Boarding Handbook 2024-25

Medical Insurance and Costs All Boarding students must have an active and current Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card or subscribe to the mandatory health insurance package through the College provider, guard.me. The school will register all Boarding students without an OHIP card with the external insurance plan. All Boarding students with current OHIP cards will be subscribed to an additional coverage piece through guard.me called Digital Doctor . This program offers students 24/7, unlimited access to healthcare professionals, ensuring they receive timely care, eliminating the need to spend hours in a clinic or emergency room (and can include prescriptions as well). For evenings and weekends when our our Health Centre is closed, this service is very useful. Families can expect a $30 charge for this yearly service. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) OHIP is only valid after completion of a minimum 90-day residency in Ontario if you hold a Canadian passport; if your child has an OHIP card but has not completed the residency requirements, they will be required to subscribe to guard.me . If your child has landed immigrant status, an Ontario birth certificate or a Canadian passport and if they meet other eligibility criteria, they may apply for OHIP. By living at Havergal, your child meets the residency requirements for OHIP and the school can provide documentation of this. You should apply for OHIP immediately upon arrival in Toronto and purchase guard.me insurance for the interim period. This can be done on a month-to-month basis. The Health Centre Manager will enrol your child in the guard.me plan. guard.me If there is no valid OHIP card, the school will register the student with the insurer of our choice. This registration is mandatory. Our current guard.me health insurance package costs approximately $850 for the 12-month period, beginning August 1. It includes office and hospital visits, a drug plan and other coverage such as lab work, x-rays and psychotherapy. It does not include routine dental work, orthodontic work, glasses or contact lenses. Dr. Desson’s office is able to bill directly to the insurance company, thereby eliminating the necessity of filing claims for individual office visits. Details of the plan may be found at https://guard.me/. Additional Medical Costs Not Covered by Insurance Should monies have to be spent by Havergal College in emergency or exceptional circumstances and the medical or dental costs exceed the insurance coverage provided, the parent accepts full liability for the fees incurred and will reimburse the College within 30 days of occurrence. With respect to costs that are not for emergency or exceptional situations, the parent should make arrangements for a credit or debit card that the student may use to pick up prescriptions and pay for lab tests or x-rays or other procedures as required. If the medical costs are significant and/or ongoing, the parent may make arrangements to pay the medical practitioner directly, or through the Guardian.

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