Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible residents in British Columbia can apply for public health insurance, called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). MSP provides coverage for medically necessary services such as visits to doctors and specialists, hospital care, and diagnostic tests. To be eligible, residents must be citizens or have legal immigration status and live in the province for at least six months. Enrollment can be done online, by mail, or in person.

1. Register for MSP.
Eligibility: Ensure you meet eligibility requirements (be a resident, citizen, or have legal immigration status).
Apply: You can apply for the Medical Services Plan (MSP) online, by mail, or in person at a Service BC center. Be prepared to provide proof of residency. Click here to apply.

2. Get Your BC Services Card
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a Personal Health Number and a BC Services Card, which you’ll need to present when accessing healthcare services.

3. Find a Family Doctor
You can register to join a waitlist for a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner using the Health Connect Registry
You can find information about interim or urgent care services by visiting the Find Care section of this website.

4. Know Emergency Services
For emergency medical needs, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.

5. Explore Additional Community Services & Resources
Check out health supports available in your Primary Care Network or additional resources for your specific needs.

Primary Care is often your first entry point into the healthcare system. It includes Family Doctors and Nurse Practitioners working in community clinics or Patient Medical Homes to support their patients on an ongoing basis. Family Doctors and Nurse Practitioners are your most responsible provider and can refer you to other healthcare services you might need, which includes specialists, Health Authority Services, community supports and more.

Currently there is a large demand to find a Primary Care Provider in Vancouver. You can register to join a waitlist for a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner using the Health Connect Registry. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or family members. If you are looking to find interim supports while you are waiting to be connected, check out our Find Care Section for options.

Eligible residents who live in the province can get help from BC PharmaCare to help pay for a range of medications and some medical devices and supplies. BC PharmaCare has a number of plans, including Fair Pharmacare for B.C. residents covered by MSP. More information is available here.

Useful information about how you can access gender affirming care can be found on the Trans Care BC site here.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are being developed across the province to support access to enhanced team-based care. In a PCN, a clinical network of providers in a geographic area work together to support their patients. This clinical network includes Family Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Allied Health Providers as well as other services in the community. There are 6 Primary Care Networks in Vancouver, and you can see a map of the PCNs here.

In Vancouver, PCN has introduced new team-based supports into the community. These include Allied Health Supports known as the Interprofessional Team (IPT). The IPT includes Clinical Counsellors, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Pharmacists and Registered Dietitians.  Within clinics, PCN Registered Nurses support providers and patients as part of the clinic team.

You are eligible for these services if:

• You are attached to a Primary Care Provider in Vancouver who has access to the program
• Your Primary Care Provider feels your care needs are appropriate for the program
• Your care needs are appropriate for mild to moderate, short term duration support (approx. 2 – 8 sessions)
• You are 19 years of age and older
• You cannot access similar allied health support through your Extended Health Benefits
• You are not attached to another care team or program that can provide these supports (e.g. Home Health, Mental Health Team, etc.)
• You do not require outreach support (someone to visit you in your home) or long term/complex trauma therapy
• You are not experiencing active psychosis/suicidal ideation, or at risk of harm to self or others
• You are not accessing these allied health supports through an ICBC or WorkSafeBC claim

To find out more about the IPT and access, click here.

Ask your Family Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or clinic staff if they have access to the PCN Interprofessional Team, and if you might be appropriate for these services.

The Interprofessional Team services are mostly virtual, but if patients do need to be seen in person, they can do so at two locations in Vancouver:

Three Bridges Community Health Centre in downtown Vancouver
#109 – 1128 Hornby St.

George Pearson Centre in South Vancouver
700 West 57th Ave.

Yes, you can live in a different PCN from your Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.  If you live outside of Vancouver (but in British Columbia), you can still be referred to the Vancouver PCN Interprofessional Team, as long as your Vancouver-based clinic has access to refer to the program.

Yes, interpreters are available through Provincial Language Services. Interpretation is available in more than 200 languages (including American Sign Language), and are provided at no charge to patients and/or their families. These services must be requested by your Family Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or PCN allied health provider. Find out more here.