👨⚕️ Healthcare in Victoria
👩⚕️ Healthcare
As of Jan. 1, 2020, health insurance is free for residents of BC. This is changeable, depending on current government policy. We used to pay around $75 per month for health insurance, called “MSP”, depending on your income. All Canadians have government healthcare, and we are very proud of our system as a whole.
Sign up for health insurance with BC’s Medical Service Plan (MSP). Everyone in BC has this. You can apply online here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol
Waiting time: There is a waiting period for your coverage to start, usually 3 months.
🇨🇦 If you moved from another province, your old medical coverage will continue for this time.
🌎 If you moved from outside Canada, you’ll need to get travel medical insurance to cover you for these three months. Strange, but true. Pacific Blue Cross is very popular and has a “Visitors to Canada” plan you can buy online. Depending on your age, 3 months might cost you CAD $300 - CAD $400 total.
Co-pay: If you are moving from the USA, co-pays are not really a thing here. Visiting the doctor or the hospital is normally covered (“free”). Surgery is a different matter, but you won’t go into bankruptcy here over medical costs.
Pharmacy: Prescriptions are not usually covered by our healthcare. You might pay anywhere from $5-$20-$75 at the pharmacy for your prescription, depending on your income level, if you have secondary health insurance (usually through your employer), if it’s for your child, etc…
🦷 Dental
The BC medical service plan does not include coverage for dental care for adults over 19 years old, unless you receive income or disability assistance.
If you are 19 years or younger, BC may provide dental coverage, depending if your family qualifies.
Most of us have private dental insurance to cover the costs of visits. You either buy it through a private health insurance company like BCAA or Pacific Blue Cross, or your employer may offer an extra dental benefit as part of your employment.
Dental coverage from the Province of BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance/supplements/dental
👓 Optical (glasses, contacts)
The BC medical service plan does not include coverage for optical care (glasses, contacts) for adults over 19 years old, unless you receive income or disability assistance.
If you are 19 years or younger, BC may provide optical care coverage, depending if your family qualifies.
Glasses, contacts and eye exams are typically done by private opticians in BC. A typical basic eye exam can costs $60-$100, depending on which store does it, or optician, and what deals they are offering.
Optical coverage from the Province of BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance/supplements/optical
More healthcare:🤱 Having a baby? 🧓 Nursing Homes & Long Term care?
These topics require more detail, so each has its own page:
We have a guide for finding childcare
How it works, how to sign up, and how to figure out the types of care you’ll see here.