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.
