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 an appropriate BC specialist, meaning a medical practitioner actively involved in the beneficiary’s care in BC with expert knowledge in the proposed service and/or specialty that will deliver the out of country service, recommends a beneficiary leave Canada to obtain medical treatment, the specialist must apply for provincial coverage from MSP prior to the provision of out-of-country medical care. Provincial coverage for elective medical care outside of BC (even if the medical care is urgently required) must be pre-approved by MSP.

 

MEDICAL TREATMENT OUTSIDE OF CANADA:

The appropriate BC specialist must complete the Out-of-Country Health Services Funding Application (the Application) for out of country non-laboratory medical treatment. Please note on the Application if the beneficiary requires urgent out of country medical treatment.

The appropriate BC specialist must include medical documentation with the Application to detail that:

• 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
• services are provided in an accredited hospital
• appropriate and acceptable medical care is not available in Canada, or a delay in medical treatment will result in medically significant, irreversible medical consequences for the patient
• the service is generally accepted by the medical profession in B.C. as appropriate for the patient’s medical condition and is not part of a clinical trial, considered to be experimental, or still in the developmental (research) stage

In some cases, the B.C. specialist will also need to provide additional medical documentation from appropriate tertiary programs.

Provincial coverage criteria is further detailed in the Guidelines:

• 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 are encouraged to purchase additional travel insurance as costs for medical emergencies are significant. Beneficiaries should review their extended health care coverage or private travel insurance to confirm the terms of their insured coverage.

If prior approval is not obtained from MSP for elective out of country medical care, even if required urgently, all costs for services rendered outside of Canada will remain the beneficiary’s responsibility.

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 the 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/