In a welcome announcement today, temporary MSP has been extended to those with expired student and work permits (i.e. on implied status). This temporary MSP will be effective until July 31, 2020.
See Below:
Q2. What if my temporary permits have expired and I no longer have MSP coverage?
In response to COVID-19, individuals who are currently in B.C., who were previously enrolled in MSP as a deemed resident, and their MSP has expired, may be provided temporary MSP coverage.
Individuals should contact Health Insurance BC to request this temporary coverage.
Health Insurance BC
Toll-free: 1 800 663-7100
Lower Mainland: 604 683-7151Mailing Address:
Health Insurance BC
PO Box 9035 Stn Prov Gov
Victoria, BC V8W 9E3This may include individuals who have applied for a new work or study permit but it has yet to arrive.
In these circumstances temporary coverage will be granted until July 31, 2020.
The link for all the changes is here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/covid-19-msp-qa
What is very important is that you have to call or mail in (it appears) to engage this coverage.
So do it quickly and tell your affected friends.
I want to take this time to especially shoutout (there are many important people doing important things during the COVID-19 pandemic so this group often gets missed), the low-wage (and poorly defined by our system as low-skilled) temporary foreign workers who are putting themselves at risk, working jobs we do not work, in order to help a country that often has not reciprocated their help. I hope this whole situation and recognition of who is doing the labour, leads us to consider ways we can provide pathways to permanent residence and citizenship for our ‘essential’ workers.
