Health Insurance in British Columbia for Newcomers

Learn  how newcomers to British Columbia can access health insurance through BC’s MSP). We’ll also explain the details of the British Columbia healthcare landscape, and show how to navigate the system once you’ve arrived.

Key Takeaway

Like many other provinces, British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan requires an application plus a waiting period before you become eligible for coverage. That’s why we usually recommend that newcomers to Canada obtain private health insurance, to cover them during the period before their MSP coverage begins.

Get started right now with a free quote from Cigna, a trusted partner of Moving2Canada.

British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan (MSP): What’s Covered

First things first, BC’s MSP has a wait period, which means that you are not likely to be covered for your first few months in BC. It’s up to three months, since the wait period is ‘the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin.’

For individuals who are covered and who have secured a British Columbia health card, the Medical Services Plan covers the cost of medically necessary services performed by doctors, and in some cases, midwives. It also covers:

• Dental and oral surgery performed in a hospital
• Medically required eye examinations
• Some orthodontic services
• Diagnostic services
• Laboratory services.

Even if you’ve been in British Columbia for decades, it can still be challenging to determine what the MSP covers, and what must be paid out of pocket. Generally, anything that is medically necessary or diagnostic is covered. 

Procedures that are not medically necessary (such as most cases of wisdom teeth removal, or cosmetic nose jobs) are not covered.

British Columbia Health Insurance Supplementary Medical Services

The MSP may also pay a portion of some supplementary medical services such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic services. But eligibility for these supplementary services is limited. 

To use these benefits, you must apply for them separately, and prove your eligibility through requirements such as your net annual income level, First Nations status, or immigration status.

Newcomer Eligibility for British Columbia’s MSP Health Insurance

All legal residents of British Columbia are eligible to apply for provincial healthcare. To be considered a legal resident of BC, the following criteria need to be true for you: 

• You are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. 
• Your home is in BC. 
• You live in BC for at least six months in a calendar year (with some exceptions). 

Additionally, the following individuals may also be eligible for British Columbia health care:

• Dependents of those that fit the above requirements
• Students who hold valid study permits
• Individuals on Working Holiday work permits
• Certain holders of study or work permits that were admitted to Canada under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Working Holiday Eligibility for BC’s MSP Health Insurance

Some IEC participants may be eligible for coverage by BC’s MSP health insurance, but there are eligibility requirements that may be hard to meet (depending on your work arrangement). 

To be eligible for BC’s MSP while you are on a work permit through Canada’s International Experience Canada, you must: 

• Stay in BC for six consecutive months 
• Have a valid work permit for that six month period 
• Be employed for at least six consecutive months
• Work at least 18 hours per week. 

You will need a letter from your employer confirming the above eligibility criteria have been met or a copy of your contract to apply for MSP. 

Find out more on the BC Government’s webpage. 

You will need to have IEC health insurance even if you may be eligible for BC’s MSP.

Maintained Status and BC’s MSP Eligibility

People who are legal residents of British Columbia on maintained status have been eligible for MSP coverage since 2022. To be eligible for MSP while on maintained status, you will need to show that you: 

• Are still a legal resident of BC while on maintained status
• Were previously enrolled with BC’s MSP
• Receipts showing you applied for your new permit before your previous permit expired. 

It is worth noting that your coverage will only extend for six months. You will need to apply for another period of coverage if your MSP enrolment ends and you are not (yet) a permanent resident of Canada. 

Find out more on the BC Government’s dedicated webpage.

Not eligible for BC’s MSP or in need of additional coverage while you wait to become a permanent resident? Get a free quote from Cigna, a trusted partner of Moving2Canada.

Applying for Your British Columbia Health Card as a Newcomer

BC has a wait period for new residents to become eligible for provincial health insurance. 

Unlike other provinces where you have to wait before you become eligible to apply, British Columbia encourages newcomers to apply right away. The required coverage waiting period is then completed while your application is processing.

Applying for health insurance in British Columbia is easy, but requires eligible individuals to first obtain a Photo BC Services Card. This card, which can be combined with a driver’s license or used as a stand-alone ID card, must be obtained from an ICBC drivers licensing office.

Quick Tip: While it’s convenient to have your BC driver’s licence and healthcare card combined, having two separate cards can help you meet your ‘two pieces of photo ID’ requirements for certain applications. This can be really helpful for newcomers who don’t have a Canadian passport or other photo ID. 

Once you have your BC Services Card, the rest of the healthcare application process is easy. You can either apply through the MSP secure online portal, or send in your application through the mail. Completing the online form takes less than 15 minutes.

Once you have applied, your health coverage will activate when you have completed the required coverage waiting period. For many people, the waiting period is two months, not including the month in which you became a resident. The date that you become a resident is dependent on a variety of factors, including your immigration status.

If you have extenuating circumstances, you may apply for a waiver of the coverage waiting period.

Navigating Your First Few Months in Canada

Depending on your immigration status, it could take several months to establish residency in British Columbia, plus a further two months of the standard coverage waiting period. Being without health insurance coverage for that length of time is never a good idea.

Accidents happen, and sudden illnesses can arrive with very little warning. If you don’t have private insurance coverage during this time, you will be forced to pay the cost of treatment out of pocket. For many newcomers to Canada, this type of large and unexpected expense can easily overwhelm their finances.

Instead of leaving yourself vulnerable, invest in private insurance before you arrive in Canada. This insurance should cover you and your family during your first months in the country. Moving2Canada has recently partnered with Cigna, where newcomers can apply and get approved in minutes. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll only pay for the insurance you need.

Get your free quote today