How the wait period is counted
New immigrants and returning Canadians arriving in BC face an MSP wait period: the rest of the month of arrival, plus two months. For example, someone arriving on October 15 has MSP starting January 1. Each family member is counted from their own arrival date.[1]
Medical costs during the wait are paid out of pocket. The province considers exemptions only in extremely serious or exceptional cases, so it is not a routine fallback.[1]
Hospital and ambulance prices
The table below comes from the BC Women's Hospital patient rate list, based on BC Ministry of Health rates effective November 1, 2025. Rates can change, so check the latest version from the hospital and the province.[2]
| Item | Uninsured BC residents | Non-Canadian residents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ward, per day | $5,790 | $9,270 |
| ICU, per day | $7,693 | $18,105 |
An ambulance is $848 per trip without MSP and $80 with it.[3]
Emergency departments and walk-in clinics
Emergency departments require payment at registration; the amounts differ between hospital fee schedules, so none is listed here. Ask the hospital you are visiting. Walk-in clinics set their own self-pay prices, so call before you go.
What you can do ahead of time
- Apply for MSP as soon as you arrive; the wait is counted from the month of arrival.[1]
- Buy private medical insurance before landing and keep it until MSP starts. The provincial wait-period page gives the same advice.[1] Most such policies exclude pre-existing conditions and pregnancy.
- For minor ailments, ask a pharmacist first and confirm whether there is a charge.
- If you are moving from another province, keep using that province's health coverage during the wait.[1]
One exception to the wait: former Canadian Armed Forces members and their families do not have to wait.[1]