I'm pretty sure you can re-extend health insurance (talking about BC MSP) if your CIC case is taking more than 90 days an is still being processed. Call your insurance to confirm.
Given how WP processing times are increasing, we're in for a loooong wait. Many months ahead. Some weeks they don't even process any applications – 7 days go by, the date they're processing application for does not change.
CIC is accumulating a huge backlog of work permit applications, it seems.
What a shame, you can become permanent resident via EE faster than you can get a work permit.