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Apply for B.C. health and drug coverage

Last updated on March 14, 2024

Use this single form to apply for one or more of these programs:  

Medical Services Plan (MSP) 

Pays for medically required services of physicians and surgeons, and dental or oral surgery performed in a hospital. B.C. residents must by law enrol in MSP. You must physically be in B.C. to enrol in MSP.

Fair PharmaCare  

Helps pay for some drugs and medical devices and supplies, such as prostheses and diabetes supplies. It is based on income. The less you earn, the more help you get.

Supplementary Benefits

Provides partial payment for certain medical services, such as acupuncture and massage therapy, and may provide access to other income-based programs. Individuals or families must have an adjusted net income of $42,000 a year or less to be eligible.

Apply now

Registration for MSP, Fair PharmaCare, and Supplementary Benefits is free for B.C. residents. To apply for Fair PharmaCare and/or Supplementary Benefits, you must be enrolled in MSP already or applying for MSP at the same time.

Note: The B.C. Application for Health and Drug Coverage is currently only available in English.

What you need to apply

To apply for MSP: You will need to upload copies of accepted identification (ID). The ID you upload must show full legal name and legal status in Canada for everyone on the form.

 

Accepted ID

Accepted ID
Canadian citizens Permanent residents Temporary document holders
  • Canadian birth certificate
  • Canadian citizenship card (front and back)
  • Certificate of Canadian citizenship
  • Canadian passport
  • First Nations status card
  • Métis status card
  • Record of Landing
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Permanent resident card
  • Study permit
  • Work permit (Working Holiday permit must include a letter of employment)
  • Visitor permit (accompanying spouse or child)

If your gender is different from that on your ID, submit either:

If a name on this form is different from the name on the ID, submit a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or name change certificate that shows the full legal name.

To apply for Fair PharmaCare: You will need details from your Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment or reassessment of two years ago. If you are applying in 2024, you need your tax information for 2022.

To apply for Supplementary Benefits: You will need details from your most recent Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment or reassessment.

After you apply

If you apply for MSP and Fair PharmaCare and/or Supplementary Benefits, your application for MSP enrolment will be processed first. We will send you a letter about your MSP enrolment, and then separate letters about your applications for Fair PharmaCare and/or Supplementary Benefits. Your Fair PharmaCare account will be active as soon as your MSP enrolment is complete.

If you only apply for Fair PharmaCare and/or Supplementary Benefits, you will receive separate letters from each program within weeks of applying.

Online

Apply now 

The online form takes about 30 minutes to complete. Your entries will be saved to the computer or device you are using until you close your browser window or submit the form.

Use the latest version of Firefox, Chrome or Safari.

The online form complies with web accessibility standards.

By mail

You can also apply by mail using a paper form:

Mail the completed form to:

Health Insurance BC
Medical Services Plan/Fair PharmaCare
PO Box 9678 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC  V8W 9P7

Be sure to include all required supporting documents with your form.

By Phone

You can apply for Fair PharmaCare on the phone at the numbers below.

Contact us

Lower Mainland: (604) 683-7151
Elsewhere in B.C.: 1 (800) 663-7100 (toll-free)

We provide interpreter services in over 140 languages.

More information

Find out more about health and drug coverage in British Columbia.

 If you are already enrolled in MSP, you can update your account online.