Rates/Medical Coverage
| MSP - 20 minutes |
$10
|
| 30 min. |
$20 |
| 45 min. |
$35 |
| 60 min. |
$55 |
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|
| ICBC - 20 min. |
$15 |
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|
PRIVATE
|
|
| 30 min. |
$45 |
| 45 min. |
$60 |
| 60 min. |
$80 |
| 90 min. |
$115 |
| |
|
| ACUPUNCTURE and T.C.M. |
|
| Initial consultation (90 min.) |
$80 |
| Follow-up treatments (1 hr.) |
$70 |
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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.
There are two premium assistance programs that offer subsidies to those in financial need: regular premium assistance and temporary premium assistance.
Regular Premium Assistance
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
The regular premium assistance was enhanced effective July 1, 2005, to allow more British Columbians to qualify and to allow those already receiving a partial subsidy to qualify for a higher subsidy level.
Prior to July 1, 2005, the adjusted net income thresholds were:
$16,000 - 100 percent subsidy
$18,000 - 80 percent subsidy
$20,000 - 60 percent subsidy
$22,000 - 40 percent subsidy
$24,000 - 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.
If you are applying for assistance based on the earlier tax year please provide a photocopy of the Notice of Assessment/Re-assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency which shows net income for that taxation year. If you are married, or living in a marriage-like relationship, a photocopy of your spouse's Notice of Assessment/Re-assessment is also required.
Note: Families receiving full and partial premium assistance may be eligible for additional health care services through the Healthy Kids program of the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
Temporary Premium Assistance
Temporary premium assistance offers a 100 per cent subsidy for a short term based on unexpected financial hardship. See the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue's web site, under Temporary Premium Assistance, for more information.
Monthly Premium Rates
Five levels of assistance, based on adjusted net income for the previous year, are available. Current rates:
Adjusted Net Income Subsidy Level One Person Family of Two Family of 3 or more
$0 - $20,000 100% premium assistance $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
$20,001 - $22,000 80% premium assistance $10.80 $19.20 $21.60
$22,001 - $24,000 60% premium assistance $21.60 $38.40 $43.20
$24,001 - $26,000 40% premium assistance $32.40 $57.60 $64.80
$26,001 - $28,000 20% premium assistance $43.20 $76.80 $86.40
Over $28,000 Full Rate $54.00 $96.00 $108.00
Income Verification
To verify eligibility, each person who applies for premium assistance authorizes the Canada Revenue Agency to release income information to the Ministry of Health and/or Health Insurance BC from the person's tax returns. Verification takes place each year and, where appropriate, MSP adjusts the monthly premium of beneficiaries upward or downward based on the information received
