Medical Information & Health Insurance

Basic medical insurance

Initial Coverage

  • You will be enrolled in Guard.me medical insurance.

  • It will cost $210 for the first full three month or 90 days (as of January 2022).

  • The fee is included in your first semester tuition and student fees.

  • Inform Misoon Jang of your arrival date to have this insurance from your first day in Canada.

What Is Covered?

BC MSP (BC Medical Services Plan)

  • In BC, public health insurance is called the Medical Service Plan (MSP). 

  • MSP gives you easier access to the BC medical system. Doctor visits, emergency visits and advice on medical issues are free.

  • Before your benefits begin, you are required to complete a waiting period consisting of the balance of the month in which your BC residence is established plus two months. 

  • You should apply for MSP coverage immediately after arriving in BC—don't wait until the end of your waiting period—to allow time for your application to be processed.

  • You will be billed directly by the Health Insurance BC (HIBC) for the monthly premium.

  • Your BC MSP will expire on same day as your study permit. If you extend your study permit or obtain work permit, you must extend your MSP coverage as well.

MSP Resources

Dental

  • Visits to the dentist and dental costs are not covered by most basic medical insurance. MSP does not cover any dental costs and some emergency dental expenses are covered by private basic medical insurance (Guard.me). 

Selkirk College Students' Union extended health and dental medical insurance

All full-time students (60% course load or more/14 weeks or longer) are required to have extended health and dental coverage.  Every full-time student who meets the requirements is automatically assessed the extended health dental coverage.

English Language Program international students will not be assessed the extended health and dental coverage. English Language Program domestic students will be assessed the extended health and dental coverage.

Extended medical and dental costs $275 per year and is automatically added to your tuition fees. Even if you do not want this insurance, you must pay for it unless you can prove you already have the same coverage and opt out. 

If you have any questions, please get in touch by email or phone 250.365.1303 Castlegar 250.354.3239 Silver King 250.352.6601 Tenth Street.

Visiting a doctor: Walk-in

When you visit a doctor:

  1. Search online “Physicians and Surgeons” to find a doctor in your area.
  2. Not all doctors listed will be accepting new patients. Call beforehand and ask if the doctor is accepting new patients then make an appointment.
  3. Take your medical insurance card.

Visits to the doctor are private

The doctor will not tell anyone (including your parents or Selkirk College) what the visits are for.

Walk-in Clinics

  • Walk- in clinics allows you to see a doctor without an appointment, but you may have to wait several hours.
  • Castlegar does not have a walk-in clinic, and no doctors are accepting new patients currently.
  • Nelson’s walk-in clinic is at Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic. They are located at Lakeside Drive (Chahko-Mika Mall) and are open seven days a week.
Visiting a doctor: Non-emergency

Call 8-1-1 to speak to a nurse and get your health question answered free of charge.

Most of these clinics do not accept walk-in patients. You may call to find out if they are accepting new patients.

CASTLEGAR

Castlegar Medical Associates
1008 Columbia Ave, Castlegar BC, V1N 1H2
P: (250) 365-2161
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm

Castlegar Medical Clinic - Downtown
1101 3 Street, Castlegar BC, V1N 2A1
P: (250) 365-7717
Open Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-3pm

Castlegar & District Community Health Centre
709 10 Street, Castlegar BC, V1N 2H7
P: (250) 365-7711
Open everyday, 8am-8pm

Castlegar Medical Clinic Kinnaird Office
1840 8th Ave, Castlegar BC, V1N 2Y2
P: (250) 365-7255
Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and Saturday 8:30am - 11am

Kootenay Lake Dental
663 Columbia Ave, Castlegar BC, V1N 1H1
P: (250) 365-3339
Open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

NELSON

Ancron Medical Centre and Walk-in Clinic
402 Baker Street #108, Nelson BC, V1L 4H8
P: (250) 352-9144
Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm

Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic Inc.
1140 Lakeside Drive, Nelson BC, V1L 5Z3
P: (250) 352-4666
Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm

Nelson Medical Associates Clinic
806 Vernon Street, Nelson BC, V1L 4G5
P: (250) 352-6611
Open Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4pm and Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm

Nelson Dental Clinic
520 Kootenay Street Suite 201, Nelson BC, V1L 5W4
P: (250) 352-3551
Open Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm

Red Clover Dental
810 Vernon Street, Nelson BC, V1L 4G4
P: (250) 352-5012
Open Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4pm

TRAIL

Community Health Centre
1101 Dewdney Ave, Trail BC, V1R 4T1
Open Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm

Waneta Primary Care Clinic
8100 BC-3B, Trail BC, V1R 4N7
P: (250) 368-0053
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm

Columbia Family Medicine
Riverfront Building
1101 Dewdney Ave, Trail BC, V1R 4T1
P: (250) 368-9394
Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Visiting a doctor: Emergency

In the case of an emergency dial 9-1-1 to reach emergency services and request an ambulance.

Castlegar & District Hospital
709 10th Street, Castlegar BC
P: (250) 365-7711
Emergency room is open from 8am-8pm, seven day a week

Kootenay Lake Hospital - Nelson
3 View Street, Nelson, BC
P: (250) 352-3111
Emergency room is open 24 hours

Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital - Trail
1200 Hospital Bench, Trail BC
P: (250) 368-3311
Emergency room is open 24 hours