What’s the difference between primary and secondary medical insurance?

Primary medical insurance covers services that require medical attention, such as visits to doctors, hospital stays and diagnostic medical testing. Primary medical insurance is legally required for all residents of British Columbia (including international students) and is provided through the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP).  New residents of BC must undergo a 3-month waiting period for BC MSP. To cover this waiting period, SFU provides a temporary primary medical insurance plan named guard.me@SFU to new international students for their first term.

Secondary medical insurance generally covers services that MSP does not, such as vision care, prescription drugs, dental and extended health care. Eligible SFU students receive secondary medical insurance through the SFSS/GSS Extended Health and Dental Plan.