12
The Canadian Travellers’ Report Card
PRESERVATION OF HEALTH COVERAGE FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS
C
(2006: C-)
Residents who spend part of every year outside B.C. must be physically present in Canada at least six months in
a calendar year and continue to maintain their home in B.C. to retain coverage. Residents who are away from B.C.
during a temporary absence of up to six months in a calendar year for work or vacation do not need to advise
the provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP). In addition residents may be eligible to receive coverage for up to 24
months during a temporary absence. Approval is limited to once in fve years for absences that exceed six months
in a calendar year. A British Columbian who loses coverage must undergo a waiting period of undetermined length
before coverage is reinstated.
Change since last report:
The recommendation to allow longer absences, subject to government approval, was
increased from a maximum of 12 to 24 months once every fve years.
Recommendations:
Allow international travel for between six and eight months, in addition to allowing an unlim-
ited number of short-term trips anywhere in the world, while still maintaining access to health benefts.
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY HEALTH COVERAGE WHEN TRAVELLING
C
(2006: F)
British Columbia’s practice for reimbursing Canadians for health services required while abroad contravenes sub-
paragraph 11(1)(b)(ii) of the Canada Health Act. B.C. reimburses only $75 for emergency in-patient hospital care for
adults and children. This is the lowest rate of out-of-country reimbursement in all of Canada. While B.C. would not
disclose its per-day rate provided for emergency services required while within B.C., $75 is well below the average
rates paid for in-province services in all other Canadian jurisdictions. B.C. is also one of the few jurisdictions that
does not reimburse emergency out-patient hospital services at all. Payment for emergency physician services
while travelling abroad will be issued in Canadian funds only and will be paid at the same rate that would have
been paid if the services were received in B.C.
Change since last report:
Payment for emergency physician services at the same rate that would be paid if the
services were received in B.C.
Recommendations:
Reimburse emergency in-patient and out-patient services required by travellers at the same
rate per day as that paid for similar services within the province and continue to update these rates to match
changes in real costs.
ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR USE DURING TRAVEL
F
(2006: F)
PharmaCare does not usually cover a prescription claim if you have more than 14 days’ supply left from the previ-
ous fll of medication. However, PharmaCare allows one to fll a prescription earlier if the supply is needed for travel
outside of B.C.
Once every six months (180) days, if you are travelling out of province, you can top up your existing prescrip-
tion supply to the maximum days’ supply recognized by PharmaCare. Coverage of the frst fll of an eligible drug
intended for long-term use—and the frst fll/refll of a prescription for an eligible drug intended for short-term
use—is limited to a 30-day supply. These represent the smallest permissible supplies in Canada.
PharmaCare coverage for each refll of a prescription for an eligible drug intended for long-term use is limited to a
100-day supply which is well below the six-month permitted travel period.
Unlike many other jurisdictions, B.C. does not cover prescription drugs obtained outside the province.
British Columbia