British Columbia Newcomers' Guide to Resources
and ServicesHealth CareIn this chapter: B.C. health
insuranceThe Government of British Columbia has a hospital insurance and
a medical insurance plan. These plans are for British Columbia residents only.
Canadian citizens, landed immigrants and convention refugees are all eligible. Registering
for health insuranceYou do not need to register or pay for hospital
insurance. To receive insurance through the Medical Services Plan (MSP), for medical
services including doctors’ fees, you must register. If you don’t, you will have
to pay for these services yourself, and you may find the cost very high. It
is important to register for medical insurance as soon as you arrive in British
Columbia. Phone an MSP office to find out how. In Vancouver, call 604 683-7151.
In Victoria, call 250 386-7171 or 250 382-8406. Elsewhere in B.C., call 1-800-663-7100. After
registering, you will not get insurance protection immediately; you will need
to complete a waiting period that includes the rest of the month in which you
became a resident of British Columbia, plus two months. You should get temporary
insurance from a private company for the waiting period. Look in the Yellow Pages
of the phone book under "Insurance Companies – Other Than Life." When
your MSP coverage begins, everyone in your family will get a "CareCard."
People 65 years old and older get a special Gold CareCard. Each card has the person’s
name and a personal health number. Sign your card, and always take it with you
when you visit a doctor or hospital. Health insurance feesMSP insurance
coverage is not free. You must pay a monthly fee. The costs per month are different
if you are: - a single person
- a family of two
- a
family of three or more.
Phone an MSP office to find out about costs. Some
government-sponsored refugees are eligible for free MSP coverage. Check with the
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre or an immigrant settlement
agency (see the agency listing in the first chapter). If
you have a job, your payments may be taken off your pay cheque. What if
you don’t have much money? You may be able to pay less money for health insurance
if you have lived in Canada for more than one year. Contact an MSP office for
more information. Refugee claimantsRefugee claimants do not have
CareCards, but they may need to see a doctor. If a problem is urgent, refugee
claimants can get medical attention for specific conditions with the "Interim
Federal Health" paper issued to them by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The Canadian government will pay the costs.
EmergenciesWhat
if you have an accident or suddenly get very sick? You should go to the Emergency
Department of a hospital. Many of these are open 24 hours a day. If you need an
interpreter, it is a good idea to take a family member or a friend who can speak
English. Calling an ambulanceIf you need an ambulance, call 911
or the emergency phone number in your area. This number is usually at the front
of the telephone book. Ask for an ambulance. The ambulance will take you
to the Emergency Department. MSP will not pay for an ambulance. If you go
in the ambulance, you will have to pay for it. You don’t have to pay right away.
Hospital
costsYou don’t have to pay for hospital costs if you are a permanent resident.
If you are a refugee claimant, you must get the "Interim Federal Health"
paper from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada office to go to a hospital.
The Canadian government will pay the hospital costs.
Types
of doctorsThere are two types of doctors in British Columbia: family doctors
and specialists. Family doctors take care of most medical problems. You
can also talk to your family doctor about family planning, nutrition, and emotional
problems. Specialists treat special health problems, such as heart disease. If
you are sick, go to a family doctor first. Your family doctor may refer (send)
you to a specialist. If you think you need to see a specialist, you must talk
to your family doctor first. Finding a family doctorHow can you
find a family doctor? - Ask your friends, neighbours,
or other people in your community.
- Talk to people at an
immigrant settlement agency. You may be able to find a doctor who speaks your
language.
- Some hospitals have a list of doctors who are taking new patients.
- Look
in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book under "Physicians and Surgeons."
Making
an appointmentBefore you go to the doctor, you should telephone the doctor’s
office for an appointment. Always take your CareCard with you when you visit a
doctor.
Prescription
drugsYou must have a doctor’s prescription (written permission) to buy
prescription drugs (medicine) at a pharmacy (drugstore). The pharmacist will explain
how often and how long you must take the medicine. You can buy some drugs
without a prescription. These are called nonprescription drugs or "over-thecounter"
drugs. These are usually for less serious problems, such as colds or allergies.
If you have a question about over-the-counter drugs, ask your pharmacist.
Pharmacare
programPharmacare is a B.C. government program. If you are a permanent
resident of British Columbia and have MSP coverage, Pharmacare may pay for some
of the cost of prescription drugs you have bought in B.C. You can find out more
about Pharmacare from your pharmacist, or you can call Pharmacare. In Vancouver,
call 604 682-6849. In Victoria, call 250 952-2866. Elsewhere in B.C.,
call 1-800-554-0250.
DentistsCheck
with friends, immigrant settlement agencies, or the Yellow Pages to find a dentist.
Call the dentist’s office to make an appointment. MSP will not pay for regular
dental services. If you have a job, your employer may have a dental plan that
you can join. Under the Healthy Kids Program, children under age 19 whose family
is in receipt of premium assistance through MSP will be eligible for limited dental
coverage if the family is not covered by an employer. Ask your dentist for more
information. Some public health units have dental clinics. They give free
dental checkups and cleanings to young children and low-cost dental care to older
children and adults. To find out what dental services are available in your
community, look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book under public or community
health. For Vancouver, look up "dental clinics" in the Cities and Municipalities
section.
Public
health unitsMany communities have public health units. These are medical
offices where community health nurses and doctors give free health care information
to families. If
you have a serious health problem, a public health nurse may be able to help you
in your home. These nurses can also help women prepare for a new baby and visit
them at home after the baby is born. They will also give immunizations to babies
and children against diseases, such as polio and measles. To find a health
unit in your area, look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book. Look for the
"Health Authorities" section. It is after the Government of British
Columbia listings and before the Municipal Government listings. You can also call
the Health Information Line. In Vancouver, call 604 683-7151. In Victoria, call
250 952-1742. Elsewhere in B.C., call 1-800-465-4911. Emotional problemsSometimes
immigrants have emotional problems. They may feel homesick, afraid, forgetful,
or hopeless. If you feel upset, talk to your doctor, or a counsellor at an immigrant
settlement agency. What if someone needs more help than this? There are
Mental Health Centres in most B.C. communities. People at these centres can help.
To find the mental health centre nearest you, look in the White Pages of the telephone
book under "Mental Health Centres." Eye exams and eyeglassesIf
you need an eye examination, talk to your family doctor or look in the Yellow
Pages under "Optometrists." Under the Healthy Kids Program, children
under age 19 whose family is in receipt of premium assistance through MSP will
have basic eyeglasses paid for if the family is not covered by an employer. Ask
your optician/optometrist for further information.
Go to next page: Chapter 5, Money and Banking Return
to main page. |