I am a British Columbian (but always a 'Toban!)
It's official.
After 15 months of living here, I am now a resident of British Columbia.
That's how long it has taken to get a MSP number so I can utilize the health care system.
After sending applications and my personal information to the Health Insurance office for BC four times, and not getting confirmation or enrolled in the service, I decided to go directly to the Ministry of Health. Eventhough all health services (including MSP and the provincial health insurance program) fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, no one in their offices could help me out or answer any questions for me. They even refused to photocopy my identification so I could yet again mail in my application. The security guard directed me to my MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the elected representative of my electoral riding). I was irate! Why would I go to my MLA to apply for provincial health coverage? Why wouldn't I be sent to an enrolment office? The MLA's office does not understand either. They were able to help me out, though. After explaining why I was there, I was ushered into a private office so my dilemma could be solved. After two faxes and two seperate phone calls, we were waiting over 10 minutes for the promised call back. During this time, I asked who the Minister of Health for BC was, and the MLA's representative kindly gave me his name, office location, mailing address (so I could document and mail a letter to him), and the phone number of his office. Well now, the phone number gave me an idea...if the office of one elected official was helping me, maybe I could get some answers (like where did my personal information disappear to from my prior applications!!) from the other office. So I took out me mobile and phoned them. The 'receptionist' was not very receptive of my phone call, nor helpful answering my questions. She asked where I obtained her phone number (FYI: it is public information available from the city phone book AND the web!), when I told her my MLA's office provided me the information, she asked to speak to the person who gave out the number. I handed my phone to the lady who was helping me. The 'receptionist' of the Minister of Health told the nice, helpful lady that she should not have given me the phone number, that I should have been directed to a customer service call center (why does the provincial gov't need one??). After the phone call, the nice, helpful lady told me what the 'receptionist' had said. This only contributed to me ire of the health care system.
After 15 months, 45 minutes, 4 phone calls and 2 faxes, I was given my personal number so I can now see a medical service provider in this province and not have it as an out of pocket expense. Yeah!! I am a resident of BC!!
NB: In BC, residents must pay a premium for healthcare service. I am Canadian, where healthcare is supposed to be open and accessible to all citizens, where healthcare is a RIGHT, where healthcare is heavily subsidized by three levels of government. Other provinces have no premiums, you are able to visit practitioners without cost. So why is it different in BC?
After 15 months of living here, I am now a resident of British Columbia.
That's how long it has taken to get a MSP number so I can utilize the health care system.
After sending applications and my personal information to the Health Insurance office for BC four times, and not getting confirmation or enrolled in the service, I decided to go directly to the Ministry of Health. Eventhough all health services (including MSP and the provincial health insurance program) fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, no one in their offices could help me out or answer any questions for me. They even refused to photocopy my identification so I could yet again mail in my application. The security guard directed me to my MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the elected representative of my electoral riding). I was irate! Why would I go to my MLA to apply for provincial health coverage? Why wouldn't I be sent to an enrolment office? The MLA's office does not understand either. They were able to help me out, though. After explaining why I was there, I was ushered into a private office so my dilemma could be solved. After two faxes and two seperate phone calls, we were waiting over 10 minutes for the promised call back. During this time, I asked who the Minister of Health for BC was, and the MLA's representative kindly gave me his name, office location, mailing address (so I could document and mail a letter to him), and the phone number of his office. Well now, the phone number gave me an idea...if the office of one elected official was helping me, maybe I could get some answers (like where did my personal information disappear to from my prior applications!!) from the other office. So I took out me mobile and phoned them. The 'receptionist' was not very receptive of my phone call, nor helpful answering my questions. She asked where I obtained her phone number (FYI: it is public information available from the city phone book AND the web!), when I told her my MLA's office provided me the information, she asked to speak to the person who gave out the number. I handed my phone to the lady who was helping me. The 'receptionist' of the Minister of Health told the nice, helpful lady that she should not have given me the phone number, that I should have been directed to a customer service call center (why does the provincial gov't need one??). After the phone call, the nice, helpful lady told me what the 'receptionist' had said. This only contributed to me ire of the health care system.
After 15 months, 45 minutes, 4 phone calls and 2 faxes, I was given my personal number so I can now see a medical service provider in this province and not have it as an out of pocket expense. Yeah!! I am a resident of BC!!
NB: In BC, residents must pay a premium for healthcare service. I am Canadian, where healthcare is supposed to be open and accessible to all citizens, where healthcare is a RIGHT, where healthcare is heavily subsidized by three levels of government. Other provinces have no premiums, you are able to visit practitioners without cost. So why is it different in BC?
posted by Karen at
6:49 PM
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