HealthInsuranceBC is the provincial government’s new name for the administrative operations of the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and the Fair PharmaCare program. The BC CareCard is used to obtain provincially insured medical and health care services. Your CareCard is also used to obtain PharmaCare prescription drug benefits.
HealthInsuranceBC
MSP insures medically required services provided by physicians and supplementary health care practitioners, laboratory services and diagnostic procedures.
PharmaCare pays a percentage of eligible prescription drug costs including dispensing fees, once you reach your family deductible.
For more information visit: http://www.hibc.gov.bc.ca/
Or call 1.800.387.4977 to register or for more information about PharmaCare |
Group Benefit Provider
Group Benefits supplement those health and drug benefits available to employees in BC.
Drug claims submitted to the insurance company are adjudicated to coordinate with the provincial government. This means that additional assistance is provided to those who need it the most. Employees must provide proof of registration for this to apply. The group benefit insurance company pays out a certain amount (dependant on age) and then claims are processed and sent to HealthInsuranceBC for reimbursement. |
The premiums paid to HealthInsuranceBC are not included in your group benefit plan. Some employers may administer MSP premiums on behalf of their employees; this should not be confused with the premium paid to an extended health group benefit provider. |
REGISTER
All British Columbians are encouraged to register with the PharmaCare plan. If you have already registered for the PharmaCare plan, you do not need to register again or in the future.
- You can register online at http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/pharme/
- To do this you will need:
- Personal Health Care Numbers (CareCard) and dates of birth for all family members
- Social Insurance Numbers for you and your spouse
- Net Income (Line 236) from your income tax return from 2 years ago
- Once registered, HealthInsuranceBC sends a consent form to employees. This is used by the Canada Revenue Agency to update earnings each year with the Medical Service Plan & Pharmacare (premiums are calculated based on earnings). This means that there is no need to reapply each year. Consent forms are also available online.
CONFIRMATION OF FAIR PHARMACARE ASSISTANCE
The group benefit provider requires proof that you have registered with PharmaCare to be able to coordinate coverage. To do this, you can Request Confirmation of your Fair PharmaCare Assistance at the above website. PharmaCare will then provide you with a Registration Number which can be submitted to your group benefit provider. Once the group benefit provider receives proof of registration, coverage continues for eligible drug expenses not reimbursed by the provincial government. |
