Medical Services Outside of Canada

B.C. Residents traveling outside Canada are encouraged to review current travel advice and advisories:

Government of Canada

Province of B.C.

If a B.C. specialist physician recommends medical treatment in another country, the specialist must request provincial coverage.

MEDICAL TREATMENT OUTSIDE OF CANADA:

The referring specialist must complete the Out-of-Country Health Services Funding Application (the Application) for out of country non-laboratory medical treatment.

The specialist must include medical documentation with the Application to detail the medical necessity for out of country medical treatment and the specialist must confirm the appropriate standard of care is not available for the patient in B.C., or anywhere in Canada.

Provincial coverage for out of country medical services will consider the following:

• treatment is medically required
• the out of country service would be an insured benefit, if performed in B.C.
• the service is provided by a licensed physician or oral surgeon
• in-patient hospital services are provided in an accredited, acute care general hospital
• appropriate, acceptable medical care is not available for the patient in Canada, or a delay in medical treatment will have medically significant, irreversible medical consequences for the patient
• the service is generally accepted by the medical profession in B.C. to be non-controversial and a worthwhile treatment for the patient's medical condition

Please note on the Application if patient requires urgent out of country medical treatment.

The Provincial coverage is detailed in the:

• Out of Province and Out of Country Medical Care Guidelines (PDF, 147KB)

Please note:

Provincial coverage for medical treatment does not include any financial assistance for non-medical services, such as travel or accommodation expenses, take-home/out-patient drugs or services provided by non-physician practitioners.

Beneficiaries should review their extended health care coverage or private travel insurance to confirm the terms of their insured coverage.

Urgent Requests

Applications for urgent medical treatment can be faxed to Health Insurance BC, Out of Country Claims: 250 405-3588.

Please include the telephone or fax number where the referring specialist can be contacted.

Approval for Immediate Care After Regular Hours

If a patient needs immediate life saving care and admission to an acute care hospital, please contact BC Patient Transfer Network for assistance.

BC Patient Transfer Network assists physicians and other health care providers with patient transfers for acute and critical care services. BC Patient Transfer Network manages medical transfers within and outside of B.C.

BC Patient Transfer Network contact information:
Vancouver: (604) 215-5911
Elsewhere in B.C.: 1-866-233-2337
http://www.bcptn.ca/