Background: In August of 2012, SFU entered into a contract with guard.me for mandatory basic health care for international students. This plan is meant to cover the up-to 3 month delay between your arrival in BC and your coverage by BC Medical Services Plan (BC MSP). The $353/semester being charged to students is double that of equivalent programs at UBC and UVic and keeps students locked in well after they are covered by BC MSP. The Guard.me contract details a kickback to SFU "not to exceed 5% of the total annual insurance premium volume." The private insurance provider, Guard.me, also offered to "consider additional requests beyond this commitment on a case by case basis."(1)

We the undersigned demand that SFU:

1. Terminate the contract with Guard.me when it comes to term in August 2015 and replace it with an affordable plan for international students.
2. Facilitate international students' enrolment in BC MSP and opt them out of Guard.me.
3. Use the proceeds from the 5% guard.me kickback to fund bursaries for international students.

(1) Source: FOIPPA disclosure to TSSU, page 21 of 141, Q10.

For more on Guard.me and how to opt out see: http://www.tssu.ca/members/international-students/