Access to provincial health coverage while waiting for spousal PR (BC as an example)

[autoscriptor]

I'm posting this just in case someone would find this information useful.

I returned to Canada after a few years of working abroad. During that time, I married a non-Canadian, and we didn't apply for PR since we didn't have immediate plans to come to Canada. I had some issues, resigned, and took a job offer in BC. My wife returned to her home country and later joined me in BC as a visitor to Canada.

I learned that she could apply for the BC Medical Service Plan while waiting for her PR application to be processed. I was told to complete the form and enclose the PR fees payment receipt. Not even the AOR. I did just that. She landed on May 29, sent the MSP update form on June 7, her enrollment was complete on June 23, and her temporary nine months coverage will start on September 1st. Although the coverage is temporary, we can send status updates, and coverage will be extended accordingly.

I thought this could help.

 

[Hadysaade]

Thank you for the information.
I will be following this thread and try to learn if this works for Quebec as well.

Regards

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for the information.
I will be following this thread and try to learn if this works for Quebec as well.

Regards

No it doesn’t apply in Quebec or Ontario.

 

[canuck78]

I'm posting this just in case someone would find this information useful.

I returned to Canada after a few years of working abroad. During that time, I married a non-Canadian, and we didn't apply for PR since we didn't have immediate plans to come to Canada. I had some issues, resigned, and took a job offer in BC. My wife returned to her home country and later joined me in BC as a visitor to Canada.

I learned that she could apply for the BC Medical Service Plan while waiting for her PR application to be processed. I was told to complete the form and enclose the PR fees payment receipt. Not even the AOR. I did just that. She landed on May 29, sent the MSP update form on June 7, her enrollment was complete on June 23, and her temporary nine months coverage will start on September 1st. Although the coverage is temporary, we can send status updates, and coverage will be extended accordingly.

I thought this could help.

Yes this was a change that occurred a few years ago that allowed those being sponsored to apply for MSP once they had AOR. You should still purchase private health insurance to cover the multiple months without healthcare coverage even if you can apply for MSP. If you also hasn’t met the residency requirement for MSP you also had to reapply for MSP even if you had a valid MSP card.

 

[autoscriptor]

Yes this was a change that occurred a few years ago that allowed those being sponsored to apply for MSP once they had AOR. You should still purchase private health insurance to cover the multiple months without healthcare coverage even if you can apply for MSP. If you also hasn’t met the residency requirement for MSP you also had to reapply for MSP even if you had a valid MSP card.

My wife currently has emergency health coverage until September. This is the kind of private insurance travelers will get when they go outside their country of residence. It doesn't allow her to visit a clinic, and it's only good if ever needed to go to the emergency room.

By the way, this was done without AOR and it will be good for 9 months during which we expect to have her OWP issued.

 

[YVR123]

My wife currently has emergency health coverage until September. This is the kind of private insurance travelers will get when they go outside their country of residence. It doesn't allow her to visit a clinic, and it's only good if ever needed to go to the emergency room.

By the way, this was done without AOR and it will be good for 9 months during which we expect to have her OWP issued.

This is new. Back then we tried and MSP won't allow us to register until we reach AIP.
So this has been changed a few years back and is better for people waiting for PR.

 

[Zuzu1983]

BC is examplary in that they post the information clearly and publicly as to whom can quality, and they basically allow anyone who has applied to have coverage.
No such luck in Québec- won't be considered before getting the AIP, and even for that, we had to schedule a telephonic interview to obtain this information.

 

[ZahidAli786]

I'm posting this just in case someone would find this information useful.

I returned to Canada after a few years of working abroad. During that time, I married a non-Canadian, and we didn't apply for PR since we didn't have immediate plans to come to Canada. I had some issues, resigned, and took a job offer in BC. My wife returned to her home country and later joined me in BC as a visitor to Canada.

I learned that she could apply for the BC Medical Service Plan while waiting for her PR application to be processed. I was told to complete the form and enclose the PR fees payment receipt. Not even the AOR. I did just that. She landed on May 29, sent the MSP update form on June 7, her enrollment was complete on June 23, and her temporary nine months coverage will start on September 1st. Although the coverage is temporary, we can send status updates, and coverage will be extended accordingly.

I thought this could help.

@autoscriptor please share detailed steps to apply for BC MSP while waiting for AOR for example, where we can get the form, where we need to submit it, what documents we need to add etc.

 

[ZahidAli786]

I have called health link BC and talked to a level 3 agent on this number: 6046837151. They have explicitly mentioned sending this form to the address mentioned on the footer of this form: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/forms/203fil.pdf along with payment receipt and AOR (yes they asked for AOR). However, since I am still waiting for the AOR of my wife I will apply to BC MSP without AOR and see if they allow my wife to get BC MSP. I will keep you guys posted.

 

[Badge1]

I have called health link BC and talked to a level 3 agent on this number: 6046837151. They have explicitly mentioned sending this form to the address mentioned on the footer of this form: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/forms/203fil.pdf along with payment receipt and AOR (yes they asked for AOR). However, since I am still waiting for the AOR of my wife I will apply to BC MSP without AOR and see if they allow my wife to get BC MSP. I will keep you guys posted.

@ZahidAli786

No need for AOR, you only need to submit the Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPFR) Receipt. 3 Months waiting period starts from the date of the reciept.
Also, you do not need to send the documents to the address in Victoria, BC. you only need to update your wife details on your MSP Account online and upload the following:
- Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPFR) Receipt
- Visitor Record, Work Permit or Study Permit, proof of pending extention if available (They need to ensure that your wife has legal status or have maintained status)
- Wife's passport

Once you do that, call 604-683-7151 have them review your uploaded documents and once confirmed completed (ask if the add spouse option was properly received - if not do it again and it will give you a new reference number); ask to be transferred to a Level 3 Agent (Enrollment Agent) and request for enrollment (infom the Level Agent that the documents have been reviewed).


*IMPORTANT: Make sure to click the Add Spouse and do it on a laptap / computer and not on Mobile / Ipad as it fucks up the submission.


PS: This is what I did. and Approved for MSP in 1 day.

 

[ZahidAli786]

@ZahidAli786

No need for AOR, you only need to submit the Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPFR) Receipt. 3 Months waiting period starts from the date of the reciept.
Also, you do not need to send the documents to the address in Victoria, BC. you only need to update your wife details on your MSP Account online and upload the following:
- Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPFR) Receipt
- Visitor Record, Work Permit or Study Permit, proof of pending extention if available (They need to ensure that your wife has legal status or have maintained status)
- Wife's passport

Once you do that, call 604-683-7151 have them review your uploaded documents and once confirmed completed (ask if the add spouse option was properly received - if not do it again and it will give you a new reference number); ask to be transferred to a Level 3 Agent (Enrollment Agent) and request for enrollment (infom the Level Agent that the documents have been reviewed).


*IMPORTANT: Make sure to click the Add Spouse and do it on a laptap / computer and not on Mobile / Ipad as it fucks up the submission.


PS: This is what I did. and Approved for MSP in 1 day.

I followed these steps and BC Health told me to wait for 2 days for us to see the application in our Database, they said once they receive it they will take 21 max days to process it, and once they process it they will send a letter to mail and Health card will come after that through the mail.

I am going to call them after 2 days on Thu (July 13th, 2023) to check if I have submitted the online application correctly. I will post a reply on Thu.

Thank you all for your help. Its really helpful.

 

[autoscriptor]

@autoscriptor please share detailed steps to apply for BC MSP while waiting for AOR for example, where we can get the form, where we need to submit it, what documents we need to add etc.

Min was through group enrollment done by my employer. I didn't even send them the visitor's record. My employer sent the update form, a copy of my wife's passport, the payment receipt, and a copy of her visitor's visa. I didn't call to confirm since I had a case open with them, and my record had notes because of previous interactions.

 

[canuck78]

Min was through group enrollment done by my employer. I didn't even send them the visitor's record. My employer sent the update form, a copy of my wife's passport, the payment receipt, and a copy of her visitor's visa. I didn't call to confirm since I had a case open with them, and my record had notes because of previous interactions.

Your wife only qualifies for extended benefits through your employer when she has MSP (after up to 3 month waiting period). To qualify for extended benefits in general you must have access To provincial healthcare first. If you read through any information about your extended benefit plan it should clarify that a person is only eligible for extended benefits once they have access to provincial healthcare. Her application for extended benefits should be denied. If it is in your best interest to read the policy information because if it is incorrectly approved and then it is discovered that you don’t have provincial healthcare you will have to pay back any healthcare used.

 

[autoscriptor]

Your wife only qualifies for extended benefits through your employer when she has MSP (after up to 3 month waiting period). To qualify for extended benefits in general you must have access To provincial healthcare first. If you read through any information about your extended benefit plan it should clarify that a person is only eligible for extended benefits once they have access to provincial healthcare. Her application for extended benefits should be denied. If it is in your best interest to read the policy information because if it is incorrectly approved and then it is discovered that you don’t have provincial healthcare you will have to pay back any healthcare used.

This wasn’t an application for extended health coverage. It’s the MSP application submitted to Health Insurance BC on my behalf for my wife. Once the waiting period is over and MSP is active, extended health coverage by a private provider will be activated in turn.

 

[canuck78]

This wasn’t an application for extended health coverage. It’s the MSP application submitted to Health Insurance BC on my behalf for my wife. Once the waiting period is over and MSP is active, extended health coverage by a private provider will be activated in turn.

Very unusual for an employer to apply for provincial insurance for the an employee and their family. How is that even possible when signatures and a picture are required.