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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:
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.
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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
Counselling covered up to $750 per benefit year combined (Psychologist, RSW, Psychotherapist).
Insurance Booklet
Offer short-term individual therapy, group, and workshops
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
Helpline and online database of Alberta's community and social services.
$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 appts at Studentcare
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
Cover 100% to a max of $1000 per year. (Psychologist, clinical counselor, or Master's degree in Social Work).
Insurance Booklet
Covers 100% per visit, up to a combined maximum of $500 per policy year (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, or Social Worker).
Insurance Booklet
$1,000 per benefit year combined (Psychologist, Social Worker, Psychotherapist).
Insurance Booklet
School provides short term individual counselling, group counselling HERE.
The plan covers 100% up to $1000 (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, or Social Worker).
Insurance Booklet
School provides short term individual counselling, group counselling HERE.
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.
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
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
$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
Covers 80% to a max $400 (Psychologist, MSW, psychotherapist).
Insurance Plan
Covers 80% of the costs, up to a maximum of $1,000 (Psychologist, psychotherapist, RSW and MSW)
Insurance Booklet
Cover 80% to a maximum of $500 (Psychologist)
Insurance Plan
Basic plan covers 80% to a max $300; Extended plan covers 90% to a max $400 (Psychologist)
Insurance Plan
Plan covers 80% to a max $300 (Psychologist)
Insurance Plan
Health plan available to students HERE
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 therapy
Insurance Plan
Covers 80% of the cost per visit up to $600 per policy year (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Plan
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
Crisis counselling for women and seniors in the province of Ontario.
Available by phone (24/7)
Crisis Line - phone:
GTA: 416-863-0511
GTA TTY: 416-364-8762
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-863-0511
TOLL FREE TTY: 1-8666-863-7868#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
Senior Safety Line - phone:
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-299-1011
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
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
Crisis counselling for women and seniors in the province of Ontario.
Available by phone (24/7)
Crisis Line - phone:
GTA: 416-863-0511
GTA TTY: 416-364-8762
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-863-0511
TOLL FREE TTY: 1-8666-863-7868#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
Senior Safety Line - phone:
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-299-1011
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
Crisis counselling for women and seniors in the province of Ontario.
Available by phone (24/7)
Crisis Line - phone:
GTA: 416-863-0511
GTA TTY: 416-364-8762
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-863-0511
TOLL FREE TTY: 1-8666-863-7868#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
Senior Safety Line - phone:
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-299-1011
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
Covers 80% of the costs, up to a maximum of $1,000 per person per benefit year (Psychologist or Social Worker)
Insurance Booklet
Crisis counselling for women and seniors in the province of Ontario.
Available by phone (24/7)
Crisis Line - phone:
GTA: 416-863-0511
GTA TTY: 416-364-8762
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-863-0511
TOLL FREE TTY: 1-8666-863-7868#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
Senior Safety Line - phone:
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-299-1011
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.
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
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
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
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
$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.
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)
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
Covers the cost of a psychologist for a maximum of $20 per visit and up to $600 per policy year (Psychologist).
Insurance Plan
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.
