In September, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) made changes to their mental health coverage plan, prior to notifying students.

The union informed the student body on September 16, days after students took notice online. The Varsity spoke with students who have since criticized the union’s transparency and the changes made to their mental health coverage. 

Mental health support 

After switching their insurance provider to Green Shield in 2021, the UTSU insurance plan has covered up to $100 a visit for up to 15 visits to a mental health care practitioner each policy year.

On September 16, the UTSU made an Instagram post to formally announce the mental health coverage changes. The updated plan provides 80 per cent coverage for up to $400 per year. Once the standard mental health coverage expires, students can apply for an additional $1,100 per year — up to $100 per visit — covered by the UTSU Mental Health Support Fund. 

In their post, the union wrote, “We aim to keep mental health support accessible and affordable, ensuring that every student can get the help they need without financial stress.”

The union also mentioned that they are maintaining their $1,500 yearly health coverage maximum — through the standard $400 and an additional $1,100 — in order to continue supporting students. 

To access the Mental Health Support Fund, students need to complete a Google Form for consideration and “meet the eligibility criteria” — which is not specified on the form.

Unknown changes 

Students noticed the discrepancies between the UTSU Student Care page and the UTSU’s Health and Dental webpage before the union announced it. In a Reddit post made on September 12, students raised concerns that the coverage had changed without the UTSU informing students. 

Shay Duddy, a fourth-year physics specialist, saw the post on her commute home and spoke to The Varsity about her initial reaction. 

“I had a breakdown,” said Duddy. “I almost started hyperventilating on the subway, because [this is like] a lifeline. I actually do need it.”

What troubled Duddy the most was that she didn’t hear about the changes directly from the union, but instead found out through Reddit. 

“I instantly emailed [the union], and I was like, ‘What the hell?’… ‘What’s wrong with you people? Can you at least give us an explanation of why this happened?’” recalled Duddy.

In an email response shared with The Varsity, UTSU Vice-President Finance & Operations Elizabeth Shechtman wrote to Duddy, “We are pleased to announce important updates to our health and dental plan that address your recent concerns.”

“To ensure that your healthcare premiums remain among the lowest in the country and to enhance our support for mental health, we have made significant improvements to our coverage,” Shechtman wrote. 

The email provided a breakdown of the new changes to the union’s coverage, but never addressed what Duddy believed was most important: a “complete lack of accountability.” She also noted that “there wasn’t even an apology.”

Barriers to healthcare

Other students also only learned about the changes through the Reddit post. Taryn Parker, a student in her final-year of women and gender studies and sexual diversity studies, spoke to The Varsity about her concerns regarding the changes. 

“I think it’s irresponsible that [the union] did this in the middle of September, that students found out about these changes by themselves, and then had to spend an entire weekend panicking, trying to find alternative means,” she said. 

Parker also noted that the union’s Google Form to access the fund “doesn’t seem very secure,” as students are required to submit their bank information through it. 

“I’m worried about the barriers that [the change] might create. I think for folks who are really struggling too, it adds another hoop that they have to jump through to get care,” said Parker. 

Madeleine Cho, a fifth-year student studying kinesiology, also expressed her concerns to The Varsity. 

“We were blindsided by it. [The union] didn’t release anything until it seemed [like] everyone [had already] found out and was reaching out. [Only] then [did] they come out with their post and the explanation about their fund,” she said. 

Cho wrote an email to the union on September 16 at 12:19 am, noting that the union’s website still showed the old coverage plan, and that the union should “send out a clear and explicit communication to all UTSU members to update them on this drastic change in mental health coverage.” She has yet to receive a response. 

As a result of the union’s changes, Cho changed her student status to a part-time student, allowing her to fall under the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students’ coverage plan, which includes $125 per visit for up to 15 sessions with psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, or clinical counsellors each policy year. 

“I understand the need to change plans and to make these adjustments and evaluations year to year, but there’s zero excuse for not letting us know,” Cho said. 

In an email to The Varsity on September 22, Shechtman wrote that the union will have a meeting with its health and dental service provider, and that they are looking into other options to support students. 

“As of right now, everything that has been shared on our social media and website is the most current and up to date information,” wrote Shechtman.