Under the Medicare Protection Act, enrolment with the Medical Services Plan (MSP) is mandatory for all eligible BC residents* and their dependents. If you are new or returning to BC and aren’t enrolled in MSP, you should apply as soon as you arrive.
Returning to Canada from another country
Apply for MSP as soon as you arrive. Your coverage may start three months after your arrival date in British Columbia. You should get private health care insurance while you wait.
Moving from another province
You should arrange for coverage with your former medical plan during the wait period. If your family is not here yet, they need to keep their existing provincial health care. Once they arrive, you can apply to add them to your plan. The wait period for each family member will begin on their individual arrival date.
Coverage Wait Period
New BC residents or persons re-establishing residence in B.C. may be eligible for coverage after completing a wait period that consists of the balance of the month in which residence is established, plus two months. For more information, visit Coverage Wait Period.
Please visit the BC Government’s website for more information on eligibility and enrollment as well as the coverage information for MSP.
*For the purposes of this page, the term “resident” is used as defined on the BC Government website and refers to:
“A person who meets all of the following conditions:
- A citizen of Canada or lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence
- Makes their home in B.C.
- Physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year
- Eligible B.C. residents (citizens of Canada or persons who are lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence) who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months in a calendar year”
However please defer to the MSP website for the most up to date information.
