Health & Well-being
Health Services
Knowing your health care options, costs, and benefits is important to be well. Healthcare access will vary between communities, and it is important to know where your health care options are located in proximity to where you will be living.
Many Nova Scotians will be recommended to go to their primary care provider (Family Doctor) for health care needs. Some Nova Scotians, new residents, and international students will not have a primary care provider. When you do not have a primary care provider, you will need to go to a health clinic, or for urgent/emergency needs, the Emergency Room.
You can use the Nova Scotia Health Authority tool online to find out where to go for health services: Where to Go for Health Care
Health Insurance
If you are staying in Nova Scotia from out of the province, you may consider getting a MSI Card. Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance (MSI) is the provincial plan for insured medical services. It is designed to pay for the cost of a wide range of medically necessary physicians’ services, as well as certain dental and optometric services for residents of Nova Scotia. Without insurance, medical care in Canada is extremely expensive. Find information on provincial MSI eligibility.
As long as you don’t opt out, you are covered by NSCC Student Benefits. Your extended health coverage runs for as long as you remain an enrolled and eligible student at NSCC. Your myBenefits Card allows you to direct bills with pharmacies and dental offices.
To access direct billing from paramedical practitioners or vision care services:
- Register on the Canada Life webpage and update your address on your profile.
- Learn more about NSCC Student Benefits on the NSCC My Student Plan website.
If you are Mik’maq student and status, you are covered by ISC or NIHB and may consider opting out . Connect with your Indigenous Supports for help to navigate the health insurance plans application, and opt out process.
Supporting your Mental Health and Well-Being
If you’re like most students, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions in attending college: excitement, hope, perhaps even worry, self-doubt and many other emotions. Your wellness matters to us, and you’re not alone on your academic journey.
We are here to help you thrive, both academically and personally, during and beyond your time with NSCC. Helping you care for your mental health and wellbeing is essential to us so you can excel in reaching your academic goals and dreams.
Please be sure to check out our carefully curated Student Wellness Hub on Connect—you can access free counselling, 24/7 urgent care, community and online wellness resources, and stay in the loop about campus wellness events—we would love to see you there! Our hub is a one-stop shop for all of NSCC’s wellness supports, including links for Meeting Your Campus Counsellor, Financial Aid, CampusWell, our wellness e-magazine; along with info about upcoming workshops, peer support, how to get involved, self-help resources, and more! We even offer collections of resources to help support our equity deserving students: 2SLGBTQIA++, African Canadian, Indigenous, International, and Former Foster Youth.
We also have a Mental Wellness Strategy, and you’re welcome to view our most recent progress report. Promoting and supporting student and employee mental health and wellbeing is a key priority for NSCC!
