For all British Columbian residents who live in Canada, the Medical Service Plan (MSP) card is mandatory for all qualified residents under the Medicare Protection Act.
In some cases, your employers may provide you with medical insurance during your employment. If you do not qualify the British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan (MSP), you are advised to purchase private health insurance during your stay in Canada.
There are many clinics and free facilities across the province that cater to those individuals who do not have the Medical Service Plan.
Your personal Health Identification is given to you when you have successfully applied for your Medical Services Plan (MSP) in British Columbia. You must present your Personal Health Identification Card whenever you need any health related service (medical check up, emergency services etc).
If you want to qualify for the MSP you must meet all the requirements under one of these 4 categories:
You must meet the following requirements. You must:
Your dependant can qualify for the MSP if they meet all of the above requirements under the Resident category.
Note: Child dependants must:
Note: Post Secondary Student dependants must:
If you have:
You may qualify as residents of British Columbia. Please note: this does not apply to tourists or those visiting Canada.
You can apply online for your Medical Services Plan (MSP).
The waiting period for the MSP can vary. If you successfully qualify and apply for the MSP you can expect to wait for 2+ months to receive your medical card. But we advise that you get private medical aid to cover you during this waiting period.
If you qualify for the MSP, you may have to pay a monthly fee to help substantiate your medical aid. Depending on your net income per year, and the number of people in your family that are covered by the MSP, your monthly rate can vary.
The rates for monthly MSP payments below will apply in British Columbia from the 1st of Jan 2018.
Net Income per year (C$) | MSP monthly payment for 1 person | MSP monthly payment for 2 people |
---|---|---|
0-26,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
26,001-28,000 | 11.50 | 23.00 |
28,001-30,000 | 17.5 | 35.00 |
30,001-34,000 | 23.00 | 46.00 |
34,001-38,000 | 28.00 | 56.00 |
38,001-42,000 | 32.50 | 65.00 |
Over 42,000 | 37.50 | 75.00 |
The MSP covers the costs of:
Visit the British Columbia government website for more information.