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Seniors BC

Hospitals and Clinics

Care can be provided in different settings, depending on patient needs and the services available in your area. Hospitals and clinics provide many medical services, but some (especially non-medical, supportive services) can be provided through Home and Community Care.

If you are registered with the Medical Services Plan (MSP), and have a valid CareCard, you are insured for most services provided by hospitals and medical clinics. This includes services in an emergency department and other outpatient care (for example, when you go in for a scheduled service and return home the same day) as well as inpatient care (when you stay in the hospital overnight).

In a hospital, patients who are covered by MSP may only be charged for goods and services that are not medically required. For example, if you request a private or semi-private hospital room, you will be required to pay a room charge determined by the individual hospital (however, some third-party medical plans cover this cost). The Ministry of Health website offers a web page with information about current surgical wait times for certain operations.