Medical Services Plan (MSP) for international students

When am I covered?

There is a 3-month waiting period before MSP coverage begins: this is the balance of the month in which you arrive in British Columbia (BC), plus two full calendar months. For example, if you arrive in BC on August 25, you are eligible for MSP coverage starting November 1.

To cover the 3-month waiting period for MSP, most new-to-UBC international students are covered by iMED health insurance for your first 3 months in Canada. Returning international students whose iMED insurance policy has already expired and are not re-enrolled for iMED are advised to purchase private temporary health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan. If you are a part-time student, UBC employee, visiting instructor, postdoctoral fellow, or other non-student affiliate and need temporary health insurance, contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) for information about "non-student" medical insurance plan options.

BC MSP coverage will be provided to the same expiry date as your status in Canada (such as your study or work permit), unless you leave BC for an extended period.

If you extend your study permit or get a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you must apply to extend your MSP online, otherwise you will not be covered. 

If you applied for a new study or work permit and your study permit expires before you receive it, you will have maintained status. It’s important to take action and request temporary MSP coverage while under maintained status.

MSP coverage fees

As of January 1, 2020, all study permit holders are charged a $75 health-care coverage fee per month. You will receive a bill from the British Columbia government, and must pay the BC government directly. You can pay online and set up online services, such as seeing your balance, setting up paperless invoicing, and autopayments.

If your family is with you in Canada, they will only be charged the new health-care coverage fee if they also hold study permits. If they hold work permits or are here as visitors, they will not be charged the fee.

The fees are subject to change. Check the MSP website for the most up-to-date information.

Changing from study permit to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Even if your MSP coverage has not expired, once you get your PGWP, contact MSP by phone to update your account and request to have your fees changed. As a work permit holder, you do not need to pay the health-care coverage fee.  

Getting your MSP card

When your application is processed, your MSP card, or BC Services Card (formerly known as "BC CareCard"), will be mailed to the address you provided in your application. Your BC Services Card will indicate your coverage period, which should match the expiration date of your status in Canada (such as your study or work permit). Note that your card will not include your photo.

Using your MSP insurance

In most cases, you will not have to pay at the time you seek care for medically required services when you show your BC Services Card. 

MSP does not cover dental care, prescription drugs, routine vision care such as eye examinations or corrective lenses, or travel. The AMS/GSS Extended Health and Dental Plan is designed to cover some of these costs.

See a full list of your medical and health care benefits provided by MSP.

In general, you should go to clinics for non-urgent medical care, and hospitals for emergencies. For emergencies and for an ambulance, call 911. Learn about when to go to an Emergency Department or Urgent & Primary Care Centre, finding services in BC, and explore the BC Newcomers’ Guide to learn about healthcare in BC, which is available in 13 languages. You can also call 811 to reach Health Link BC 24/7 for assistance and to speak to healthcare professionals such as a nurse.  

UBC’s Student Health Service offers a range of health assessments and treatments on-campus. Find health support for more resources available to students.

Maintaining your MSP eligibility

To remain eligible for MSP, you need to live in BC for a minimum of 6 months in one calendar year. If you are absent from BC for more than 6 months, you may need to re-apply when you return to the province and go through the approximately 3-month waiting period again. Be sure to get temporary private health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan, for your waiting period. If you are a part-time student, UBC employee, visiting instructor, postdoctoral fellow, or other non-student affiliate and need temporary hospital and medical coverage, contact David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) for information about "non-student" medical insurance plan options.

For example, if you live outside of BC between May and December in 2023, you may need to reapply for your health insurance. However, if you are away from BC between September 2023 and April 2024, you remain eligible for MSP because you are only absent from the province for 4 months in each calendar year.

For more information, visit Leaving BC Temporarily. 

Before leaving BC

Make sure you understand MSP’s residency requirements and call MSP to discuss how your coverage could be impacted by travel plans. It will help if you know the exact dates when you will be traveling outside BC.

If you will be in another Canadian province or territory

You might be able to continue to use MSP coverage for 3 months outside of BC, which could be used to cover your waiting period in another province or territory. To confirm your eligibility for coverage outside of BC and options to cancel your MSP, contact MSP by phone.

Different provinces and territories in Canada have their own health insurance plans and they do not all provide coverage for international students. Check with the province or territory’s health insurance plan to confirm if you are eligible to join and how to apply. If you are not eligible, be sure to purchase temporary private health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan. 

If you will be outside of Canada

If you will be outside Canada for less than 6 months, you have the option to keep or cancel MSP. 

If you will be outside of Canada for more than 6 months in a calendar year, contact MSP by phone to confirm your eligibility. You might need to cancel your MSP coverage, or you might be given the option to keep MSP.    

If you're eligible and you decide to keep MSP, you do not have to reapply or have a 3-month waiting period when you return.

If you cancel MSP, you have to reapply when you return to BC and get temporary private health insurance such as the Global Campus Health Plan before you return to Canada to cover you during the MSP 3-month waiting period. 

Ensure you have sufficient health insurance outside of Canada. If you are enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, you must have basic insurance, such as MSP, to be eligible for travel coverage, and you cannot be covered in your country of origin.

Upon return to British Columbia

If you aren’t sure whether or not you are eligible for coverage, you must call MSP to confirm, particularly if you have been outside of BC for more than 6 months in a calendar year. 

If you must re-apply for MSP and go through the 3-month waiting period for MSP again, be sure to obtain temporary private health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan, to cover you until you are covered under MSP.