MSP PremiumsIn B.C., premiums are payable for MSP coverage and are based on family size and income. Monthly rates are $54 for one person, $96 for a family of two and $108 for a family of three or more. Effective January 1, 2010 monthly rates will change to $57 for one person, $102 for a family of two and $114 for a family of three or more. MSP premium invoicing is administered by the Ministry of Finance, through Revenue Services of British Columbia. For information about the payment of premiums, see that Ministry’s web site under Medical Services Plan Invoicing. A person who is no longer eligible for benefits (no longer a resident of B.C.) must notify MSP of the reason for cancellation, the date of the departure from B.C. and his/her new address (see the form for Permanent Move Outside B.C.). Failure to pay premiums does not constitute notification to cancel benefits.
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. Effective January 1, 2010, the regular premium assistance program will be enhanced to allow more British Columbians to qualify and to allow persons already receiving a partial subsidy to qualify for a higher level of 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. The resulting amount is referred to as "adjusted net income". See the Monthly Premium Rates chart below for details of premium assistance rates. To apply for premium assistance, you need to complete and return an Application for Regular Premium Assistance. If you believe you may have qualified for assistance in recent years but didn’t make application, contact MSP for information. If it appears you are eligible, you will need to provide photocopies of Notices of Assessment/Re-Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency which show your net income for the relevant tax years. If you are married or living in a marriage-like relationship, photocopies of your spouse’s Notices of Assessment/Re-Assessment will also be required. Temporary premium assistance offers a 100 per cent subsidy for a short term based on unexpected financial hardship. See the Ministry of Finance's web site, under Temporary Premium Assistance, for more information. Families receiving full and partial premium assistance may be eligible for additional health care services through the Healthy Kids program of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. Supplementary Health Care Benefits For information on supplementary benefits provided to person receiving premium assistance see Supplementary Health Care Benefits.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2005
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010
To verify eligibility, each person who applies for premium assistance authorizes the Canada Revenue Agency to release income information to the Ministry of Health Services 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.
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