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Health Plan

The MSU Health Insurance plans covers full-time undergraduate students at McMaster University enrolled in 18 units or more across Fall and Winter term, at a rate of $114.33 per person for the 2026/2027 school year. Coverage runs from September 1st to August 31st.

For more information on coverage, claims or other frequently asked questions, please click on the sections below.

Expandable List

Click on the image below to download the full brochure for coverage details.

 


McMaster 2026-27 Insurance Booklet


McMaster 26-27 – Insurance Booklet

 

 

Prescription Drugs:

Prescription drugs may be purchased at the pharmacy of your choice. For pharmacies who have electronic claiming, please present your student card and the following information: 

Insurer: GreenShield Canada – GSC 
Plan Name: McMaster Student Union
GreenShield Group ID: MSU
Certificate #: Your 9-digit student ID with the prefix MUS
(ex: MUS123456789) 

All Other Claims:
For all other claims, you will be required to pay for the full cost of the service or treatment and submit your original receipts to the Plan Adjudicator, or by creating an e-profile at www.alumo.ca. *Note that claims are not processed through the MSU Main Office*

Download Health Plan claim forms below:

Greenshield General Claim Submission Form

Where to Submit Your Claims:

Pay Direct:

  1. Present your Pay-Direct Card to pharmacists, dentists, and a number of other health professionals for immediate reimbursement (you won’t have to pay the full amount of your bill up front). 
  2. Your claim will be processed according to your Plan’s coverage. You will be informed of the amount to be paid, if any, and theportioncovered by the insurer. 

Note: you can download your direct payment card in several ways, such as on Pay-Direct Card page or on the GreenShield+ portal. 

Mobile App: 

Submit your claims through the GreenShield+ mobile app, available on the App Store and on Google Play. 

  1. Sign in to your GreenShield+ account through the app. If youhaven’t registered yet, click on Create an account and follow the instructions. 
  2. Once you have logged in, select Submit a claim.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions and click Continue on the Review and Submit Claim page after reviewing the information entered for the claim.
  4. Review the Terms and Conditions and select Accept Terms and Submit Claim.
  5. Select Done tosubmit. If you need help, please see the step-by-step instructions for: Submitting a claim.

 Online Submission:  

  1. Open the GreenShield + web portal.
  2. Log into your account. If youhaven’tregistered yet, click on Sign up now and follow the instructions. 
  3. Once you have logged in, select Claims and Benefits and then Submit a claim.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen and review the information entered for the claim, then select the box for legal advice and click Submit claim.

If you need help, please see the step-by-step instructions for: Submitting a claim. If you’re still having problems submitting your claim online, you can send it by mail. 

 By Mail:

  1. Download the GreenShield Health Claim Form and fill out the required information.
  2. Sign and date the form and attach the required documentation, including receipts.
  3. Mail your claim to GreenShield at the addressindicatedat the bottom of the form according to the type of claim you are sending.

1. May I co-ordinate this plan with another benefit plan?

Yes! Be advised that your school insurance is your primary insurance. You will need to submit any claims to the MSU Health Insurance plan before you submit your claim to any other insurance plan that you currently have.

2. Are natural medicines covered under the Health Plan?

No, natural medicines are NOT covered under the MSU Health Insurance Plan.

3. Why did the pharmacy tell me that I am not covered when I have paid my fees?

We do have a “black out period” during the months of September until mid-October while the opt-out period is in effect. If you are picking up a prescription during the month of September, please note that pharmacies will require you to pay for the prescription in full and submit to the Insurance company for reimbursement. If you send in a claim during this time, reimbursement  will not be issued until late October.

This Insurance plan only covers undergraduate students, so if you are a graduate student, you will not be on these lists.

If your name isn’t showing up when making an electronic claim at a pharmacy after the opt-out period, please contact the Administrative Assistant via email at adminassistant@msu.mcmaster.ca for more information about your concern.

4. What prescription drugs are covered under the Health Plan?

We cover so many prescription medicines, it is better for us to list what we DO NOT cover, which includes the following:

  • Preventative medicines
  • Anti-smoking medicines
  • Hair loss drugs
  • Weight loss drugs
  • Over-the-counter drugs, whether prescribed or not; except those drugs prescribed in the treatment of arthritis, acne, allergies, vaginal yeast infections, and diabetes (including insulin, syringes, and diagnostic kits).

5. How do I submit an accidental benefits claim?

Accident claims (such as physio, braces, dental, chiro, etc) should be paid for by the Insured (student), in full at the time of the treatment. There is only coverage for accident claims if they are due to an accident which happened while the Insured was covered under the Health Plan. You must obtain a claim form, have it filled out by yourself, the attending physician, and the Plan Administrator (located in MUSC 201). Once this is filled out you will send this in with any receipts to the insurance company.

6. Can I submit my claims electronically instead of through mail?

Yes! You can now sign up for an eProfile for online claiming through Alumo and GreenShield + web portal. You can find the portal at www.alumo.ca. Please note that the portal will only accept submissions after the blackout period of September 1st to mid-October. 

7. If I opt-out of the plan, can I opt back in, in the event of a situation change?

No, there is no “opt-in” option to the plan. So it is wise to keep the Health Plan as a back up.

8. Can I pay for additional coverage (example: more prescription coverage) at an extra cost?

The only coverage that the plan offers is what is detailed on this website. There can be no increases or decreases in coverage.

9. Can I add my family members to the plan?

Yes! You may add on your spouse and/or dependant children to the Health Plan. Click HERE for more information.