WHEREAS Medical Services Plan MSP premiums can be a hardship for seniors on a fixed income; AND WHEREAS raising health care monies through the provincial income tax system is a fairer process: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government to end MSP premiums for seniors and to bear any associated costs.
Ministry of Finance The Medical Services Plan MSP is an important component of health services funding in British Columbia and helps ensure a link between health care and its costs. The majority of British Columbians contribute towards covering their health care costs through the MSP premiums. Fully exempting seniors from MSP premiums could be viewed as inequitable. For example, fully exempting seniors would mean seniors with incomes over 100,000 would pay nothing, while many young families with children with incomes lower than that would pay premiums. To ensure the MSP Program is fair to all British Columbians, premium assistance is available to lower income individuals and families, including seniors. Premium assistance levels vary based on income level and family type. For example, to reflect higher living costs, seniors and families with children are eligible to receive premium assistance at higher income levels. Premium rates and assistance thresholds are periodically adjusted to reflect the higher cost of providing health care and to ensure that those most in need are protected. When all taxes are considered, British Columbians, including seniors, generally have one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.