MSP (Medical Services Plan) is British Columbia’s public healthcare system, which you must register for as a newcomer moving to Vancouver. It provides access to doctors, prescription medication, and hospital care under BC’s universal healthcare system.
You need a job to get MSP with the IEC visa, they aren’t very clear on this.
Eligibility for Medical Services Plan (MSP)
If you will be staying in B.C. on a working holiday program, you may be eligible for enrolment in MSP if you:
- Are employed for six consecutive months or more during the valid period of the work permit; and
- Will be working a minimum of 18 hours per week.
- Are staying in B.C. for six consecutive months or more;
- Have a work permit valid for six consecutive months or more;
- You won’t get BC MSP coverage until you have been living and working in Vancouver for 3 months, so it’s important to apply for MSP as a new resident in BC immediately after arriving.
The BC MSP is a government medical services plan that covers the cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services. The BC Services Card is essential for accessing these medical services, as it links individuals to their medical coverage through the Medical Services Plan (MSP).
Without enrollment in MSP, you would need to pay for medical expenses independently, which can be quite costly. The British Columbia government is responsible for billing and collecting health-care coverage fees from study permit holders under the Medical Services Plan (MSP).
Even if you come over with a partner who gets or has a job, you can’t get it through them, you have to be working or starting work.
About the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP)
The British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP) is a mandatory public health insurance plan for everyone who lives in British Columbia for six months or longer. This plan is crucial for accessing the health care available to all BC residents. The BC MSP is a government medical services plan that covers the cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services. Without enrollment in MSP, you would need to pay for medical expenses independently, which can be quite costly. Therefore, ensuring you are registered with MSP is essential for your health and financial well-being while living in British Columbia.
Apply for BC Medical Services Plan
You must apply for MSP in British Columbia as soon as you arrive or as soon as you secure a job to ensure you maintain medical coverage. The MSP processing time in BC is approximately three months for new immigrants and working holiday visa holders. For some cases like for Ireland, you have to buy healthcare for a year or 2.
You will have to provide them with a letter from your employer, so ask for that before you even come to Canada. MSP coverage fees include a monthly charge of $75 for study permit holders effective from January 1, 2020. These fees apply to family members as well, and it is important to pay directly to the British Columbia government.
If you want to apply and don’t have an address where you can receive mail, or a job yet, you will have to call them, which is in most cases:
- 604 683-7151 (Lower Mainland)
- 1 800 663-7100 (Elsewhere in B.C.)
Apply for BC MSP Coverage Online
You can apply for MSP online here, it will tell you if you have to call them instead: MSP coverage generally is important for maintaining lawful status in Canada, as it typically expires alongside your immigration status. Therefore, it is crucial to extend MSP coverage promptly when extending immigration documents, such as study or work permits.
Ministry of Health Apply for B.C. health and drug coverage
I emailed them asking about when you get MSP and they said:
Thank you for contacting Health Insurance BC.
New residents or persons re-establishing residency in British Columbia (BC) are eligible for coverage after completing a wait period that normally consists of the balance of the month of arrival plus two months. For example, if an eligible person arrives during the month of July, coverage is available October 1. If absences from Canada exceed a total of 30 days during the wait period, eligibility for coverage may be affected.Please apply for MSP coverage immediately after arriving in BC rather than at the end of the wait period, to allow time for your application to be processed. You must be physically present in BC when you apply.
Applicant and Spouse Arrive Separately
When a family moves to BC from within Canada and the applicant and spouse arrive separately, each person has their own wait period based on their arrival date in BC. Benefits During the Wait Period
Persons moving to BC from other parts of Canada should arrange for coverage with their previous provincial medical plan during the wait period. New or returning residents arriving from outside Canada should contact a private insurance company for coverage during this period. Thank you.
Eligibility and Enrolment
If you plan to live in BC for six months or longer, you are required by law to enroll in MSP. This includes study permit holders, who must also pay the plan’s health-care coverage fee. It’s important to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in BC, as you cannot apply before your arrival. To complete your application, you will need to provide proof of your Canadian status, such as a study permit or work permit, along with proof of your address in BC. The application process is straightforward and can be done online or by mail, making it convenient to get your health care coverage in place quickly.
Maintaining Your MSP Status
Generally, your MSP coverage will have the same expiry date as your status in Canada, such as the expiry date of your study permit or post-graduation work permit. It’s important to extend your MSP coverage as soon as you receive your new study or work permit to avoid any gaps in your health insurance. If you are absent from BC for more than six months, you may need to re-apply for MSP when you return to the province and go through the approximately three-month waiting period again. Keeping your MSP status up to date ensures continuous access to medically required services without interruption.
Special Considerations for International Students
As an international student, you may already have your own health insurance plans that cover you while you are in Canada. However, it is still mandatory to enroll in MSP if you will be living in BC for six months or longer. With a study permit, you will be required to pay the health-care coverage fee. Additionally, you might want to consider purchasing temporary private health insurance to cover the three-month waiting period before MSP coverage begins. To enhance your coverage for prescriptions, you may also need to register for the BC Fair PharmaCare Plan once you are eligible. This comprehensive approach ensures you are well-covered during your stay in British Columbia.
Work benefits
Many employers in Vancouver provide a health benefits package in addition to MSP. Unlike other countries, BC's public healthcare plan does not cover dental, vision, or therapy, so employer-sponsored extended health benefits in Vancouver often include coverage for physiotherapy, dental care, prescription drugs, and massages.
Fair PharmaCare Prescription Drugs
Fair PharmaCare covers some:
- Prescription drugs
- Medical devices
- Pharmacy services
Depending on your income, more or less will be covered.
You can apply for Fair PharmaCare drug coverage in BC at the same time as MSP, but eligibility requires two years of tax returns in Canada. If you're a newcomer, you may need private health insurance in BC until you qualify. So, if you are moving to Canada, you will not be eligible, so I won't write much more on this and you can just answer “No” when applying for MSP.
You should apply for this though as soon as you have filed 2 income tax returns so you get on this plan.
If you want me to write more on it, please contact me.
Supplementary Benefits
There are different requirements for this but one is:
Have resided in Canada as a Canadian citizen or holder of permanent resident status (landed immigrant) for at least the last 12 months immediately preceding this application.
I won't write more on this, and you can just select “No” when applying for MSP. If you want me to write more on it, please contact me.
Next steps
How to Find a Family Doctor in Vancouver as a Newcomer. Many clinics have long wait times, so it’s best to register early to access MSP-covered doctors in Vancouver:
Find a Family Doctor or Walk-In Clinic in VancouverContinue going through your Moving to BC Checklist
Moving to BC Checklist (Updated 2025)