In BC, the medical services plan (MSP) covers the cost of medically necessary health care services for residents of the province.
Tips & Links
To be eligible for Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage, you must be a resident of BC, live in the province for at least six months of the year, and have Canadian citizenship. Since January 1, 2020, monthly premiums for MSP have been eliminated. MSP is funded through government taxes.
Learn More
- Learn about what MSP covers including medically necessary health care services, physician and specialist visits, hospital stays, medically required surgical and diagnostic procedures, and some preventative care services from the Government of BC.
- Learn about what MSP ‘does not’ cover, like prescription drugs (except in specific cases), dental care, and optometry services from the Government of BC.
- Know that MSP benefits can change, and it is best to investigate your coverage before starting a new health treatment or service.
Things You Can Do
- Explore available supplementary benefits for those who qualify to help cover the costs of services not included in MSP, such as dental care, vision care, and prescription medications from the Government of BC.
- Know that you can contact MSP through customer service by calling 1-800-663-7100 (toll-free in Canada) or 604-683-7151 (in the Lower Mainland) for questions about health coverage, billing, or eligibility.
- Look into your personal health benefits such as employer-sponsored, student coverage, government supplements, and extended benefits to help with costs not coverd by MSP.
- Learn how to apply for and use Fair PharmaCare to help cover prescription drug costs. It calculates how much you should contribute towards your prescription medications based on your income.
- Learn about what happens to your MSP health coverage when travelling or living outside of the province and the need to purchase additional travel insurance.
- Be aware that you can leave the province for up to 7 months on vacation per calendar year and up to 24 months every 5 years, and still maintain for MSP coverage.