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The Great-West Life Assurance Company, London Life Insurance Company and The Canada Life Assurance Company have become one company – The Canada Life Assurance Company. Discover the new Canada Life

The Great-West Life Assurance Company, London Life Insurance Company and The Canada Life Assurance Company have become one company – The Canada Life Assurance Company. Discover the new Canada Life

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Freedom 55 Financial is a division of The Canada Life Assurance Company and the information you requested can be found here.

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) and PharmaCare are the provincial plans for all eligible B.C. residents. It provides coverage for most of your basic healthcare and prescription drug services. You must be enrolled in MSP before obtaining PharmaCare coverage.

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and reside in B.C. for at least 6 months every year. Certain exceptions apply.

What’s covered with MSP and Pharmacare
Benefit Coverage details
Prescription drugs

The Fair PharmaCare Program covers you for eligible prescription drugs, insulin, syringes, needles, limited quantity of test strips, and certain ostomy. Your coverage is income-based which means the annual deductible and family maximum are calculated based on net family income.

Members of the First Nations Health Authority are covered by the B.C. PharmaCare First Nations Health Benefits Plan (FNBC) and those previously covered with NIHB are automatically enrolled in this program. This covers all your eligible ingredient costs and dispense fees for covered drugs and is the first payer, with your private plan as the second payer.

B.C. PharmaCare launched the Biosimilars Initiative which means PharmaCare will only cover the biosimilar versions of eligible drugs.

Ambulance

You are not covered for ambulance fees unless you have a valid B.C. Care card covered through MSP, in which you pay a subsidized flat fee.

To learn more about ambulance services, visit B.C. Emergency Health Services.

Dental benefits

You are covered for medically required in-hospital dental surgeries and orthodontic services related to severe congenital face abnormalities. You are not covered for most dental procedures.

Find out what dental services are available.

Vision care

You are covered for routine eye exams if you are under 18 years old or 65 years and older. You are also covered for medically required eye exams regardless of age.

Learn more about eye exam coverage.

Hospital

You are covered for standard ward rooms. Private or semi-private rooms may be available for an extra fee.

Learn more about hospital stays.

Paramedicals

Essential extended services may be covered if you are eligible for general health supplements. A medical practitioner or nurse must confirm an acute need with no other resources available.

Find out what extended medical therapies are covered.

Hearing aids

You are covered for the least expensive, appropriate hearing devices and associated repairs if you require financial aid to meet this need.

Learn more about hearing aids.

Nursing benefits and home care Publicly subsidized care services provide a variety of services in your own home or supportive housing environment. Coverage and type of care varies by need.
Medical supplies

PharmaCare covers insulin pumps for eligible individuals who meet the medical criteria and have Special Authority approval for coverage. 

Continuous Glucose Monitors are covered for some individuals through Special Authority.

You are covered for certain protheses needed to maintain basic functionality, provided you meet the requirements. You may also be covered for some ostomy supplies and orthoses.

Accidental death and dismemberment MSP does not provide any coverage for accidental death and dismemberment.
Out of country MSP covers medically required emergency situations rendered by a licensed physician, with a maximum daily payment. You pay for any excess cost. MSP does not cover out-patient services.

Personal health insurance can help supplement your coverage where you need it most.

These highlights from the British Columbia Medical Services Plan are for general reference only and are subject to change, corrections and updates. Other government programs may also be available. For more information on the latest coverage details, contact:

Health Insurance BC
P.O. Box 9035 Stn Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E3
Lower Mainland: 604-683-7151
Elsewhere in B.C.: 1-800-663-7100 (toll-free)
British Columbia

 

Last updated: April 2022

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