About MSP Billing
All residents of B.C. are required to enrol for health care benefits under the Medical Services Plan (MSP). For general information about MSP, how to enrol and who is eligible, please visit the Ministry of Health Services website (opens in new window). In British Columbia, MSP is a prepaid plan where your MSP premiums are billed one month in advance of the coverage. For example, you pay your June premiums in May.
MSP premium rates, administered by the Ministry of Health Services, are based on family size, income and allowable MSP deductions.
Effective May 1, 2002, the monthly rates for individuals and families are:
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$54 for one person |
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$96 for a family of two |
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$108 for a family of three or more |
Effective January 1, 2010, the monthly rates for individuals and families are:
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$57 for one person |
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$102 for a family of two |
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$114 for a family of three or more |
General Billing Information
MSP premiums are invoiced monthly, prior to the coverage month. You may pay in advance for any amount from which Revenue Services of British Columbia will withdraw your monthly premiums. Please note advance payments do not protect against premium rate changes.
The date your payment is due appears in two places on your MSP invoice with information about your amount due.
Due dates are determined by the date the invoice is printed and cannot be changed.
If payment is not received on or before the required due date, the amount of your payment may not be reflected on your next monthly bill.
Please allow a minimum of:
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eight days if you are mailing your payment through Canada Post |
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five business days if you are making your payment through your financial institution |
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two business days if you are paying through telephone or internet banking or at your local Government Agent/BC Access Centre (opens in new window) |
If payment is not received in our office by the due date shown on the invoice, a reminder notice will appear on your next invoice.. Please see Failure to Pay for more information.
Payment Not Reflected on Invoice |
When your MSP payment is received by the ministry, it takes approximately two business days for the payment to be posted against your account.
If your payment is received on or before the required due date, the payment will be reflected on your next monthly invoice.
For up-to-date account information, including receipt of recent payment or account balance, please call our automated telephone service at 1 877 405-4909.
Before calling, please have the account number from your MSP invoice and your Personal Health Number ready, so we can easily assist you.
If you made your payment within the required timeframe and have confirmed that your payment has not been received, please see Tracing a Payment.
Dishonoured Payments Including Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) |
If a cheque is returned by your financial institution as dishonoured for any reason, a replacement payment is required. A service fee of $20.00 will be charged and billed to you separately. This fee would be in addition to any fees that may be charged by your financial institution.
How a Rate Change Affects your Invoice |
MSP premium rates can change for a variety of reasons, such as:
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a change in the premium rate as determined by government |
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adding or removing a family member from your account |
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receipt of Premium Assistance |
If MSP Premium rates are changed, your monthly premiums will be credited or debited at the new rate.
If you pay more than one month's premium in advance, you are not paying premiums to a specified date; you are paying the required one month's premium and the balance of the payment remains on your account as a credit. As each month's premiums come due, the amount of the premium is deducted from your account, decreasing the balance until there are insufficient funds to cover the next month's premium. A new invoice is then issued.
If your monthly rate is increased while your account has a credit balance, you will receive your next invoice earlier than originally expected.
If your monthly rate is decreased, any amounts you have already paid would be credited towards future premiums.
If your monthly rate is decreased to zero (100% Premium Assistance), any balance on your account will be automatically refunded.
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