including $300 per benefit year for BEACON program. (Psychologist or BEACON digital therapy program or Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work or Psychotherapist)
Insurance Booklet
Graduate Students
Covers 80% to a max $400 (Psychologist, MSW, psychotherapist).
Insurance Plan
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE
Covers 80% of the costs, up to a maximum of $1,000 (Psychologist, psychotherapist, RSW and MSW) Insurance Booklet
CENTENNIAL COLLEGE
Cover 80% to a maximum of $500 (Psychologist) Insurance Plan
SENECA COLLEGE
Basic plan covers 80% to a max $300; Extended plan covers 90% to a max $400 (Psychologist) Insurance Plan
HUMBER COLLEGE
Plan covers 80% to a max $300 (Psychologist)Insurance Plan
CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Undergraduate Students
Health plan available to students HERE
International Students
Charges for psychiatrist inpatient fees following an emergency up to $15,000, in addition to hospitalization benefit above orb) up to $2,500 for outpatient or clinical visits to a psychiatrist for therapyInsurance Plan
Alberta Schools
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Undergraduate Students
Covers 80% of the cost per visit up to $600 per policy year (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Plan
Graduate Students
Covers up to 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner. The maximum is $600 per policy year (Psychologist, Registered Clinical Social Worker, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
Undergraduate Students
Reimbursed at 80% to a maximum of $20 per visit. Each service has an overall plan maximum of $300 per benefit year. (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Plan
Campus offers 75 min single session counselling and mental health workshops HERE; Mental health groups HERE
Graduate Students
Up to 100% per visit, and $500 per student year (Psychologist, MSW, clinical counsellor)
Insurance Booklet
Preferred rates on 50 minute adult therapy or coaching sessions through PsyVitaliti HERE
UNIVERSITY OF LETHRIDGE
Undergraduate Students
Covers 80% of the cost with a combined maximum of $400 per benefit year. (Psychologist, Social Worker (MSW), Psychotherapist)
Insurance Plan
Campus offers therapy assistance online HERE
MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
Covered at 80% up to $25 per visit to a maximum of $400 based on reasonable and customary charges, per practitioner, per benefit year (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Plan
Faculty
Covers 80% of the costs, up to a maximum of $1,000 per person per benefit year (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Booklet
British Colombia Schools
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Undergraduate Students
Covers 100% up to $1000 per policy year (Psychologist or social worker)
Insurance Plan
Campus offers same day single session 45 min counselling, and group counselling HERE.
Graduate Students
Annual maximum increase to $1,500 (Licensed Psychologist, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Licensed Psychological Associate registered with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work)
Insurance Plan
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
Covers up to 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner. The maximum is $500 per policy year (Psychologist, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
Graduate Students
Covers up to 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner.The maximum is $600 per policy year (Psychologist, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
Undergraduate Students
Covers 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner, up to a combined maximum of $700 per policy year (Psychologist, Registered Clinical Counsellor, or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).
Insurance Plan
VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
$75 per visit up to $525 per benefit year combined (Psychologist, Social Worker/Counsellor or Master of Social Work)
Insurance Booklet
School offers Personal Counselling for Students, wellness workshops and groups HERE.
ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Students
Covers up to 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner, up to a maximum of $700 per policy year (Psychologist, Registered Clinical Counsellor or have a Master's degree in Social Work.)
Insurance Plan
Campus offers wellness workshops and counselling sessions (usually up to 5)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Undergraduate Students
Covers the cost of a mental health practitioner for a maximum of 80% per visit and up to $500 per policy year (Psychologist, Registered Clinical Counsellor, or be a Master of Social Work).
Insurance Plan
Graduate Students
Covers the cost of a psychologist for a maximum of $20 per visit and up to $600 per policy year (Psychologist).
Insurance Plan
UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY
Undergraduate Students
Covers up to 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner. The maximum is $500 per policy year (Psychologist, Licensed Psychological Associate, Registered Clinical Counsellor or have a Master’s degree in Social Work).Insurance Plan.
