BC MSP Coverage

In my practise I am increasingly finding that new immigrants, temporary workers, international students, and family class applicants already in Canada are not aware that they are, in many cases, eligible for coverage under British Columbia’s Medical Service’s Plan (“MSP”).

Basically, the rules provide that in addition to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, some persons temporarily in the province are entitled to apply for care cards.

Eligibility for coverage under MSP is available to persons who are Canadian citizens or who have been lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence, as long as the applicant makes his/her home in BC and is physically present in BC for at least 6 months in a calendar year. The coverage extends to persons who are “deemed residents”, and that is where students, workers and family class applicants fit in.

People on work permits or study permits in BC can be “deemed residents”. They will be eligible for MSP coverage if their visas/permits are valid for 6 months or more, if the person remains in status and makes their home in BC and is physically present in BC for at least 6 months in a calendar year.

“Deemed residents” also include non-resident spouses and children (including adopted children) of residents. These people will be eligible if they have applied for status, like work permits or study permits or visitor status, as long as that application remains active and the other requirements set out above have been met. Non-resident spouses and children of residents will also be eligible if the resident spouse has filed a sponsorship application and paid the immigration processing fees for their spouse and or children who wish to apply for MSP coverage.

Basically, those not eligible are those without status or with only visitor status without having a pending sponsorship application filed with immigration Canada.

The requirement to be physically present in BC for at least 6 months in a calendar year is subject to a number of exceptions because not everyone comes to Canada with at least 6 months left in the year. Essentially, if you arrive in Canada after June 30, the 6 month requirement is effectively waived.

Once you file an application for MSP coverage, you must wait for eligibility. The wait period for eligibility is calculated by adding the month in which the applicant arrived in BC plus two additional months. For example, if you arrived on December 25, you would be eligible on March 1. If you arrived on January 1, you would be eligible on April 1.

Some applicants are not subject to the wait period, including babies born to residents, children adopted by a resident and convention refugees.

The rules for eligibility are complicated and confusing. At times, in my experience, HIBC, the private company administering MSP, fails to understand the rules themselves. We have seen a significant decrease in the understanding and application of these rules on the part of HIBC since they received the portfolio from the province.

If you believe you are eligible, persistence may be required to get the results you deserve. Given the cost of health care in this province without MSP coverage, a little hard work is well worth the effort.