How to Use Student Health Insurance for Therapy in Canada

Many students turn to therapy to manage school stress, improve relationships, work through anxiety, develop healthier coping skills, or simply have a dedicated space to process everything that's happening during an incredibly busy stage of life.

The good news is that many Canadian universities include mental health benefits as part of their student health insurance plans, meaning therapy may be much more affordable than you expect. While every school's coverage is different, many plans reimburse hundreds, or even over a thousand dollars, toward therapy each year through extended health benefits.

This guide explains how student therapy coverage works in Canada, how to use your insurance to cover therapy, and how to decide whether campus counselling or private therapy is the right fit for you.

How Student Health Insurance Works in Canada

If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you generally have access to your province or territory's publicly funded healthcare system. This is often referred to as universal healthcare or medicare. Public healthcare generally covers medically necessary services such as visits to a doctor or nurse practitioner, hospital care, and emergency treatment.

International students generally need to have health insurance while they're in Canada, but the way that coverage is provided varies by province. In some provinces, international students may be eligible for the provincial public healthcare plan, such as the Medical Services Plan (MSP) in British Columbia or the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). In other provinces, students may receive coverage through a private or university-arranged plan, such as the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) in Ontario.

However, public healthcare generally does not cover private therapy with a psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor, or social worker. Students often receive additional coverage through an extended health care plan arranged by their university or student union. These plans may be mandatory or optional, depending on the school. They commonly include benefits such as therapy and counselling, prescription medication, dental care, vision care, physiotherapy, and massage therapy. The amount of coverage and eligible providers vary by school, so it's always a good idea to check your specific student health plan.

How to Use Your Student Insurance for Therapy

Step 1: Check your coverage

Before booking an appointment, check your student health plan to find out exactly what's covered. In particular, look for:

• Eligible therapists: Which types of mental health professionals are covered?
• Reimbursement: What percentage of an eligible therapy session will your plan pay back?
• Annual maximum: What's the maximum amount your plan will reimburse for therapy during the benefit year?
• Per-session maximum: Does your plan limit the amount it will reimburse for each appointment?
• Online therapy: Are virtual appointments covered?
• Deductible: Do you need to pay a certain amount yourself before your coverage begins?
• Claims: How do you submit a claim and get reimbursed?

Your university or student union website will usually provide information about your plan, including the name of your insurance provider (such as Studentcare, GSC, Manulife, Sun Life, or Canada Life) and instructions for accessing your benefits.

Step 2: Find an eligible therapist

Look for a therapist whose professional designation is covered by your insurance plan. Commonly covered designations include Registered Psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists (RP), Registered Social Workers (RSW), and Registered Clinical Counsellors. Some plans may also cover other regulated mental health professionals.

Step 3: Book your appointment

You can book directly through First Session without having to navigate a lengthy intake process first. Many therapists offer appointments within days or a week, although availability varies by therapist and location.

Step 4: Save your receipt

After your session, you'll receive a receipt showing the therapist's name, professional designation, registration number, appointment date, and amount paid. You'll generally need this to submit your claim.

Step 5: Submit your claim

You'll usually pay for the appointment yourself and submit a claim to your student insurance provider for reimbursement. Most student insurance providers let you submit claims online or through a mobile app. You'll typically upload your receipt and receive reimbursement by direct deposit or cheque within a few business days to a few weeks.

Step 6: Track your remaining coverage

Keep an eye on how much of your annual benefit you've used so you can plan future appointments.

Your insurance portal should show how much of your benefit you've used and how much remains. If you're unsure, contact your insurance provider before booking additional sessions.

How much does therapy cost?

Private therapy in Canada typically costs $100–$250 per session before insurance, although fees vary depending on the therapist's professional designation, experience, location, and other factors.

With student insurance, you may be reimbursed for some or all of the cost of an eligible therapy session. For example, if a therapist charges $150 per session and your student health plan reimburses 80%, you would receive $120 back and pay $30 out of pocket per session, assuming the service and therapist are eligible and you have enough coverage remaining. 

What if you can’t afford therapy?

You can still access free and low cost mental health resources. 

Sliding-scale therapy

If you don't have insurance or your coverage doesn't stretch very far, look for therapists who offer sliding-scale fees. A sliding-scale therapist charges a reduced rate based on a client's financial circumstances, which can make private therapy more affordable. 

On First Session, you can filter your search for therapists who offer sliding-scale rates and find options that may better fit your budget.

Counselling through your university

Many university health and wellness centres offer counselling services that are included in your student fees, so there is often no additional cost. You can talk with a licensed therapist or counsellor about concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, academic pressure, or feeling overwhelmed.

University counselling services are often designed to provide short-term support, and there may be wait times during particularly busy periods of the academic year. Compared with private therapy, you may also have less choice over your therapist, the type of therapy offered, or how long you can continue receiving support. However, a university counselling centre can be a good place to start if you want free support or aren't sure what type of help you need.

211 Canada

You can call 2-1-1 to speak with a service navigator who can help you find local, government-funded or community-based mental-health services. They can help you identify options based on factors such as your location, age, needs, and ability to pay.

Mental Health Coverage by Canadian University

If you're looking for information about your school's therapy coverage, see our university-specific guides:

• University of British Columbia: Counselling for UBC students
• University of Toronto: Therapy for UofT students
• Toronto Metropolitan University: Therapy for TMU students
• York University: Therapy for York University students
• University of Waterloo: Therapy for UWaterloo students
• Western University: Therapy for Western students
• University of Ottawa: Therapy for uOttawa students

We're continuing to add university-specific guides as we research student health plans across Canada. If you don't see your university above, check your student union or health plan provider for the most up-to-date information.