guard.me
guard.me is a family-owned Canadian provider of health insurance and integrated wellness services for international and domestic students at colleges, universities, and K-12 institutions across Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the US, combining insurance, telemedicine, mental health, and crisis support in a single ecosystem serving 300+ institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMarkham, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What guard.me does
GuardMe (legally Travel Healthcare Insurance Solutions Inc. o/a guard.me International Insurance) is a family-owned, independent provider of student health insurance and connected wellness services, founded in 1998 by Keith Segal and Maryann Brown in Thornhill, Ontario, and now headquartered in Markham, Canada. The company serves international and domestic students, educational institutions (colleges, universities, K-12, student unions), and to a lesser extent staff and faculty across Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, with 400,000+ students and 300+ institutional partners reportedly covered over its history. Its core offering is emergency and extended health insurance for students who lack provincial or state coverage, distributed through multi-year institutional B2B contracts supplemented by direct-to-consumer purchase via its website and mobile app.
The platform is structured as an integrated wellness ecosystem rather than a standalone insurance product. Core services include international and domestic student health insurance (underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada), 24/7 telemedicine via Mobile Doctor and Digital Doctor (powered by Maple), the Student Support Program / GMSSP mental wellness offering (delivered via the TELUS Student Support App), in-house crisis case management, the Global 360 travel insurance and Travel Risk Management program (in partnership with FocusPoint International), the Rexall pharmacy benefits partnership, and the iCent App for international student onboarding (developed with Neeltech). Supporting technology includes a web platform, iOS/Android mobile apps, and institutional microsites; the company also holds ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications and complies with PIPEDA, GDPR, and provincial health privacy laws.
GuardMe generates revenue primarily through recurring insurance premiums paid by institutions or individual students for coverage, with supplementary subscription and fee-for-service streams from travel insurance, Wellness & Learning professional development, and extended health and dental plans. The go-to-market relies on a dedicated partner services team driving institutional enrollments, complemented by direct website/app sales, an Ambassador peer-outreach program, and digital content marketing. There are no disclosed funding rounds, revenue figures, or ownership changes; the company has remained privately held and independent throughout its 25+ year history.
guard.me firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- guard.me
- Legal name
- Travel Healthcare Insurance Solutions Inc. o/a guard.me International Insurance
- Website
- https://guard.me
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- guard.me is a family-owned Canadian provider of health insurance and integrated wellness services for international and domestic students at colleges, universities, and K-12 institutions across Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the US, combining insurance, telemedicine, mental health, and crisis support in a single ecosystem serving 300+ institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
guard.me industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Health Insurance
- NAICS
- Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)
- SIC
- Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Expatriate Individual Health Insurance (FSAIAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Student Health & Travel Insurance (EDAIAMAA), Student & Study-Abroad Travel/Accident Insurance (FSAJAJAJ), Student Mental Health & Wellbeing Support (International) (EDAIAMAF), Liability, Accident & Program Insurance (Institution/Provider Coverage) (EDAIAMAJ)
Keywords
Where guard.me is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Markham
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
guard.me business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- International Student Health Insurance Premiums: GuardMe's primary revenue stream comes from premiums paid by international students studying in Canada and other markets for emergency health insurance coverage. Coverage is purchased through institutional enrollment (via colleges, universities, schools) or directly via the GuardMe website. Plans cover hospital stays, doctor visits, emergency care, home care, outpatient therapies, prescriptions, and mental health support.
- Domestic Extended Health and Dental Plans: GuardMe provides extended health and dental coverage for domestic students in partnership with student unions, colleges, universities, and K-12 institutions across Canada. These plans generate recurring premiums from student union or institutional arrangements.
- Global 360 Travel Insurance: Flexible travel insurance for students, staff, and faculty travelling abroad, offered as an institutional add-on or individual purchase. Coverage includes emergency medical services, travel assistance, and crisis response. Pricing depends on plan, destination, and trip duration.
- Wellness & Learning Initiatives — Professional Development: Fee-for-service mental health and wellness training programs for institutions, including certificate training, workshops, seminars, and ADHD clarity coaching delivered by licensed psychotherapists and mental health professionals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | International Student Health Insurance — institutional enrollment |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Domestic Extended Health and Dental Plans |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Global 360 Travel Insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Direct Purchase — Individual Insurance Application |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
guard.me product offering
Product offeringCore offering
guard.me provides international and domestic student health insurance plans underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada, complemented by a connected wellness ecosystem that includes 24/7 mental health support (Student Support Program), virtual doctor access (Mobile Doctor and Digital Doctor via Maple telemedicine), in-house crisis case management, travel insurance (Global 360), travel risk management (CAP via FocusPoint International), and Wellness & Learning Initiatives for institutions. Coverage is delivered to more than 400,000 students across 300+ colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and student unions in Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the United States.
Product overview
GuardMe is a family-owned, independent insurance, health, and wellness solutions provider founded in 1998, serving educational institutions globally. The company operates as a connected wellness ecosystem rather than a single product, offering international and domestic student insurance as the core offering, supplemented by virtual healthcare services (Mobile Doctor, Digital Doctor powered by Maple), 24/7 mental health support (Student Support Program), crisis case management, travel insurance (Global 360), travel risk management (via FocusPoint International partnership), and wellness programs (Wellness & Learning Initiatives). Supporting services include the GuardMe Mobile App for coverage management and claims, the iCent App for student onboarding, Rexall pharmacy benefits, and the GuardMe Ambassadors peer outreach program. The ecosystem is unified around supporting students throughout their academic journey, with in-house customer care, claims administration, and 24/7 virtual care access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Student Health Insurance Primary health insurance product for international students studying in Canada and other markets, covering hospital stays, doctor visits, emergency care, prescriptions, mental health support, and includes Mobile Doctor and Rexall pharmacy benefits.
- Domestic Extended Health and Dental Plans Extended health and dental coverage for domestic students and international students, delivered through student unions and institutional arrangements across Canada.
- Global 360 Travel Insurance Travel insurance product for students, staff, and faculty travelling abroad, available as an institutional add-on or individual purchase, with 24/7 multilingual assistance and crisis response membership.
- Mobile Doctor 24/7 virtual access to Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners via Maple telemedicine, integrated into GuardMe health benefits at no additional cost.
- Digital Doctor 24/7 telemedicine service powered by Maple providing Canadian-licensed doctor access for diagnosis, prescriptions, lab requisitions, and specialist referrals, at no additional cost to GuardMe policyholders.
- Student Support Program (GMSSP) 24/7 mental wellness program offering linguistically and culturally matched licensed clinical counsellors available in 5 core languages and 140+ additional languages, with in-person counselling, confidential chat/telephone support, and self-directed multilingual resources.
- Case Management 24/7 in-house crisis case management service providing culturally sensitive support for medical repatriation, hospital admission coordination, family travel arrangements, and funeral/repatriation services.
- Wellness & Learning Initiatives Fee-for-service mental health and wellness professional development and training for institutions, including certificate training, workshops, mental wellness webinars, cultural competence workshops, and executive functioning/ADHD coaching.
- Travel Risk Management / Crisis Assistance Plus (CAP) 24/7 crisis response membership in partnership with FocusPoint International providing pre-departure guidance, real-time travel alerts, and coordinated emergency assistance for crises abroad, with the CAP Advantage mobile app.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of claims paid
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use guard.me
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
guard.me technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature8 records
guard.me partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- FocusPoint InternationalcoreGuardMe's Travel Risk Management and Crisis Assistance Plus (CAP) program is powered by FocusPoint International. The partnership provides 24/7 crisis response for travellers, including pre-departure guidance, real-time alerts, and coordinated emergency assistance for crises abroad (natural disasters, terrorism, wrongful detention, disappearance, political threats, extortion, kidnap for ransom). The CAP Advantage mobile app is provided as part of this membership.
- MaplecoreGuardMe's Digital Doctor and Mobile Doctor services are powered by Maple's telemedicine platform. Maple provides 24/7 access to Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners, and healthcare professionals for GuardMe policyholders. Maple enables diagnosis, prescriptions, lab requisitions, and specialist referrals through phone, video, or text consultations.
- TELUS HealthcoreTELUS Health powers the Student Support Program app, providing students with free, direct access to licensed clinical counsellors and self-directed multilingual mental health resources through the TELUS Student Support mobile app.
- RexallcoreGuardMe has a preferred pharmacy partnership with Rexall (390+ locations across Canada in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick). Rexall provides exclusive benefits to GuardMe-covered students including 20% off Rexall exclusive brands through the Be Well Preferred Perks program, automatic prescription savings via Pay-Direct Card, medical interpretation in 240+ languages, and medication management services.
- iCent (Neeltech)majoriCent, developed by Neeltech, is a multilingual app-based onboarding solution for international students. GuardMe integrates its insurance information into the iCent App, enabling students to access policy details, submit claims, track reimbursements, search for nearby clinics, and receive push notifications. The partnership also brings BI, AI, and analytics solutions to institutional partners.
- Old Republic Insurance Company of CanadacoreInsurance products underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada. Old Republic is the named underwriter on GuardMe insurance policies.
- MDM Insurance Inc.minorInsurance intermediary acting as a service provider and advisor on GuardMe plans for intermediary distribution.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
guard.me competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WorldTrips (Tokio Marine HCC): WorldTrips, part of Tokio Marine HCC, is a direct competitor in international student and travel health insurance, offering student-focused plans with similar coverage, claims, and provider-network positioning as GuardMe. Both target inbound international students and bundle ancillary benefits around base medical cover.
- International Student Insurance (ISI): ISI is a specialised broker/distributor focused on health insurance plans for international students in the US, Canada, and abroad. It competes for the same institutional and direct-student demand that GuardMe serves, with comparable plan design (emergency medical, mental health, evacuation).
- StudyInsured: StudyInsured offers health insurance plans specifically designed for international students studying in Canada. As a Canada-focused competitor, it overlaps directly with GuardMe's primary institutional and direct-to-consumer motion for international student health insurance.
- ISO International Student Insurance: ISO provides student health and travel insurance for international students worldwide with plans in Canada, the US, and abroad. It is a directly comparable peer to GuardMe on product, target customer (international students), and distribution through educational institutions.
- GeoBlue: GeoBlue specialises in international and expatriate health insurance, with strong distribution into US-based universities and study-abroad programs. It serves a similar international-student and expat segment to GuardMe and competes on global medical networks and telehealth.
- Cover-More / TripMate: Cover-More and its TripMate brand provide travel insurance and student/scholar travel health plans in North America and globally. They compete with GuardMe's Global 360 product on institutional travel risk and student travel medical cover.
Broad incumbents
- Cigna Global Health: Cigna Global provides international health insurance and wellness benefits worldwide, including student and study-abroad plans. As a large incumbent with broader portfolios, it overlaps GuardMe's international student health coverage but covers many additional segments (corporate, individual expat) as well.
- Allianz Care: Allianz Care offers international health, travel, and assistance products including for students and expatriates. As an established global insurer, it competes with GuardMe for institutionally-routed international student and scholar cover and brings materially greater scale.
- Manulife CoverMe: Manulife, through CoverMe and its group benefits business, is a major Canadian life and health insurer that includes student health and travel coverage in its portfolio. It competes with GuardMe for Canadian institutional accounts and student-union plans as a large incumbent alternative.
- Sun Life Financial: Sun Life is a leading Canadian insurer with group benefits and student health offerings marketed to universities and colleges. It is a broad incumbent peer to GuardMe for the institutional group health and dental book, although it does not focus specifically on international students in the same way.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
guard.me social profiles
Digital presenceguard.me compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
guard.me financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
guard.me leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
guard.me funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
guard.me M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about guard.me
What does guard.me do?
guard.me provides international and domestic student health insurance plans underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada, complemented by a connected wellness ecosystem that includes 24/7 mental health support (Student Support Program), virtual doctor access (Mobile Doctor and Digital Doctor via Maple telemedicine), in-house crisis case management, travel insurance (Global 360), travel risk management (CAP via FocusPoint International), and Wellness & Learning Initiatives for institutions. Coverage is delivered to more than 400,000 students across 300+ colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and student unions in Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the United States.
Is guard.me a public or private company?
guard.me is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was guard.me founded?
guard.me was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is guard.me based?
guard.me is headquartered in Markham, Canada, in the North America region.
How does guard.me make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. International Student Health Insurance Premiums are the primary driver. The others are domestic Extended Health and Dental Plans, global 360 Travel Insurance and wellness & Learning Initiatives — Professional Development.
Who are guard.me's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WorldTrips (Tokio Marine HCC), International Student Insurance (ISI), StudyInsured, ISO International Student Insurance, GeoBlue and Cover-More / TripMate. Broad incumbents are Cigna Global Health, Allianz Care, Manulife CoverMe and Sun Life Financial.
Does guard.me have an API?
No public API is recorded for guard.me.
What industry is guard.me in?
guard.me's product category is Student Health Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIAEAH, International/Expatriate Individual Health Insurance, with a secondary code of EDAIAMAA, International Student Health & Travel Insurance. Its NAICS code is 524114 and its SIC code is 6321.