The province this week announced it is extending the exemption allowing British Columbians enrolled in the Medical Services Plan who have adopted a hyphenated surname, or a name other than their legal name, to obtain a non-photo BC Services card.
The exemption was initially scheduled to run out on March 1 but has now been extended another year to March 1, 2019.
In February 2013, the plan to roll out the BC Services card was announced. The plan requires all British Columbians to re-enrol in MSP over the next five years, tying it to the renewal of their driver’s licence.
However, since the change was introduced, individuals whose registered names with MSP did not match their names in the ICBC database have been issued non-photo BC Services card.
“Over the next several months, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Citizens’ Services will work with ICBC to review provincial naming standards for B.C. government-issued identification,” states a press release from the Ministry of Health.
“It is important to note that no one eligible for provincially insured medical services will have them denied,” the ministry states. “Currently, over 4.3 million residents have been issued a BC Services card. This represents approximately 90 per cent of existing MSP beneficiaries.”
