Ibrahim Gardner
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the mandatory public health insurance program for British Columbia (BC), Canada. All residents of BC, including international students, are required to enrol in MSP if they plan to stay in the province for six months or longer. MSP covers the cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services. However, there is a waiting period of two to three months for new residents, during which international students must obtain private medical insurance. This article will explore the details of MSP coverage for international students, including the eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits provided.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for MSP | International students in British Columbia (BC) who hold a valid study permit and plan to stay in BC for 6 months or longer |
| Waiting period | 2-3 months |
| Coverage | The cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services, some medical exams, surgeries, and prescription medicines |
| Fee | $75 per month |
| Payment | Invoices will be sent directly to the individual |
| Temporary health insurance options during the waiting period | iMED, guard.me, Global Campus Health Plan, or private insurance |
| Cancellation | If you will be outside Canada for more than 6 months in a calendar year, contact MSP by phone to confirm your eligibility |
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What You'll Learn
Mandatory health insurance for international students in British Columbia
In British Columbia (BC), international students must have health insurance while studying. The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the public health insurance programme for the province. It is mandatory for all eligible residents of British Columbia, including international students, and their dependents.
International students are eligible for MSP if they hold a valid study permit and plan to stay in BC for six months or longer. They are required to pay the health fee, regardless of income, unless they have formally opted out of provincial health coverage. The health fee will start on the first day of the month when MSP coverage begins.
There is a waiting period of two to three months for new residents before MSP coverage begins. During this time, international students must obtain private medical insurance to cover hospital and medical services in case of an emergency. This can be in the form of short-term medical insurance plans such as iMED, guard.me, or the Global Campus Health Plan.
MSP covers the cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services. It may also provide partial payment for certain medical services, such as massage therapy and chiropractic services.
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The three-month waiting period for MSP
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the mandatory public health insurance plan for all residents of British Columbia (BC), including international students. However, there is a three-month waiting period for new residents before MSP coverage begins. During this time, it is recommended that international students obtain private medical insurance to cover any healthcare needs.
One option to cover the waiting period is short-term medical insurance, such as the guard.me plan. This plan is offered by some educational institutions, such as Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Vancouver Community College (VCC), and is mandatory for new international students. The guard.me plan provides basic medical insurance, covering hospital-required services and emergency medical care. It ensures that international students have access to healthcare during their first few months in BC.
For returning international students or those whose iMED insurance has expired, purchasing private temporary health insurance is advised. Plans such as the Global Campus Health Plan can provide coverage during the MSP waiting period. Additionally, family members of international students must also go through the three-month waiting period and are recommended to purchase temporary private health insurance.
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Temporary health insurance options
In British Columbia (BC), international students must have health insurance while studying. The BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the public health insurance program for the province. It is mandatory for all eligible residents and their dependents. This includes international students living in BC who hold a valid study permit for at least six months and their dependents (spouse and children).
There is a waiting period of 2-3 months for new residents before MSP coverage begins. To cover this waiting period, international students must obtain private medical insurance. At some institutions, new international students are automatically enrolled in the guard.me More Enhanced health insurance plan for their first term. This plan is mandatory for all new international students studying in Canada at certain institutions and is a condition of studying. The cost of guard.me is $148.50 and will be collected as part of the tuition deposit payment toward first-term registration.
Other options for temporary health insurance include iMED, which covers new-to-UBC international students for their first three months in Canada. The Global Campus Health Plan is another option for temporary private health insurance. If you are a part-time student, UBC employee, visiting instructor, postdoctoral fellow, or other non-student affiliate, you should contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) for information about "non-student" medical insurance plan options.
If you are a returning student, you may need to purchase private temporary health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan, to cover the waiting period before your MSP coverage resumes.
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Health fee for international students
In British Columbia (BC), international students must have health insurance while studying. The 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. International students who are physically present in BC for at least six months in a calendar year are deemed to be residents and are required to apply for MSP as soon as they arrive.
The International Student Health Fee (ISHF) is a mandatory monthly fee of $75 charged to all international students studying in British Columbia on a valid study permit for at least six months of the year. This includes K-12 and post-secondary international students. The ISHF ensures that international students both contribute to and benefit from BC's publicly funded health-care system. The ISHF is an individual-based fee and applies to each family member enrolled in the MSP who possesses a valid study permit, regardless of family size, income, or secondary immigration status. This fee supports the sustainability of BC's health-care system, ensuring access to necessary medical services for all residents, including international students.
Before health-care coverage begins, there is a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residency is established, plus two months. International students should carry private insurance until this wait period ends and provincial coverage begins. To cover this 3-month waiting period, most new international students are covered by iMED health insurance for their first 3 months in Canada. Returning international students whose iMED insurance policy has expired and who are not re-enrolled for iMED are advised to purchase private temporary health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan.
Invoices for the health fee will be sent directly to the individual at the address on file with MSP. The person can submit proof to Health Insurance BC (HIBC) that they are covered under an MSP group plan that has requested to pay the health fee on their behalf. If you are a school or school district and would like to set up group billing to pay the health fee on behalf of your international students, contact HIBC to set up or confirm your status as an MSP Group Plan administrator.
To make a payment, you will need your international student health fee account number 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 make payments by mail or in person at a Service BC Centre.
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MSP coverage for international students' dependents
The British Columbia (BC) government's Medical Services Plan (MSP) is a mandatory public health insurance plan for all residents of BC who stay for six months or longer. This includes international students and their dependents.
International students with a valid study permit for six or more months are required to apply for MSP as soon as they arrive in BC. They must also pay the International Student Health Fee of $75 per month. This fee covers the student and their dependents, including a spouse and children. Before health-care coverage begins, there is a three-month waiting period consisting of the balance of the month in which residency is established, plus two months. During this time, international students should carry private insurance.
If an international student is not enrolled in MSP or does not have private insurance, they will be responsible for the full cost of any healthcare services received. Unpaid health fees are considered a debt to the provincial government and are subject to collection under applicable laws.
International students who are in the process of waiting for their post-graduation work permit application to be processed may be able to request temporary MSP coverage. To do so, they must provide Health Insurance BC with their application submission receipt, a copy of their International Confirmation of Graduation letter, and a copy of their post-graduation work permit once received.
Overall, it is important for international students and their dependents to have valid health insurance coverage while residing in BC. MSP is the primary form of health insurance for eligible residents, but private insurance options are also available during wait periods or for those who do not qualify for MSP.
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Frequently asked questions
MSP is the Medical Services Plan, a mandatory public health insurance plan for all residents of British Columbia (BC), Canada.
International students in BC are eligible for MSP if they hold a valid study permit and plan to stay in BC for at least 6 months.
MSP covers the cost of basic medical care within Canada, including most physician and hospital services, surgeries, some medical exams, and prescription medicines.
To enrol in MSP, you need to complete an application form online or by mail and provide a copy of your status in Canada (study permit) and proof of a residential address.
Yes, there is a waiting period of 2-3 months for new residents. During this time, international students must obtain private medical insurance to cover any medical expenses.
