BC Cancer primarily provides care for people who live in British Columbia and have been diagnosed with cancer.
We treat patients who are referred by a doctor, dentist or nurse practitioner licensed in Canada. You cannot refer yourself to BC Cancer.
If you are visiting BC and have a serious, urgent cancer-related health issue that happens suddenly while you are in the province, we may be able to provide emergency assessment or treatment.
If you are experiencing a cancer-related emergency, go to the nearest emergency department, hospital or urgent care centre.
Please do not contact BC Cancer directly for treatment.
In some emergency situations, we may accept patients who live in another Canadian province or territory and are visiting BC. We may also accept patients who have recently moved to BC but are not yet eligible for MSP coverage.
If you have active health insurance in your home province or territory, some assessments and treatments may be covered through the Interprovincial Reciprocal Agreement. Some services require approval from your home province or territory before treatment begins. You may need to pay for services that are not covered.
If you do not have active provincial or territorial health insurance, you must pay the full cost of your care. You are required to pay a deposit of up to $5,000 before treatment starts.
We do not usually accept referrals for patients who live outside Canada.
In some emergency situations, we may provide assessment or treatment for visitors to BC who live outside Canada and have a serious, urgent cancer-related health issue.
If you receive care at BC Cancer and do not live in Canada, you must pay the full cost of your care. You are required to pay a deposit of up to $5,000 before treatment starts.
You are considered a non-resident if you are visiting Canada and do not have Canadian provincial health coverage.
Examples include:
- Visitors to Canada
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents who live outside Canada
- People from another country who do not have valid Canadian residency status
- Refugee claimants who do not have Interim Federal Health Program coverage
We do not accept referrals from doctors, dentists or nurse practitioners who practise outside Canada.
All referrals must come from a doctor, dentist or nurse practitioner licensed in Canada.
You cannot refer yourself to BC Cancer.
You may be uninsured if you are a BC Resident who meets residency requirements AND have applied for MSP but your coverage has not started yet. If you receive health care before your coverage start date, you may have to pay for your care.
You may be considered uninsured if you are:
- A BC resident who does not have active MSP coverage.
- A BC resident waiting for MSP coverage to start.
- A resident of another Canadian province who does not have active health coverage from that province.
- A person living in Canada with eligible immigration status whose health coverage has not started yet.
- A Canadian citizen returning to Canada whose health coverage has not started yet.
Important: Applying for MSP does not mean you are covered. Your coverage must be active before you are considered insured.
There is a cost for all health care services provided to patients who do not have valid provincial health insurance coverage. The Ministry of Health sets these fees.
BC Cancer will bill you for services provided by our care teams. Other providers may bill you separately, including:
- Family doctors
- Specialists
- BC Emergency Health Services (ambulance services)
- Emergency departments
Hospital fees cover the basic cost of your stay, including room and hospital services. They do not include:
- Physician fees
- Laboratory tests
- Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs
- Medical supplies
- Prosthetics
- Implanted devices, such as pacemakers
- Other specialized services
You will be billed separately for services that are not included in the basic hospital fee.
When you are admitted to hospital, you may be asked to sign forms that allow:
- Direct billing to your insurance provider, when available
- Sharing of required medical information with your insurer
- Delivery of billing information by email
If your insurer does not pay the full amount owing, you are responsible for the remaining balance.
Patients without insurance may be required to provide a deposit, credit card authorization or payment before discharge. Payment plans may be available.
Some tests, procedures and medical supplies are not included in standard inpatient or outpatient fees. You are responsible for these costs.
Examples include:
- Laboratory tests
- X-rays
- CT scans
- MRIs
- Angiograms
- Medical supplies
- Prosthetics
- Implanted medical devices
Pay your bill online at:
Call 604-297-8512 (option 1) to pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
For questions about fees and charges, contact PHSA Revenue Services at 604-297-8512.
