The GSS Extended Health & Dental Plans

The Health & Dental plans are carried by Pacific Blue Cross, a non-profit insurance
company. The fees usually are charged automatically with your tuition payment. January-
start students are assessed a pro-rated fee for coverage January – August.

Note that while the benefit year is 12 months long, beginning September 1 st each year and
ending August 31st, plan maximums run on the calendar year (January – December).

Who is assessed these fees?

All graduate students who are:
 Registered in 3 or more ON-CAMPUS units in September or January
 Registered as co-op students
 Registered in an ON-CAMPUS thesis or dissertation
***Summer students are not assessed the fee***

Graduate students who live outside the Victoria area are usually registered in OFF-CAMPUS sections. OFF-CAMPUS
students are not charged automatically but are eligible to opt in to Extended Health or Dental Plans.

Opting Out:
To opt out of one or both of the GSS Extended Health and Dental plans, simply visit the GSS General Office and
provide us with proof of your alternative extended health and/or dental coverage. Examples include:

 Extended health and dental plan cards provided by your insurance company.
 A letter from your insurance on company letterhead, explaining both Extended Health and Dental
Plans and including all relevant policy, group, or certificate numbers.
 A letter from your employer on company letterhead, outlining both Extended Health and Dental
coverage, including the name of the insurance company and all relevant policy, group, or certificate
numbers.

Online opt out option is available in September every year.

Opting in your family members:

Please fill out an opt-in form at the GSS General Office. Payment (cash or cheque) must accompany your opt-in form.

Health and Dental Fees:

Single Fees in September: Opt-In Fees for Family or off campus students in September:
Health $255 Health $260
Dental $185 Dental $190

Single Fees in January: Opt-In Fees for Family or off campus students in January:
Health $170 Health $175
Dental $ 125 Dental $130

Opt-out/opt-in deadlines are:

September 30th: September-start students can opt out for 12 months
January 31st: January-start students can opt out for 8 months

For more information about the GSS Extended Health and Dental Plans, you can pick up a Health and Dental Plan
booklet or download the booklet at http://gss.uvic.ca/documents/GSSHealthandDentalplanbooklet.pdf

If you have any questions regarding the GSS Extended Health and Dental Plans, please contact: Health & Dental
Plans Coordinator at 250- 721-8816 or gsoc@uvic.ca
 The Universal Bus Pass (U-PASS)
The per semester fee for U-PASS in 2009 is $69.25 and gives each student unlimited transit use in the Victoria area.
The fee is charged automatically with the tuition fees.

To use the U-PASS, you must validate your student card at the GSS office, the ID Centre in the University Centre
building, or the SUB Info Booth. Each time you board a BC Transit vehicle, you need to swipe your validated student
card. For bus schedule information visit www.bctransit.com or get your free Rider’s Guide onboard the bus .

Who is assessed for the U-PASS?

All graduate students taking one or more ON-CAMPUS units are assessed the $69.25 per semester fee.

Can Students opt in?

Co-op students residing in Victoria may opt-in to the U-PASS. You are required to verify that you are a co-op student
with a fee statement or letter from a department or academic supervisor.

Can students be exempted?

The plan is mandatory, meaning that you cannot opt out, except under the following specific circumstances:
 Students who have disabilities and can demonstrate their necessity to use transportation other than the bus.
 Students who are in receipt of bus passes issued by the BC Ministry of Finance under social assistance
programs.
 Students who have been assessed more than once for the U-Pass. For example, those enrolled in either
undergraduate and graduate courses, or students studying at both Camosun College and UVic.

Students can also opt-out the U-PASS by appeal. To appeal, please come by the GSS General Office, and fill out a
letter of appeal.

For more information about the U-PASS, please contact: GSS General Office: 250-472-4543 email: gsscomm@uvic.ca

Graduate Students’ Society (GSS)

The Graduate Students’ Society (GSS) is an autonomous, not-for-profit society that strives to promote the interests
and represent the views of graduate students at the University of Victoria. The society is democratically organized with
members having a say through elections, referenda, general meetings and the Graduate Representative Council.

The Society operates the George and Ida Halpern Centre for Graduate Students and offers a range of services to
graduate students, such as:

 Events
 Extended Health and Dental Plans
 Free room bookings for graduate student study groups, meetings, thesis defense
 Free GSS Members’ Handbook and Daily Planners
 The Grad House restaurant for food and beverage
 The FGS/GSS Travel Grant
 The GSS Childcare Bursary
 The GSS Departmental Grant
 The SPOKES Bike Bursary Program
 Referrals, etc.

For more information about GSS Services, please go to the GSS website at http://gss.uvic.ca.
The best way to find out what the Society offers is to sign up to the GSS Electronic Bulletin at gsscomm@uvic.ca.