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<\/a>\n\nWith winter in its hey-day, the sun\u2019s free vitamin D has all but disappeared. However, viruses are available in abundance! There\u2019s so many to choose from, how will I be able to decide? Maybe a cold, or flu, or a combination cold and flu! Oh, the choices; they just make my head spin.\n\nBut we do have a weapon. Worry not, fellow students, in your quest to vanquish evil viruses,\u00a0raise your Green Shield! What\u2019s that? You don\u2019t know how to\u00a0raise the other-worldly powers of your Green Shield?\n\nFor shame!\n\nEvery year when we pay tuition, we automatically pay for Green Shield health coverage. This is a benefit package akin to what you would receive from an employer. It covers dental, prescription, vision, and a host of other services. But quite a few of us don\u2019t know how to take full advantage of this health coverage.\n\nFirst of all, there is no membership card for Green Shield. Your benefit number is \u2018SAC\u2019 + your UofT student number + \u201800\u2019 (eg. SAC999999999-00). Green Shield operates as a reimbursement policy, so you have to pay for the service, and then submit your claim. You can usually do this electronically at the pharmacy, dentist, or optician. Once the claim has been processed, you will receive a cheque to reimburse you for the amount covered by the plan.\nGreen Shield covers up to $10,000 per person, per benefit year for all health benefits combined. Broken down, it looks something like this:\n\n-$5,000 per year for prescriptions\n-$250 per year for contraceptives\n-$500 per year for diabetic testing supplies\n-$350 per year for custom orthotics\n-$75 every two years for eye exams\n-$35 per visit up to a maximum of 20 visits per year to a specialist, including Acupuncturist, Speech Therapist (medical referral required), Naturopath, Registered Massage Therapist (medical referral required), Physiotherapist, Homeopath, Chiropractor, Chiropodist\/Podiatrist. Yes, you can get free massages!!!!\n-$25 per hour up to $10000 per year per disability for private tutorial service of a qualified teacher. You must be confined to home or hospital for a minimum of 15 consecutive days to qualify.\n-$800 per year for dental services, you are responsible to pay for 20 per cent of routine preventative services and routine dental surgeries, 25 per cent of other services (scaling, fluoride every nine months), and 40 per cent for restorative surgeries (fillings etc.).\n\nThis is not the complete list, but you can view the benefits booklet