BC Medical Services Plan
Enrolment
The British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP) is the provincial public health insurance plan, which provides coverage for medically required services. Enrolment in BC MSP is mandatory for anyone who will reside in BC for six months or longer.
International students must submit a when they arrive in BC. Once approved, you will receive a letter from Health Insurance BC (HIBC) confirming the effective date of your BC MSP coverage. You will also receive a with a personal health number (PHN), which allows you to access medical services.
Students with accompanying family members: you can apply for BC MSP for you and your dependents at the same time. If your family members will be arriving later, you can submit an . Learn more on our Support for your family page.
Students from outside of BC: if you are an international student moving to BC from another Canadian province or territory, contact and ask to speak with an enrolment specialist about your options.
BC high school students: international students transitioning from high school to post-secondary studies in BC must contact Health Insurance BC to
How to apply for BC MSP
Watch our step-by-step tutorial below for detailed instructions on applying for BC MSP.
After you apply
What to expect after you submit your BC MSP application:
- Reference number: after submitting the application, save the reference number shown on the confirmation screen.
- Processing time: HIBC takes 2-3 weeks to process BC MSP applications (plus the mandatory wait period if you are new to BC).
- Letter of enrolment: once your application has been processed, you will receive a confirmation of enrolment letter in the mail. This letter will state your BC MSP coverage start and expiry dates, keep it for your records.
- BC Services Card: after your letter of enrolment, you will receive a non-photo BC Services Card in the mail. Keep this with you in your wallet.
- Invoices: when your coverage begins, you will receive monthly invoices from Revenue BC for the International Student Health Fee.
- Follow-up: if you have not received any mail from HIBC, to check on the status of your application. You will be asked to provide your application reference number.
Coverage
If you are new to BC, there is a mandatory waiting period before your MSP coverage begins. The waiting period includes the balance of the month you arrive in BC plus two months.
For example:
- If you arrive in BC in April, your coverage will begin on July 1
- If you arrive in BC in August, your coverage will begin on November 1
Once your MSP coverage takes effect, you may be eligible to opt out of the GuardMe@UVic plan.
International Student Health Fee (ISHF)
There is a $75 monthly health fee for international students. This fee is paid to Revenue BC. Once your BC MSP coverage begins, you will receive monthly invoices and instructions for .
To pay your fees, you will need your BC MSP account number. This 12 digit number starts with X and can be found at the top of your invoice.
It is important to pay your fees on time and remain in good standing. International students are not eligible for financial assistance with MSP premiums.
Personal Health Number (PHN)
A is the personal ID number required to access healthcare in BC. Your PHN can be found on back of your BC Services Card or you can contact HIBC to obtain it. When accessing medical services, be sure to have your BC Services Card or PHN along with a valid photo identification.
Maintaining your coverage
Your MSP coverage expires when your study permit expires. This date appears on your study permit and your .
You need to extend your study permit before you can renew your MSP coverage. Start this process at least four months before your study permit expires to avoid a lapse in your MSP coverage.
If you receive your new study permit and:
- Your BC Services Card has not expired or has been expired for less than 6 months, submit an to extend your MSP coverage, or
- Your BC Services Card has been expired for more than 6 months, contact for more information
Effective May 1, 2022, eligible individuals living in BC with Maintained Status who are waiting for a study or work permit extension may be eligible for temporary MSP coverage.
If your study permit and MSP have expired while your study permit extension application is being processed, you may be able to .
Leaving BC
Refer to the following links if you plan to leave BC:
- and want to keep your MSP
- and need to cancel your MSP
Are you graduating? Visit our Graduation and beyond page for more information.