Douglas Olsen
The British Columbia (BC) government's Medical Services Plan (MSP) is a mandatory public health insurance plan for anyone living in BC for six months or longer, including international students. International students on a valid study permit for at least six months in British Columbia must pay a monthly health fee to contribute to and benefit from BC's healthcare coverage. Invoices are sent directly to the student's address on file with MSP, and payments can be made in person or by mail. This guide will outline the steps international students can take to pay for MSP in British Columbia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is required to pay the MSP health fee? | International students studying on a valid study permit for at least six months of the year in British Columbia. |
| Who is exempt from paying the health fee? | Adult international students who formally opt out of provincial health coverage through MSP. |
| How much is the health fee? | $75 per month for study permit holders. |
| How to pay the health fee? | Payments can be made in person at a Service BC Centre or by mail. Accepted forms of payment include cash, debit, credit card, cheque, bank draft or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance. |
| How to obtain an MSP card? | Apply for MSP, wait for your letter of instruction, then bring the letter and primary and secondary photo ID document such as your driver's license or your BCID Card to an ICBC office. |
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Paying in person
International students in British Columbia (BC) who are enrolled in MSP and possess a valid study permit issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for six months or longer are required to pay a health fee to contribute to and benefit from BC's healthcare coverage.
You can pay your International Student Health Fee invoice in person at a Service BC Centre. To make a payment in person, you will need your international student health fee account number (e.g. X37012345678) from your invoice. Payments are accepted by cash, debit, credit card, cheque, bank draft, or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance.
If you pay by cheque, bank draft, or money order, write your international student health fee account number on your payment so that your account can be easily identified when your payment is processed. You can also make payments by cheque, bank draft, or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance through the mail. However, do not send cash through the mail. If you are sending your payment by Canada Post, send it at least eight days before the due date.
If you are unable to pay by the due date shown on your invoice, you can contact MSP to discuss a payment arrangement. If you pay more than you currently owe, the extra amount will remain on your account as a credit and will be applied to your next invoice to reduce the amount you owe. Once your payment is received, it takes approximately two business days for your payment to be posted against your account.
To check your account information, including your account balance, call 1-877-383-0016. Before calling, have your international student health fee account number from your invoice ready so that your account can be easily identified.
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Paying by mail
International students in British Columbia (BC) who are studying on a permit for six months or more are required to enrol in BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP) and pay a monthly health fee. This fee is just one part of the total premium for MSP.
If you are paying your health fee by mail, you can post-date your cheques, but you will still receive an invoice if the payment isn't applied to your account before the invoice is prepared or if the amount is less than the minimum payment due. Post-dated cheques will be applied to your account on the date of the cheque or the first business day following this date. If a post-dated cheque has not been applied to your account within five days of the date on the cheque, contact MSP. To cancel a post-dated cheque, call 1-877-383-0016 at least 14 days before the date on the cheque.
If you are mailing a paper application for MSP, consider using a secure mailing method such as Canada Post Xpresspost. You can also mail in a request to extend your MSP coverage each time you extend your temporary residency in Canada. For example, if you extend your study permit or get a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you must apply to extend your MSP, otherwise, you will not be covered.
If you are a school or school district and would like to pay the health fee on behalf of your international students, you must be set up as an MSP group plan administrator.
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Payment methods
International students in British Columbia (BC) who are enrolled in MSP and have a valid study permit for at least six months of the year are required to pay a monthly health fee.
The British Columbia government sends invoices for the health fee to the address on file with MSP. Payments can be made in person at a Service BC Centre or by mail. Accepted payment methods include cash, debit, credit card, cheque, bank draft, or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance. If paying by mail, do not send cash. If paying by cheque, bank draft, or money order, write your international student health fee account number on your payment so that your account can be easily identified when your payment is processed.
If you are unable to pay by the due date, you can contact the British Columbia government to discuss a payment arrangement. If you pay more than you owe, the extra amount will remain on your account as a credit and will be applied to your next invoice.
Fee Exemptions
International students who are not residents of BC and do not have a valid study permit for at least six months of the year are exempt from paying the health fee. Adult international students who formally opt out of provincial health coverage through MSP are also exempt from paying the health fee.
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Payment deadlines
International students in British Columbia who are enrolled in MSP and possess a valid study permit issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for six months or longer are required to pay a monthly health fee. The health fee is charged to individuals enrolled in MSP under a study permit. Invoices are sent to the address on file with MSP, and the payment deadline is indicated on the invoice.
The payment deadline for the international student health fee is crucial, as late payments may result in a lapse in health coverage. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that payments are made on time and that all invoices are settled. To avoid any disruptions in coverage, it is advisable to plan and make payments before the due date.
The British Columbia government has set a monthly fee of $75 for study permit holders as of January 1, 2020. This fee is payable to the Minister of Finance and contributes to the province's health-care coverage for international students. The payment deadline for each month's fee is typically indicated on the invoice sent to the student's address.
Payments can be made in person at a Service BC Centre or by mail. Accepted payment methods include cash, debit, credit card, cheque, bank draft, or money order. When paying by mail, it is recommended to send the payment at least eight days before the due date to ensure timely processing. Post-dated cheques are also accepted, and students can contact the Revenue Services of BC for clarification if the payment is not applied to their account within five days of the cheque's date.
It is important to note that the payment deadline for the international student health fee may vary depending on individual circumstances and the specific rules of the educational institution. Students should refer to their invoices and stay informed about any updates or changes to the payment deadlines to ensure they meet their payment obligations on time.
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Fee exemptions
The British Columbia (BC) government's Medical Services Plan (MSP) is a mandatory public health insurance plan for everyone who lives in BC for 6 months or longer. However, there are certain exemptions from the fee for international students in specific circumstances.
Firstly, individuals who have arrived in BC and enrolled in MSP with a study permit with CUAET notations are exempt from the health fee for the period of March 1, 2022, onwards. Subsequent study permits without CUAET notations are subject to the health fee.
Secondly, only adult international students who formally opt out of provincial health coverage through MSP are exempt from paying the health fee. Minors are unable to opt out of provincial health coverage. The onus for adults to enrol or formally opt out rests with the individual. Opting out is a significant step and should be considered carefully, as it may impact access to healthcare services.
Thirdly, if an international student is enrolled in Guard.me, they can opt out of MSP and receive a refund. To do this, allow a few weeks for processing, then phone HIBC at 1-800-663-7100 and request a letter confirming enrolment. Once the letter is received, upload it at guard.me/sfu to complete the opt-out process.
Lastly, if an international student leaves BC temporarily, their MSP coverage may continue, and they will still be billed for the healthcare coverage fee. However, if they are absent from BC for more than 6 months, they may need to reapply for MSP upon their return and go through the approximately 3-month waiting period again. Therefore, it is essential to obtain temporary private health insurance during the waiting period.
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Frequently asked questions
Anyone living in British Columbia for six months or longer (including international students) is required by law to enrol in MSP and pay the plan’s monthly healthcare coverage fee.
International students pay a monthly health fee of $75.
You can pay your international student health fee in person at a Service BC Centre. Payments are accepted by cash, debit, credit card, cheque, bank draft or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance.
Your payment must be received by the due date shown on your international student health fee invoice.
