British Columbia’s mandatory three-month wait period for health coverage for newly arrived im/migrants has a disproportionate and debilitating impact on racialized im/migrant women and is a violation of their human rights. This is according to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, published in the peer-reviewed journal BMJ Open. The study exposes how serious inequities in Canada’s universal health care system endanger the health and well being of im/migrant women newly arrived in BC, and their families.
Research shows that this harmful policy does not defer costs but rather delays them. BC is only one of two provinces with this outdated, harmful and racist policy. The BC government removed the 3-month wait period during the height of the COVID pandemic, and they can do it again - this time permanently.
Add your name here to tell the BC NDP to call on the Medical Services Commission to end the mandatory three-month wait period for health care coverage for new immigrants to BC.
Be sure to share on Twitter and tag: @adriandix, @doctorsofbc @jjhorgan with the hashtag #EndTheWait
More information:
Immigrant women, children suffer during BC's waiting period for health care: study
BC to stop funding COVID-related care for people not eligible for MSP
BC reverses decision to cut off COVID-related care for people not eligible for MSP
COVID-related medical cost coverage extended for BC residents without MSP
‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Students, advocates call to remove the three-month waiting period for MSP
Updates
March 18, 2023
We just hit 500 signatures while the BC NDP continues to ignore the suffering this policy causes. This racism is unacceptable and our numbers show that people are finally waking up to their failure to act.
Reached 500 supporters
March 15, 2023
Reached 100 supporters
September 29, 2021
101 Comments
My dad had a serious emergency shortly upon arrival caused by the stress of the migration to a new country. He didn't want us to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital as it was very expensive without the health coverage. He could have died. Noone should go through this.
This is such an important issue that I totally support. I work with marginalized women and children who need healthcare as soon as they arrive in Canada. They end up with huge hospital bills which causes immense distress, financial hardship, affects immigration applications and credit scores.
Absolutely agree. So many patients presenting late to prenatal care and harmful effects. Hypothyroidism missed, dating ultrasounds missed, genetic screening windows lost... or worse families forced to go into debt who care deeply about their pregnancy outcomes.
So true. Often people arrive with significant health needs and the delay can worsen their health. As a healthcare provider who,cares for people without MSP. trying to work in this system also uses a lot of unnescessary time and resources.
As an immigrant parent to a daughter, and social worker supporting immigrant/refugee population, I directly felt & saw the negative impact for the women caring for minors. Please support parents, mothers, & caregivers to many sectors in the Canadian society!
Access to healthcare is a human right. We must end this racist policy.
Petition to end BC's Dangerous & Costly Wait Period for Health Care for Immigrants
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British Columbia’s mandatory three-month wait period for health coverage for newly arrived im/migrants has a disproportionate and debilitating impact on racialized im/migrant women and is a violation of their human rights. This is according to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, published in the peer-reviewed journal BMJ Open. The study exposes how serious inequities in Canada’s universal health care system endanger the health and well being of im/migrant women newly arrived in BC, and their families.
Research shows that this harmful policy does not defer costs but rather delays them. BC is only one of two provinces with this outdated, harmful and racist policy. The BC government removed the 3-month wait period during the height of the COVID pandemic, and they can do it again - this time permanently.
Add your name here to tell the BC NDP to call on the Medical Services Commission to end the mandatory three-month wait period for health care coverage for new immigrants to BC.
Be sure to share on Twitter and tag: @adriandix, @doctorsofbc @jjhorgan with the hashtag #EndTheWait
More information:
Immigrant women, children suffer during BC's waiting period for health care: study
BC to stop funding COVID-related care for people not eligible for MSP
BC reverses decision to cut off COVID-related care for people not eligible for MSP
COVID-related medical cost coverage extended for BC residents without MSP
‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Students, advocates call to remove the three-month waiting period for MSP
Updates
March 18, 2023
We just hit 500 signatures while the BC NDP continues to ignore the suffering this policy causes. This racism is unacceptable and our numbers show that people are finally waking up to their failure to act.
Reached 500 supporters
March 15, 2023
Reached 100 supporters
September 29, 2021
101 Comments
This was my devastating experience 19 years ago when I delivered by child prematurely after 2 weeks from our arrival here in BC. Please end the 3 month wait period for the immigrants to access health care.
My dad had a serious emergency shortly upon arrival caused by the stress of the migration to a new country. He didn't want us to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital as it was very expensive without the health coverage. He could have died. Noone should go through this.
This is such an important issue that I totally support. I work with marginalized women and children who need healthcare as soon as they arrive in Canada. They end up with huge hospital bills which causes immense distress, financial hardship, affects immigration applications and credit scores.
Absolutely agree. So many patients presenting late to prenatal care and harmful effects. Hypothyroidism missed, dating ultrasounds missed, genetic screening windows lost... or worse families forced to go into debt who care deeply about their pregnancy outcomes.
So true. Often people arrive with significant health needs and the delay can worsen their health. As a healthcare provider who,cares for people without MSP. trying to work in this system also uses a lot of unnescessary time and resources.
As an immigrant parent to a daughter, and social worker supporting immigrant/refugee population, I directly felt & saw the negative impact for the women caring for minors. Please support parents, mothers, & caregivers to many sectors in the Canadian society!
Access to healthcare is a human right. We must end this racist policy.
Petition to end BC's Dangerous & Costly Wait Period for Health Care for Immigrants
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This was my devastating experience 19 years ago when I delivered by child prematurely after 2 weeks from our arrival here in BC. Please end the 3 month wait period for the immigrants to access health care.