The health care system of British Columbia can be a bit daunting to navigate, especially for those from other provinces or even outside of Canada. Luckily, Novus is here to help alleviate your headache. Here’s a quick overview of the BC healthcare landscape and the important things you should know.
Administration
Healthcare in BC is administered by the British Columbia Ministry of Health Services. The ministry oversees and contributes funding to virtually all components of public healthcare in the province, including components like medical insurance and hospital networks.
The Medical Services Plan (MSP)
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the provincial insurance program for medically required services provided by healthcare practitioners in BC. All BC residents are required to register with MSP. The MSP covers most necessary medical care for BC residents who are not covered by one of Canada’s other public health care plans. Eligibility is very simple: As long as you’ve lived in BC for at least six months of the year and file an income tax return, you can apply to be covered.
MSP monthly premiums vary depending on family status and size of family. Lower income BC residents may qualify for premium assistance. Seniors also must pay MSP premiums, as long as they meet the income thresholds.
Some notable exclusions from what MSP covers includes procedures that are not medically required (cosmetic surgery), dental services, eyeglasses and eye examinations, prescription drugs (this falls under PharmaCare, which we’ll discuss next), and counselling/therapy.
The Fair PharmaCare Plan
The Fair PharmaCare Plan provides financial assistance to BC residents for eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies. The majority of those who qualify for MSP may register for the PharmaCare plan. Fair PharmaCare assigns a deductible to families based on their income, then assists them with the cost of their prescription drugs in case those costs exceed the amount of the deductible. Fair PharmaCare also sets a ceiling on how much each family can pay for drugs in a year, and covers their expenses 100% once they exceed that ceiling.
In case you were wondering what your PharmaCare deductible, co-payment rate and ceiling might be, you can visit the BC Ministry of Health’s website to find a calculator that will provide you with an estimate.
As with the MSP, there are some exceptions to coverage. Those exceptions include herbal products, bandages, eyeglasses, wheelchairs/walkers, hearing aids, drugs from outside of BC, and many over-the-counter drugs.
Seeking Advice Regarding Your Health? No Problem!
HealthLink BC is a nurse telephone advice and health information service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to nurses, you can also get in contact with helpful pharmacists and dieticians. To access HealthLink, dial toll-free 811, or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca.
Other Services
Beyond the basics of MSP and PharmaCare, BC offers a plethora of other healthcare services and assistance plans, including dental and optical coverage for children of low-income families through the Healthy Kids Program, specialized hotlines for specific illnesses like STDs or diseases, and eldercare and disability support.
To learn more, you could speak to a healthcare practitioner or consult the Ministry of Health. Of course, here at Novus, we provide a complete database of healthcare options available for you in BC. We wish you the best of health!
For more insight, check out these health articles.
