Heads up for all those dealing with BC MSP!!
Last month, I sent off the forms to add my partner to my MSP. As per the info on their website about PR applicants, the waiting period was to be waived. Called last week to see if it had been processed and was told it had and that coverage would start June 1st. I kicked off, said the waiting period was supposed to be waived etc. Spoke to a few people over the next few days who seemed to have no idea what they were doing, so I finally flipped out big time, mentioned the word "discrimination" and demanded an immediate callback from a supervisor. I then wrote a 2.5 page complaint letter to the Minister of Health and sent that off while waiting. A few hours later, the MSP supervisor called me, apologizing profusely for the confusion, it's a complicated situation, blah blah, the staff handled it wrong, blah blah. Not only did she waive the waiting period but she asked if he had received any medical care before that, as she would backdate his coverage further to cover that.
If you fit the info here http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/pdf/covering-a-spouse-or-child-who-is-an-applicant-for-permanent-resident-status-in-canada.pdf and they still try to make you serve the waiting period, HAMMER at them until you get to a supervisor. If they still don't, msg me and I will give you the direct contact details for the supervisor that I dealt with.
Most importantly, apply RIGHT AFTER ARRIVAL, even if you are not yet a PR. This supervisor said that my partner was actually entitled to coverage much earlier, that we should have sent the forms in when he first came to Canada as a PR applicant. When I told her that was the EXACT opposite of what I had been told by other MSP staff, she just started apologizing again.