Out-of-province / Out-of-country Patients

Referrals of patients without Medical Services Plan coverage may be accepted for emergency assessment and treatment at BC Cancer.

Out-of-province / country patient visits

Referrals of patients without Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage, including non-residents of Canada and residents of Canada from other provinces and territories outside of British Columbia, may be accepted for emergency assessment and treatment at BC Cancer.

While BC Cancer charges for services provided to patients without MSP coverage in urgent or emergent circumstances, it does not have an officially approved program for patients to purchase its services. Patients without MSP coverage who are accepted for emergency assessment and treatment or initial consultation and treatment will be responsible for the cost of care.

BC Cancer does not directly or indirectly solicit or advertise its services out-of-province or abroad and does not accept self-referred patients. All referrals are required to follow standard new patient referral procedures through the new patient referral office of a BC Cancer regional centre. BC Cancer reserves the right to limit assessment and treatment of patients without MSP coverage who do not follow standard new patient referral procedures through the new patient referral office of a BC Cancer regional centre.

Out-of-province patients

Referrals of residents of other provinces and territories, not British Columbia, may be considered for either emergency assessment and treatment or initial consultation and treatment. Patients without Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage must submit supporting documentation indicating their residential address and residential status in BC. Residents of other provinces and territories with active health insurance in their home province or territory will have the approved costs billed to their home province or territory. Those who do not provide evidence of MSP coverage in their home province or territory will be defined as self-insured and will follow the self-pay procedures.

Out-of-country patients

Referrals of non-Canadian residents are generally not accepted. If a patient is visiting, assessment and treatment is considered on an emergency basis only.

Non-residents of Canada will be required to pay a $5,000 deposit prior to initiating treatment. Non-residents of Canada who are accepted for initial consultation for assessment and treatment will be defined as self-insured and will follow self-pay procedures.

BC Cancer only accepts referrals from physicians, dentists and nurse practitioners who are licensed in Canada and does not solicit referrals from physicians, dentists and nurse practitioners practicing in other countries.

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Provincial Health Services Authority

Out-of-province / Out-of-country Patients

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