Student Benefits

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We provide health and dental coverage to over 8,500 students each year, and it is our duty to assist you in completing all proper documentation (to opt out, opt in, or add dependents to the plan), and answer any questions you may have.

NAITSA Service Hub
studentplans@nait.ca | 780-471-8855 | Room O108

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The student health & dental plan

If you are a student enrolled in at least one credit course that starts in the Fall term prior to the September 29, 2022 deadline, or at least one credit course that starts in the Winter term prior to the January 26, 2024 deadline, you are automatically assessed the fees for that respective term via the myNAIT portal, and are automatically enrolled in the plan.

All credit students are assessed these fees, including:

  • Degree, Diploma, and Certificate programs
  • Academic Upgrading and Open Studies
  • Part-time and full-time students
  • Online and face-to-face delivery format

Health fee: $138.00 per academic year split in two payments ($69.00 per Fall and Winter term).
Dental fee: $130.00 per academic year split in two payments ($65.00 per Fall and Winter term).

Coverage for the Fall term lasts from September 1 – December 31.
Coverage for the Winter term lasts from January 1 – August 31.

NOTE:

  • This plan is not available for students enrolled exclusively in non-credit, ESL, auditing, or apprenticeship courses.
  • The health & dental fees are not assessed to students enrolled in the Spring/Summer terms.
  • Returning to NAIT and have previously opted out of the plan? Your status will remain opted out. Please check our Opt Out/Opt In FAQ on how to request to be back in the plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Opt out

Deadline to Opt Out of Health and/or Dental Benefits

If you have comparable coverage through another insurance carrier (Alberta Blue Cross, Green Shield Canada, Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, etc.), and you would like to opt out of only health, only dental, or both, you must fill out the online waiver form with proof of comparable coverage before the appropriate deadline.

NOTE: Provincial health care, such as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) or Covenant Health, is NOT comparable coverage, but the Alberta Adult Health Benefit is comparable coverage.

Deadline for September intake: Friday, September 29, 2023
Deadline for January intake: Friday, January 26, 2024

If you were enrolled in September and your plan was active during the Fall term, you cannot opt out of the plan in January.

Opt-Out Form Submission

The opt-out form can be found here: https://www.mystudentplan.ca/nait/en/forms.

When you submit the form online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email indicating that your request has been successfully submitted. This does not mean it has been approved yet. Be sure to keep this confirmation email – this is your ONLY proof that you have submitted the form.

You may be selected for an audit of your coverage details. Please review the Terms and Conditions regarding online opt-outs.

You will be notified by email once your opt-out request has been approved. Please ensure that the email address you provide on the form is correct.

Once your opt-out request is approved, it will carry forward each subsequent year, so you do not have to resubmit the form each year.

What if I miss the opt-out deadline?

You will not be able to opt out of the student plan at any other point during the school year.

  • If you are enrolled in a credit course that begins in September prior to the deadline, you must opt out by September 29, 2023.
  • If you are enrolled in a credit course that begins in January prior to the deadline, but NOT enrolled in a credit course that begins in September, you must opt out by January 26, 2024.

NO EXCEPTIONS will be made if the deadline is missed. It is the student’s responsibility to pay the fees should they miss the applicable deadline.

If you pay your tuition online through the myNAIT portal, leaving the boxes blank next to the health & dental fees (or inputting zeros) does not automatically opt you out or remove the fees. Similar to a credit card statement, choosing to not pay the fees does not remove the fees. The only valid method for opting out is to submit the online form before the applicable deadline.

How long does it take for my opt-out to be processed?

It may take a few business days. Please keep an eye on your myNAIT portal to see the fees waived/credited back to you.

If you did not receive an automatic confirmation email immediately after your opt-out submission, please email studentplans@nait.ca.

You will be notified after your opt-out request has been approved. Please ensure that the email address you provide on the form is correct.

What happens if I opted out in the past?

Opt-outs are attached to your student ID number, therefore they carry forward even when coming back to NAIT a few years later, changing programs, etc. Students have one opportunity each academic year to make changes to their plan. If you are returning to NAIT in the fall term your deadline to opt back in will be the last Friday of September, and same for the January deadline.

Please keep in mind that the deadline for January is only if you were not taking any credit course in the fall term. The only exception is a 30 day lifestyle change (please see Opt-in criteria for more information). NO exceptions will be made if you miss the applicable deadline.

Please check your tuition fees – if you do not have “Medical and Dental Insurance” fees listed there, you are NOT on the plan.

Contact studentplans@nait.ca or talk to our Livechat Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm for any questions or concerns.

Opt In

Opting In

If you previously opted out of the student plan and wish to opt back in, there are two possible opportunities to do so:

Each September prior to the deadline on the last Friday of the month (September 29, 2023), or January prior to the deadline on the last Friday of the month (January 26, 2024) ONLY IF you were not enrolled in a credit course that began prior to the September deadline.

30-Day Lifestyle Change Exception

Certain circumstances called lifestyle changes allow students to opt in at any point during the year, as long as it is within 30 days since the lifestyle change occurred. These include:

  • Losing comparable coverage
  • Getting married
  • Birth/adoption of a child
  • Meeting the 12-month cohabitation requirement for common-law status
  • Meeting the provincial plan residency requirements

The opt-in form can be found here.

If you are opting in within 30 days of a lifestyle change, you must also provide supporting documentation in an email to studentplans@nait.ca.

If you are opting in during the September intake period, supporting documentation is not required.

Family Add-on

Eligible students on the plan can purchase coverage for dependents, including:

  • Spouse or common-law partner
  • Children under the age of 21, or up to the age of 25 if they are enrolled in school full-time.

Similar to opting in, if you would like to add dependents to your plan, there are two possible opportunities to do so:

Each September prior to the deadline on the last Friday of the month (September 29, 2023), or January prior to the deadline on the last Friday of the month (January 26, 2024) ONLY IF you were not enrolled in a credit course that began prior to the September deadline.

30-Day Lifestyle Change Exception

Certain circumstances called lifestyle changes allow students to add dependents at any point during the year, as long as it is within 30 days since the lifestyle change occurred. These include:

  • Dependent(s) losing comparable coverage
  • Getting married
  • Birth/adoption of a child
  • Dependent meeting the 12-month cohabitation requirement for common-law status
  • Dependent(s) meeting the provincial plan residency requirements

The family add-on form can be found here.

If you are adding dependents within 30 days of a lifestyle change, you must also provide supporting documentation in an email to studentplans@nait.ca.

If you are adding dependents during the September intake period, supporting documentation is not required.

Family add-on fees are as follows:

  • Health: $288.00/year (1+ dependents)
  • Dental: $265.00/year (1 dependent) OR $395.00/year (2+ dependents)

The family add-on fees are processed separately, not via the myNAIT portal. Once your submission is approved, you will receive a separate email with a link for online payment.

The family add-on must be purchased every year if you choose to keep your dependents on the plan (as long as you are also eligible for the plan).

If your plan is active in the Fall term and you do not meet the eligibility criteria in the Winter term, your and your dependents’ coverage will end December 31.

NOTE: Family add-on fees are non-refundable.

The first claim for each dependent on your plan must be submitted manually via GroupNet or mailed to Canada Life. After the initial claim is processed, the dependent can then use the benefits card for direct billing.

*This is an annual fee that must be renewed before the applicable deadline if you wish to continue the coverage for your family.

Coverage Period
For eligible students starting in the Fall term, coverage lasts from September 1 – August 31, provided there is no change in eligibility status from the Fall to the Winter term.

Coverage will end December 31 for students graduating at the end of the Fall term, and for students enrolled exclusively in non-credit courses during the Winter term or simply taking a break from their studies.

For eligible students starting in the Winter term, coverage lasts from January 1 – August 31.

Since the health & dental fees are not assessed to students in the Spring and Summer terms, the only way to have coverage from May to August is to be eligible in the Winter term.

Blackout Period

New eligible students will be added to the health & dental plan approximately 45 days from the start of the term. This is called the “blackout period” because students are not active on the plan, and cannot yet submit manual claims or use their benefits card for direct billing.

Please keep your receipts for eligible expenses incurred during this period for submission to the insurance carrier upon completion of the enrolment process.

When the plan is active, we will announce it on the myNAIT portal, the NAITSA website, our monthly newsletter, and various social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

Returning eligible students may continue to access the plan benefits without disruption by using their benefits card or by submitting reimbursement claims manually to the insurance carrier.

Who do I contact for eligibility and enrolment inquiries? How do I pay the fee?

You can contact the Benefits Coordinator in the NAITSA Service Hub, in-person in room O108, calling 780-471-7730, or emailing studentplans@nait.ca for any plan inquiries.

The fees for the health & dental plan will be assessed automatically by NAIT if you meet the eligibility criteria upon course registration. Please check the charges on your account using the myNAIT portal. They will be listed as “Medical insurance” and “Dental insurance” alongside your tuition.

How do I submit a claim?

You can:

  • Submit your claim using GroupNet on a web browser.
  • Submit your claim using the GroupNet Mobile app (available on Android and iOS)
  • Mail your claim form(s) and receipts to Canada Life

GroupNet is an online platform that provides access to your benefits. You can submit manual claims, check your coverage balances, and receive your reimbursements much faster via direct deposit into your bank account.

NOTE: New eligible students will not be able to register for GroupNet during the blackout period.

Alternatively, you can present your benefits card when you visit your service provider to pay only the remaining amount not covered by the plan at the time of service (no need to submit a manual claim and wait for reimbursement).

NOTE: If you have purchased the family add-on, the first claim for each dependent on your plan must be submitted manually via GroupNet or mailed to Canada Life.

Who do I contact for claims-related issues?
The NAITSA Service Hub does not have access to your claims details. Please contact Canada Life’s customer service (1-800-957-9777) to inquire about claims history details and payment status. You will need to provide your plan number (330823) and your student ID number.
I opted out in the past but I am coming back to NAIT under a different program. Am I back on the plan automatically?

No! Your plan enrolment status is attached to your student ID. So long you have the same ID, no matter how long it has been since you left NAIT, your status is the same. That means, if you have opted out in the past, you are still opted out of the plan. Students have one opportunity each academic year to make changes to their plan.

If you are returning to NAIT in the fall term your deadline to opt back in will be the last Friday of September, and same for the January deadline. Please, keep in mind that the deadline for January is only if you were not taking any credit course in the fall term. The only exception is a 30 day lifestyle change (please see Opt-in criteria for more information). NO exceptions will be made if you miss the applicable deadline.

Please check your tuition fees – if you do not have “Medical and Dental Insurance” fees listed there, you are NOT on the plan.

Contact studentplans@nait.ca or talk to our Livechat Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm for any questions or concerns.

How to use your health & dental Plan

What if I lose my comparable coverage? What if my dependents lose their comparable coverage?

If you lose the coverage used to opt out of the student plan and you wish to opt back in, or your dependents lost their coverage and you wish to add them to the student plan, you have 30 days from the loss of coverage to submit the appropriate form(s) online, provide supporting documentation to the Benefits Coordinator (studentplans@nait.ca), and subsequently provide payment of the individual and/or family add-on fees.

Alternatively, if you are not in urgent need of insurance, you can wait until the upcoming Fall term to submit the form(s) before the deadline. In this case, supporting documentation indicating loss of coverage will not be required.

What if I am not eligible for the student plan, and I need coverage?

You can shop around for any insurance plan that meets your needs, provided by insurance carriers such as Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Green Shield Canada, etc.

For low-income Albertans, the Government of Alberta provides the Adult Health Benefit and Child Health Benefit. Click here for more information.

I just graduated in April, and was on the plan in the Winter term. Am I still covered?

Eligible students on the plan in the Winter term have coverage until August 31 – a few months of coverage after graduation!

II am trying to register on Canada Life and it cannot verify me

When registering on Canada Life, make sure to put your First name and Middle name in the “First Name” section, leave “Middle name” blank and put your last name in “Last name”. Unsure how Canada Life has your name inputted before registering? Contact studentplans@nait.ca or talk to our Livechat.

NAITSA X CAPE CLINIC COLLAB

NAITSA has partnered with the CAPE Clinic to offer free contraceptives to NAIT students with minimal barriers.

Health Care Resources

At NAITSA, we highly value your well-being and understand the importance of your health. That’s why we have curated a comprehensive Health Resources page specifically for you. Click on the links below to access up-to-date information about the resources conveniently available on campus, in close proximity, or virtually.

Disclaimer

The student benefit fees detailed herein are subject to change as only an estimate could be provided at the time of printing. Any changes to the above will be communicated to the students after they are finalized.