Medical Coverage

Medical Coverage

For MSP beneficiaries receiving premium assistance, MSP pays $23 per visit for a combined annual limit of 10 visits each calendar year for the following services: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry. Those who may be eligible for these supplementary benefit services include:
•    Income Assistance recipients
•    Convention refugees
•    Inmates of B.C. Correctional Facilities
•    Individuals enrolled with MSP through the At Home Program
•    Residents of long term care facilities receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
•    Individuals enrolled with MSP as Mental Health Clients
•    First Nations individuals with valid B.C. Medical Plan coverage through the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.

Premium Assistance
Assistance with the payment of premiums is available to Canadian citizens or holders of permanent resident status (landed immigrants) who have held that status and been resident in Canada for the past 12 consecutive months.

Regular premium assistance offers subsidies ranging from 20 to 100 per cent, based on an individual's net income (or a couple's combined net income) for the preceding tax year, less deductions for age, family size and disability. If the resulting amount referred to as "adjusted net income" is $28,000 or below, a subsidy is available. See the Monthly Premium Rates chart below for full details of premium assistance rates.

The current adjusted net income thresholds are:
$20,000 - 100 percent subsidy
$22,000 - 80 percent subsidy
$24,000 - 60 percent subsidy
$26,000 - 40 percent subsidy
$28,000 - 20 percent subsidy

To apply for premium assistance, you need to complete and return an application form to MSP. Forms are available online (go to Application for Premium Assistance), through MSP's Forms-by-Fax service, at Service BC Centres or by contacting MSP.