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British Columbia

Provincial disease groups

It is usually possible to get a great deal of assistance and guidance by contacting the non-profit organization associated with your condition. Here is a list of the major groups in BC.

• Canadian Cancer Society BC region.
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Asthma Society of Canada Educational centre locator.
• Heart and Stroke Foundation BC Region.
• Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division.

HEALTH SERVICES

Medical Services Plan (MSP)

All BC residents are required to register with the province’s public health insurer, the Medical Services Plan (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. All BC residents are eligible as long as they live in the province at least six months of the year.

MSP premiums are $60.50 for a single person, $109 for a family of two and $121 for larger families. Lower income BC residents may qualify for premium assistance. Seniors must pay MSP premiums, as long as they meet the income thresholds.

REMEMBER: You must file an income tax return to receive the MSP, even if you are not normally required to file.

Find out more about MSP premiums.

The following services are not covered by MSP:

• services that are deemed to be not medically required, such as cosmetic surgery
• dental services (except as outlined on this page)
• routine eye examinations for persons 19 to 64 years of age
• eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other equipment or appliances
• prescription drugs (see Pharmacare)
• chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry services (except if you are receiving premium assistance due to low income)
• preventive services and screening tests not supported by evidence of medical effectiveness (for example, routine annual "complete" physical examinations, whole body CT scans, prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests)
• services of counsellors or psychologists
• medical examinations, certificates or tests required for: driving a vehicle, employment, life insurance, school or university, recreational and sporting activities, or immigration purposes

BC residents receiving premium assistance get some increased coverage for chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy, acupuncture and non-surgical podiatry. BC residents under 18 and over 65 are covered for yearly eye exams.

Find out more about MSP coverage.

It is possible to file the following forms online:

• Application for Enrollment
• Change of Address
• Application for Premium Assistance
• Application for Addition of Family Members
• Baby Enrollment
• CareCard Replacement
• Out-of-Country Claim

You can find these and other provincial health forms online.

Prescription drugs are covered by a separate program called PharmaCare.

Mail: MSP
Medical Services Plan
PO Box 9035 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E3

Vancouver: (604) 683-7151
Other areas of B.C. (toll-free): 1-800-663-7100

PharmaCare

BC residents that are registered for the Medical Services Plan (MSP) may also register for the Fair PharmaCare plan. Fair PharmaCare assigns a deductible to families based on their income, then assists them with the cost of their prescription drugs in the event that 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.

Use the PharmaCare calculator to find out your family’s deductible, co-payment rate and payment ceiling.

PharmaCare covers most prescription drugs. Here are some items that are not covered by PharmaCare:

• Medications prescribed by a physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, midwife, or podiatrist that have not been designated as approved PharmaCare benefits
• Herbal medicine products
• Antacids, laxatives, and other over-the-counter drugs
• Artificial sweeteners
• Bandages
• Eyeglasses
• Hearing aids or hearing aid batteries
• Wheelchairs, walkers, and other medical devices
• Drug costs which have been fully reimbursed by another insurer
• Drugs or supplies obtained while outside of British Columbia
• Drugs prescribed by a veterinarian
• Mail-order prescriptions requested from companies located outside the province

PharmaCare is part of Health Insurance BC, the public health administrator for the province.

Mail: BC PharmaCare
PO Box 9655 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9P2

Vancouver: (604) 683-7151
Other areas of B.C. (toll-free): 1-800-663-7100

Healthy Kids Program

Lower income families in BC can get coverage for their children’s dental and optical expenses through the Healthy Kids Program. Find out more.

The Ministry of Social Development Info Line (BC only): 1-866-866-0800, press 4, then 2

BC Health Insurance coverage outside Canada

When you leave British Columbia, your Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage automatically remains active for the balance of the month in which you left. If you are leaving for a longer period of time, you need to contact MSP and get approval for coverage over that period. MSP can approve temporary absences of up to 24 months, as long as you maintain a residence in BC

If you leave BC for a period of time each year, you can remain covered as long as you spend 6 months out of each calendar year in BC and maintain a permanent residence there. You need to contact MSP and arrange to stay covered while you are away.

MSP will cover the same expenses abroad as it does in BC, but only up to the amount that it would pay in BC For instance, MSP will pay $75 a day for a hospital bed whether you are in that bed in BC or the U.S. The problem is, a hospital stay in the U.S. frequently costs closer to $1000 per day. That’s why it is very important to take out private travel insurance, even for short trips abroad.

Find out more about MSP coverage outside BC

Out of Country Claim Forms

Allied health professionals

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, non-surgical podiatry and acupuncture, unless you are receiving premium assistance due to low income. If you do receive premium assistance, MSP pays $23 per visit, for up to 10 visits per calendar year.

Locate a...

• audiologist
• chiropractor
• dentist
• dietitian
• massage therapist
• midwife
• occupational therapist
• optometrist
• physiotherapist
• podiatrist
• psychologist

Cancer care

Cancer care is delivered in BC through the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA). The BCCA operates five major cancer centres (a sixth is due to open Prince George in 2012) and a number of smaller treatment centres around the province. BC residents with cancer are diagnosed, hospitalized, treated and rehabilitated entirely through the agency.

Cancer patients can receive assistance with their drug costs through the Fair PharmaCare plan.

Contact the BC Cancer Agency.

Flu Shot

See our Flu Vaccination Guide for information about seasonal flu vaccine availability by province or territory.

Mental health

Mental health services are provided in BC through the five regional health authorities. The health authorities operate hospitals, clinics and community health centres which offer the following services:

• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Individual and group therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Consultation
• Emergency and urgent services
• Residential services

Addiction services and mental health services have been amalgamated across BC.

To find mental health and addiction services in your area, go to your regional health authority. BC also has several toll-free information lines for people dealing with mental health problems or addictions.

Palliative care

In-home palliative care is provided by your regional health authority. If you opt for palliative care, your doctor can order an assessment from a case manager. Based on that assessment, you may be able to obtain in-home care from a nurse or allied health professional free of charge.

BC residents with terminal illnesses who have decided to opt for palliative treatment can have their drugs and medical equipment covered under the BC Palliative Care Benefits Program. To be enrolled in the program, your doctor must certify that you are eligible and send an application to Health Insurance BC and the regional health authority.

Find more information on the Palliative Care Benefits Program (requires Adobe Reader).

HealthLink BC: Health and Seniors Information Line
Phone: (250) 952-1742
Toll-free: 1-800-465-4911

Wait times

The BC Ministry of health posts comprehensive information on surgical wait times on their website.

See the article on wait times on this website for helpful advice and information on how to receive faster service for surgical procedures, certain diagnostic tests (such as an MRI) and appointments with a specialist doctor.

Workplace injuries

Employees who are injured on the job in BC can have their treatment, lost wages and retraining costs covered through The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC (WCB).

WCB contact numbers.

Telephone support

The Ministry of Health posts a directory of health hotlines in BC that deal with everything from STDs to out-of-province medical referrals.

HealthLink BC is both an online health information resource and a telephone hotline that connects you to a registered nurse 24 hours a day by dialling 8-1-1. This nurse can answer health questions, listen to symptoms and recommend a course of action.

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Assistive Devices

You may be able to receive assistance from the BC government with the cost of an assistive device if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you are receiving disability assistance
• you need assistive technology to do your job
• you are in school
• you are receiving palliative care

If you don’t meet any of these criteria, you still may be able to get help through a non-profit organization associated with your disease. You may also be able to get the device you need on loan through the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program.

Contact Red Cross Medical Equipment Loan depots.

Employment support for people with disabilities

BC’s Employment Program for People with Disabilities (EPPD) provides job training and placement, technical equipment, physical accommodation and follow-up workplace support. More about EPPD.

Ministry of Social Development: 1-866-866-0800

Financial support for people with disabilities

Low-income BC residents with a disability can access government financial assistance through Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (EAPD). Assistance through this program is focused on helping you to return to the workplace, if possible.

Ministry of Social Development: 1-866-866-0800

Home care and assisted living

There are a number of options and different levels of service for long term care in the community. These factors will vary depending on your preference, your level of disability, the amount of help you can receive from family and friends and your ability to direct you own care.

The level of care you receive will depend on your doctor’s recommendation, and an assessment that you receive from a case manager from your local health authority. Professional services such as nursing and rehabilitation therapy are provided free of charge by the authority, but there are usually fees for non-professional help, meals, transportation and other expenses associated with the care program.

There is a program called Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) that directly funds patients who wish to arrange their own care. It is possible, under this program, for family caregivers to be reimbursed for the time they spend supporting you in your home.

Care options include in-home support, various day and respite programs and long term residential care.

Find out more about BC Home and Community Care.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Medical records

The laws concerning medical records are set out in the BC Personal Information Protection Act. Your medical records belong to your doctor, but the information in them belongs to you. This means that your doctor must show you your records upon request and either provide you a copy or allow you to copy them, at the doctor’s discretion. The doctor may charge a fee for copying your records; the amount of the fee is set by the BC Medical Association. If a doctor refuses to show you your records, you can take the matter up with the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Hospital records are a little different. They are controlled by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You need to make a written request to the hospital’s records department to see your records, after which the hospital has 30 days to either provide the records or give you a reason why they cannot. If you disagree with the hospital’s response, you have recourse to the BC Privacy Commissioner.

Mail: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
PO Box 9038, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC
V8W 9A4

Location: 4th Floor, 947 Fort Street,
Victoria, BC
V8V 3K3

Phone: (250) 387-5629
Fax: (250) 387-1696

In all cases, your records are confidential and should never be released to anyone without your consent. If you ever feel that your medical information has been given out inappropriately, contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons or the Privacy Commissioner to make a complaint.

Power of Attorney and other legal relationships

Please note: The information provided here is provided for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

A Power of Attorney is a document that empowers someone to act as a legal agent on your behalf. It can be very limited in scope, for instance allowing your son to access one bank account, or very broad, granting wide powers over all your property and financial affairs.

There are special rules in BC about assigned attorneys handling real estate, and certain procedures and restrictions that they must observe. It is advisable to get help from a lawyer if you want your assigned attorney to handle any land and buildings that you own.

Unless it is specifically laid out in the Power of Attorney agreement, the agreement becomes null and void in the event that you lose the capacity to direct your attorney. A Power of Attorney that grants the attorney the ability to act for you should you lose capacity is called an “enduring” Power of Attorney. A third kind of Power of Attorney is called a “springing” Power of Attorney. This kind only comes into effect after you lose capacity.

Power of Attorney documents only deal with financial matters. If you wish to appoint someone to take care of other personal matters, such as living arrangements and medical decisions, you need to make a Representation Agreement. Representation Agreements can be “section 7,” which means the representative is only authorized to deal with straightforward, everyday decisions, or “section 9,” which means the representative can make bigger decisions for you, such as approving surgery. There are several rules around the behaviour of representatives. They are required, where possible, to consult you on your wishes prior to taking any action on your behalf. There is usually a third person appointed as a “monitor” to ensure that the representative is living up to his responsibilities.

Power of Attorney Act
Representation Agreement Act
Public Guardian and Trustee of BC

Mail: Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia
700-808 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L3

Phone: (604) 660-4444
Fax: (604) 660-0374
E-mail: mail@trustee.bc.ca

Regulatory and administrative bodies

Health Insurance BC is the department of the BC Ministry of Health that funds the public insurance plan for BC residents. Medical services are covered through the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and prescription drugs are subsidized or covered through Fair PharmaCare.

Hospitals, health centres and community health care are administered by the six regional health authorities. They all receive their funding from the Ministry of Health.

Doctors are regulated by the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons, and nurses by the BC College of Registered Nurses. Allied health professionals are regulated by their individual provincial associations.