Opt Out
As a current international student studying at VIU, you will be enrolled in the guard.me@viu health insurance plan as of May 1, 2024. This plan is mandatory for all international students who are studying in Canada and a condition of studying at VIU.
Opt-Out Option 1: I have valid BC MSP Coverage
If you already have valid BC MSP coverage, you may opt out of the guard.me@viu health insurance plan. For the opt-out to be accepted, you must successfully complete the opt out form including the alternate insurance declaration and identify your BC MSP start date and end date. Your application to opt-out will be declined if the period of coverage ends prior to August 31, 2024.
If you are approved to opt out of the guard.me@VIU health insurance plan prior to the opt-out deadline of May 31, 2024, current charges for the plan will be removed from your student account. Any amounts already paid will remain on your student account for future use toward tuition or other fees.
If you miss the opt-out deadline for Option 1, your approved opt-out will be effective as of your next semester of study (and you will be required to pay the current semester’s guard.me fees).
Opt-Out Option 2: I am studying outside of Canada for the Summer 2024 term
If you will not be in Canada for the Summer term of 2024, you are eligible to Opt-Out of the guard.me@viu health insurance plan on a temporary basis (Summer term only). To do this, you MUST OPT-OUT by successfully completing the Out of Canada Declaration and Waiver. The deadline to complete the Opt-Out Declaration and Waiver is May 31, 2024. If payment has been made and your application to opt-out is received prior to the deadline and is submitted successfully, you will receive a credit to your VIU student account.
If you miss the opt-out deadline for Option 2, you will remain on the guard.me plan until you are eligible to opt-out under Option 1 (and you will be required to pay the current semester’s guard.me fees).
Eligible Plans
- BC Medical Services Plan (BC MSP)
About Us
Real People. Real Solutions. Real Life.
guard.me is a leading provider of international student health insurance and,
we’re so much more. That’s why, as a trusted partner for private and public universities, colleges, language
schools and schoolboards, we created
guard.meCARES, our innovative
platform of health and wellness programs and services designed to mitigate risk, manage crisis events and improve health
and wellness day-in and day-out.
guard.meCARES is more than a name; caring is at the heart of everything we
do. It’s who we are and it’s why we are here. The philosophy of caring for students and our partners and giving
back to the communities in which we do business is our guiding principle and what sets us apart from our competitors.
Our team of Real People delivers the personalized attention and culturally-sensitive
Real Solutions
clients need for
Real Life. We offer expert assistance during times of crisis, innovative programs and digital
resources that improve wellness, ongoing education and training for staff and educators through our Wellness and Learning
Initiatives, with unparalleled customer support.
It’s a commitment to caring that every
guard.me team member holds at their core and
strives to deliver on each and every day. We do it not because we have to, but because
guard.meCARES
Mental Wellness Student Support Program
keep.meSAFE’s innovative Student Support Program (SSP) helps students by promoting early
intervention and 24/7 access to mental health support. We help students manage their mental
health so they can fully participate in academic life and complete their studies. keep.meSAFE
is the first support program to use linguistically and culturally matched licensed clinicians,
providing your students a welcoming place where they are comfortable to seek help.
Program Features
Full integration with on-campus resources
Master’s level counsellors experienced in supporting domestic and international students
Access to a counsellor who understands their culture in their preferred language
Immediate and fully confidential support 24/7, through chat and telephone, as well as ongoing support
Free My SSP app with direct access to counsellors and self directed multilingual resources
Outcomes based success measures to report on results
Did you know?
50%
50% of students have felt overwhelming anxiety, making it hard to succeed academically
31%
31% of post-secondary students have felt so depressed that it was difficult to function
Want more information?
Contact our keep.meSAFE sales team,
christinewach@keepmesafe.org
www.keepmesafe.org
If this is an emergency, please call 911 immediately.
Get support when you need it most
Studying at college or university whether in another country or another city can be a wonderful and exciting life experience.
But it can also be a time of tremendous stress and isolation as you learn to navigate a new landscape and begin campus life.
The keep.meSAFE Mental Wellness Student Support Program is a support service available to eligible students that can help
them with challenges faced when studying or living abroad. You can contact keep.meSAFE anytime – day or night – to speak with
a Counsellor who has experience supporting the unique challenges students face.
Provides you with confidential support
keep.meSAFE is completely confidential within the limits of the law,
so no one – including your family, friends, or professors – will ever know you
used the program unless you choose to tell them
Talk to a keep.meSAFE Counsellor who
- Is available 24/7 and at no cost to you
- Keeps your information confidential
- Understands your culture
- Speaks your language
Get help and advice about anything
- Being successful at school
- Relationships with friends and family
- Language and cultural barriers
- Anxiety and stress
- Balancing work and school
- Adapting to new cultures
mobileDOCTOR by guard.me allows you to connect with Canadian
doctors on Maple, a telemedicine company, as a part of your health
benefits. Maple provides access to doctors, Canada wide, on your
phone, tablet or computer anytime, anywhere.
Seeing a doctor on Maple is safe and reliable, and can help prevent
the need to go to a walk-in clinic or Emergency Room.
When outside of Canada the mobileDOCTOR service connecting you
to a Canadian doctor in real time remains available 24/7 for advice
purposes only.
How It Works
2. Apply account coverage for family members
To add insured family members, click on “Patient Profiles” from the dashboard.
In “Account Settings” under the “Coverage” tab, add the relevant guard.me policy numbers.
3. Chat With A Doctor
Click the “See The Doctor” button and a Maple doctor will respond to you in minutes.
You can have your consultation by text, video, or audio chat.
4. Get a diagnosis, prescription, or lab requisition
Doctors can diagnose injuries and illnesses, write prescriptions, and provide lab requisitions, all within your consultation. Please note that only eligible prescriptions and lab requisitions are covered by guard.me and can only be provided if you are in Canada.
What Can Be Treated
Sign up today at guard.me/mobiledoctorOpens a new window
mobileDOCTOR - How To Video
Limitation on Liability
The Insurer, the Plan Administrator and/or the Claim Administrator are not responsible for the availability,
quality or results of any Medical Treatment, or Your failure to obtain Medical Treatment or transportation
and shall not be held liable for any negligence, wrongful acts or omissions of any service providers.
Do you need more information?
Please write to us at:
claims@guard.me
