The International College of Manitoba's coverage provider, Guard.Me, issued retroactive insurance dating back to May 4 — two days after he was diagnosed with multiple adhesions in his small intestine.
But when he applied to have his hospital costs covered, the company declined, saying his stomach illness was a pre-existing condition because it was diagnosed two days before they started the gap insurance.
The University of Manitoba is partnered with Manitoba Blue Cross to cover insurance for international students, but it was also unable to cover him because he had no Manitoba health card and was not yet a student at the U of M.