An Intro to BC Health Insurance for Youth
What is health insurance?
Health insurance is a type of coverage that may pay for your:
- medical expenses
- surgical expenses
- prescription drugs
- dental expenses
- birth control and maternity care
When you are covered under health insurance, you or your caregiver can be paid back for the expenses you have because of an illness or injury. In some cases, the care provider may be paid directly.
When you have health insurance, you are called a beneficiary.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students must apply for health insurance. In B.C., health insurance is called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). MSP is free to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. International students pay $75 CAD a month for MSP. MSO covers the cost of services that are medically required. “Medically required” means the services must be prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
What services does my health insurance cover?
Services that are covered by insurance plans are called benefits. Benefits under BC MSP are:
- medically required services provided by a doctor who is enrolled with MSP
- maternity care provided by a doctor or a midwife
- medically required eye exams provided by an ophthalmologist or optometrist for persons aged 19-64
- yearly eye exams for persons aged 0-18
- diagnostic services, such as x-rays, at approved facilities, when ordered by a registered doctor, midwife, podiatrist, dental surgeon or oral surgeon
- dental and oral surgery, when medically required to be done in a hospital
- orthodontic services related to severe facial abnormalities present from birth
So MSP doesn’t cover all services. What is excluded?
Your MSP doesn’t cover services that are not considered medically required, such as:
- cosmetic surgery
- dental services, except as listed under benefits
- routine eye exams for persons 19 to 64 years of age
- eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other equipment or appliances
- prescription drugs (see PharmaCare in the next section)
- acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry services (except for beneficiaries with supplementary benefits)
- services of counsellors or psychologists
- medical exams, certificates or tests required for:
- driving a motor vehicle
- employment
- life insurance
- school or university
- recreational and sporting activities
MSP does not cover services of counsellors or psychologists. But, young people ages 12-24 can access free, confidential support options at Foundry.
Does MSP cover medications?
Your Medical Services Plan does not cover drugs and medication. Your BC Pharmacare or family Fair PharmaCare plan may cover medications.
Does the BC Medical Services Plan cover vaccinations?
Yes, if you have MSP, it will cover many vaccinations (also known as immunization), including:
- influenza (the flu shot)
- COVID-19
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) (prevents cancer)
- Meningococcal quadrivalent vaccines (prevents meningitis and blood stream infections)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) (prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough)
People over 19 who were not vaccinated as children can also receive other vaccines, for example to prevent the chickenpox and measles.
Keywords: adulting, insurance, healthcare, prescriptions, health services
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