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B.C. government indicates significant changes to MSP premiums coming

Click to play video: 'Petition demands changes to MSP premium collection'
Petition demands changes to MSP premium collection
WATCH: The British Columbia government has received a petition calling for a change to the way MSP premiums are collected. Keith Baldrey explains – Feb 11, 2016

“It’s antiquated, it’s old, and the way people pay for it generally doesn’t make a whole ton of sense.”

Those were the words of Premier Christy Clark today, the clearest indication yet by the provincial government that changes to B.C.’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) are coming.

In most provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, medical premiums are paid as part of one’s income tax, and the amount rises along with a person’s income.

But in British Columbia, they’re paid separately – and anyone making over $30,000 a year pays the same rate.

READ MORE: MSP Premiums have more than doubled since the Liberals took power

Click to play video: 'MSP premiums rise and raise questions about system’s fairness'
MSP premiums rise and raise questions about system’s fairness

This week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation claimed that over $462 million in payments were overdue by B.C. citizens. Today, Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver presented a 65,000-person petition to the legislature, calling for an end of premiums.

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“Instead of being a flat rate head tax, [let’s] bring it into our income tax system,” said Weaver.

“The way we have proposed it…is follow the Ontario model, and bring it into to our tax system as a line-item, and that rate will be progressive.”

BALDREY: Why it’s time to tie MSP premium rates to income levels

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Already the government has announced single mothers will no longer have to pay an additional fee for their children’s premiums. More changes are also expected in next week’s budget, to be delivered February 16, but Clark said full-scale reform was not likely – at least not this year.

“You’ll see a few more incremental changes,” said Clark.

“I think in terms of wholesale change, it’s going to take a little longer for us to work through some of that, but you will see some things in this budget.”

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