The following is a brief summary of Health Insurance BC (the name of the B.C. provincial health plan).

- for full details visit the Health Insurance BC web site -

Health Insurance BC administers the provincial health insurance which is comprised of:

• Medical Services Plan (MSP): Enrolment in MSP is mandatory for all BC residents and their dependents. This is a prepaid health insurance plan with premiums billed one month in advance and provides medical and health benefits. 
• Pharmacare: covers prescription drugs and various medical supplies. 
• Fair Pharmacare: provides assistance for prescription costs; subsidies are based on income as well as other eligibility criteria.

Medical Services Plan

Provides the following health and medical benefits:

• Medical services provided by a physician enrolled with MSP.
• Maternity care (includes midwife services).
• Eye exams that are required medically.
• Diagnostic services including x-rays and/or laboratory services when ordered by a registered physician, midwife, podiatrist, dental or oral surgeon.
• Some orthodontic services.
• Surgical podiatry.

For those families who need assistance with premiums, Health Insurance BC offers programs such as:

• Regular Premium Assistance Program: based on annual family income and allowable MSP deductions.
• Temporary Premium Assistance Program: short term assistance based on unexpected financial hardship

Pharmacare

BC Pharmacare offers one of the most comprehensive drug programs in Canada, offering several different drug plans; most of these require active enrolment in MSP.

These are:

• Fair Pharmacare: subsidy based on family net income. Depending on income status, a deductible is determined; once that amount has been met Pharmacare assists with paying eligible drug costs. Lowest income families are not required to meet a deductible but will immediately assistance.
• Plan B: coverage for permanent residents of licensed residential care facilities.
• Plan C: for B.C. residents who receive medical benefits and/or income assistance.
• Plan D: for people who are registered with a provincial Cystic Fibrosis Clinic and need digestive enzymes.
• Plan F: for children in the At Home Program of the Ministry of Children and Family Development who would otherwise be reliant on institutional care.
• Plan G: for individuals of any age who are registered with a mental health services centre and are in financial and clinical need of medications.
• B.C. Palliative Care Program: for provincial residents who wish to have palliative care in their home.
• B.C. Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS: anti-retroviral drugs will be covered for those people who are HIV positive and enrolled with the centre.

Last updated October 2008