MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN (MSP)
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is a provincial health insurance program that covers the cost of medically-necessary hospital and doctor services for BC residents.
Who is eligible?
It is only for eligible B.C. residents who are either permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
Certain other individuals, such as some holders of Study and/or Work Permits which are issued under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and are valid for a period of six or more months — may be deemed residents and therefore be eligible to the MSP.
BC Residency Requirements:
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Must be a citizen of Canada or lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence or hold a work/study visa with the intention of residing in Canada
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Must have a home address in BC
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Must be in BC at least 6 months a calendar year (if you leave Canada for more than 6 months, you will need to re-apply for MSP)
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Cannot be under a tourist/visitor visa in BC.
What type of identification is required for application?
Accepted ID’s for:
1. Canadian Citizens: Canadian Birth certificate, Canadian Citizenship card, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Passport.
2. Permanent Residents: Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
3. Temporary Document Holders: Work Permit, Study Permit, or Working holiday permit (with letter of employment).
When to apply?
All residents of B.C. must register with MSP, you should register as soon as you arrive.
If you don’t apply to MSP, you won’t have medical coverage. Medical costs can be very high in BC so it is advised that you should buy private medical insurance for this time. Not being covered by MSP will mean that any doctor visits, prescriptions or medical procedures will require payments.
How to register for MSP?
1. Online - The application for MSP takes about 15 minutes to complete using this form here. Prior to starting your application, please make sure that you have digital uploads of documents that will support your name and immigration status of all those applying with you.
2. Apply by Mail - You can apply through mail using the paper application form. To download the application form, use this link.
Note 📝
To be eligible for coverage with British Columbia’s health care plans, your spouse/child must be a resident of this province.
What is covered/not covered my MSP?
MSP pays for basic, medically required health costs - some doctor visits, some medical tests, and treatments. However, MSP does not provide coverage for the following:
services that are deemed to be not medically required, such as cosmetic surgery dental services, except as outlined under benefits; routine eye examinations for persons 19 to 64 years of age; eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other equipment or appliances; prescription drugs (see PharmaCare); acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry services (except for MSP beneficiaries receiving supplementary benefits); preventive services and screening tests not supported by evidence of medical effectiveness (for example, routine annual “complete” physical examinations, whole body CT scans, prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests); services of counsellors or psychologists; medical examinations, certificates or tests required for: driving a motor vehicle employment life insurance school or university recreational and sporting activities immigration purposes Note 📝
As of January 2020, MSP no longer requires a premium monthly fee. MSP coverage extends to those on work visas as well, ensuring they receive necessary medical care. However, foreign students are required to pay for their health insurance separately.
Suggested Prompts
How do the differences in eligibility criteria impact the accessibility of MSP for various immigrant groups?
In what ways might the limitations of MSP coverage influence an individual’s decision to purchase private health insurance?
What are potential challenges for new residents in understanding and meeting the residency requirements for MSP in BC?
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