Adding Members

Application for Group Enrolment

An Application for Group Enrolment must be submitted for each member who is to be registered under your group plan.

• For members with active MSP coverage, refer to EXISTING BC RESIDENTS.
• For members who must enrol in MSP, refer to NEW AND RETURNING BC RESIDENTS.

Existing British Columbia (B.C.) Residents

Applications to add a new member to your group should be submitted to Health Insurance BC (HIBC) as soon as possible. Please ensure the application form is completed in full by the member and that he/she includes any required documents before the application is sent to our office.

Pre-Existing Self-Administered Coverage

If a member is enrolled with MSP on an individual basis or as a spouse or child, HIBC will cancel the existing account when your group application is processed.

Pre-Existing Group Coverage

If a member is already enrolled with MSP under another group (or spouse’s group), HIBC will not automatically cancel the existing account when your group application is processed. If the member’s former group does not cancel the member’s coverage, the member should contact that group directly for assistance.

Retroactive Coverage and Premium Billing

If you create coverage for a group member retroactively to a period before January 1, 2020, you may be retroactively billed for premiums as appropriate.

New and Returning B.C. Residents

BC Services Card and Personal Health Number

To obtain access to insured provincial health care benefits, eligible B.C. residents must complete MSP enrolment and obtain a BC Services Card. Each resident of B.C. enrolling in MSP is issued a unique lifetime identifier for health care called the Personal Health Number (PHN). This number appears on the BC Services Card and is the same throughout the cardholder’s lifetime regardless of any change to personal status.

There are three types of BC Services Cards:

• Combined Card - BC Driver’s Licence & BC Services Card
• Photo BC Services Card
• Non-Photo BC Services Card

There is currently no fee for replacement of cards. However, if combining a BC Services Card with a driver’s licence, fees that apply to the regular driver’s licence process still apply. For more information on replacing a card, please visit: gov.bc.ca/bcservicescard

Two Steps to Enrol in MSP

Enrolment in MSP is a two-step process for persons 19 years of age or over who have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada.

Step 1:

New and returning residents that are to be added to an MSP group account need to identity proof by visiting an Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) driver licensing office, and requesting a Photo BC Services Card. The BC Services Card provides access to insured provincial health care benefits for eligible BC residents.

Residents can book an appointment to visit an ICBC driver licensing office at a location and time that suits them. For more information, please visit icbc.com/appointment. If they are unable to make an appointment, walk-in services are available at all ICBC driver licensing locations. Check the ICBC website for office hours at the desired location.

At the BC driver licensing office, residents will need to:

• Provide two pieces of identification – one of which must be primary ID;
  (visit icbc.com/acceptedID for more information)
• Declare that they are a BC resident; and
• Have their photo taken

Step 2:

New and returning B.C. residents will need to submit an application for MSP enrolment to HIBC, along with supporting documentation.

Visit: gov.bc.ca/mspgroupplanadministratorforms for the Application for Group Enrolment.

Account holders and/or spouses who have not completed both steps for MSP enrolment will be added to your group account with pending (inactive) coverage status. These individuals will not be able to claim MSP benefits. Once each individual has completed both enrolment steps, their coverage will become active and they will be able to claim MSP benefits.

Note: children will be placed on your group with active coverage status, at the time of their parent's/guardian's registration.

Pending and active coverage status will be reflected in the Group Account Maintenance Confirmation letter (sent monthly to all groups) and Group Account Coverage Summary letter (if requested). For more information, see "Monitoring Your Group Plan Membership" on Administering a Group Plan.

If a member submits an Application for Group Enrolment first, please ensure that the member visits an ICBC driver licensing office before the conclusion of their MSP wait period. The MSP wait period is the balance of the month in which residence in B.C. is established, plus two months. If the MSP wait period has already been completed prior to application, the member should complete identity-proofing by visiting an ICBC driver licensing office as soon as possible to complete MSP enrolment.

Temporary Immigration Status

Individuals with temporary immigration status – regardless of age – are not required to visit an ICBC driver licensing office to obtain a BC Services Card. Individuals with temporary immigration status will automatically be issued a Non-Photo BC Services Card from HIBC.

For more information on the BC Services Card, please visit: gov.bc.ca/bcservicescard

Renew Enrolment in MSP

Most B.C. residents 18.5 years of age and over will be sent a notification letter instructing them to renew enrolment in MSP by completing identity-proofing at a BC driver licensing office. If the person’s name on the notification letter is different than their current name, they will need to contact HIBC before visiting a BC driver licensing office.

Residents can book an appointment to visit an ICBC driver licensing office at a location and time that suits them. For more information, please visit icbc.com/appointment. If they are unable to make an appointment, walk-in services are available at all ICBC driver licensing locations. Check the ICBC website for office hours at the desired location.

• At the BC driver licensing office, the individual will need to
  • Provide two pieces of identification – one of which must be primary ID;
    (visit icbc.com/acceptedID for more information)
  • Declare that they are a BC resident; and
  • Have their photo taken

They should also bring their CareCard or expired/expiring BC Services Card with them.

After meeting these requirements, the applicant will receive a BC Services Card Statement of Declaration which, in most cases, will include their PHN. The member can use this interim document to access insured health care benefits until their BC Services Card arrives in the mail.

Children under the age of 19 have no obligation to renew their enrolment. Children under 18.5 will automatically be issued a new BC Services Card when their cards expire.

Beneficiaries 75 years of age or over are not required to renew enrolment in MSP. To obtain a Photo BC Services Card, they may visit an ICBC driver licensing office. To obtain a Non-Photo BC Services Card, they may contact HIBC.

Persons with temporary immigration status are not required to visit an ICBC driver licensing office.