In British Columbia, most employer-paid benefit plans cover dependent children until age 21, or up to age 25 if you're a full-time student. Once you reach that age, or you're no longer studying full-time, your extended health, dental, prescription drug, and vision coverage usually ends. (Don't worry, your MSP coverage still continues as long as you live in BC.)

The good news? It's easy to avoid a gap in coverage. Just apply for your own individual health plan before your current benefits end, so you're covered when they stop.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, timing matters. Apply within 60 days of losing your group benefits and you may qualify for the Pacific Blue Cross Group Conversion plan, which means you can get coverage without filling out a medical questionnaire and your existing health conditions will be covered.

On this page

• At what age do you age of your parents’ plan in BC?
• What happens to your coverage when you graduate?
• Does MSP still cover you?
• Which Pacific Blue Cross plan is right for new grads?
• How long do you have to apply?
• How to get started
• FAQ

At what age do you age off your parents’ plan in BC?

It depends on your specific plan, but coverage most commonly ends at age 21 – or at 25 if you're a full-time student. That's the usual pattern rather than a hard rule – some plans set the cut-off higher or lower.
A few things can shift the picture:

• Full-time studies. Some plans extend coverage while you're enrolled full-time and end it once you're not.
• Your plan's specific rules. Some plans use a different cut-off age, or define "full-time student" differently.
• Disability. If you have a qualifying disability, you may be able to stay covered as a dependent past the usual age limit.

Because the details vary, the only way to know your exact cut-off is to check the plan directly, usually by having the policyholder (often a parent) confirm the terms with their plan administrator. If you're approaching any age or enrollment milestone, it's worth doing that early so you can plan ahead and avoid a gap.
 

What happens to your health coverage when you graduate?

Graduation is a big milestone – but it can also mean saying goodbye to your health coverage.

If you're covered under a parent's group benefits plan, graduating usually means you're no longer considered a full-time student, so that coverage comes to an end. If you also have a health and dental plan through your college, university, or student union, that coverage is tied to your enrollment and typically ends when your final term wraps up.

The tricky part? This often happens automatically, with little or no reminder. Many new grads don't realize they've lost their coverage until they're paying for a prescription, booking a dental appointment, or picking up a new pair of glasses – and discover they're no longer covered.

Does MSP still cover you after you age off your plan?

Your Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage doesn't disappear when your benefits end. As long as you're a resident of British Columbia, MSP continues to cover medically necessary doctor and specialist visits, as well as hospital care.

What often catches people off guard, is that MSP generally doesn't cover things like:

• Prescription medications
• Dental care
• Vision care (including glasses, contacts, and routine eye exams)
• Physiotherapy
• Massage therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Mental health services such as counselling or psychologist appointments

If you've been covered under a parent's group plan or a student health plan, chances are those expenses were taken care of without much thought. Once that coverage ends, you'll usually have to pay those costs yourself, unless you have an individual health plan in place.

Which Pacific Blue Cross plan is right for new grads?

Pacific Blue Cross offers three individual health plans designed for this next stage of life. The right one for you really comes down to your health needs, your budget, and whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

A pre-existing condition is any health issue, illness, or injury you already have before a new insurance policy or coverage period begins. It doesn't need to be serious or ongoing to count; everyday conditions like asthma, acne, or a past sports injury can all qualify.

 
Personal Health and Dental Plan is usually the most cost-effective option if you're generally in good health with no pre-existing conditions. This plan provides more coverage overall than Guaranteed Acceptance, and more coverage on medical practitioners than Group Conversion.

Group Conversion is worth a close look if you have a pre-existing condition such as asthma, diabetes, anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure. It covers pre-existing conditions, skips the medical questionnaire, and waives the usual dental and vision waiting periods. You'll need at least six months of prior coverage under any recognized Canadian group plan (it doesn't have to be Pacific Blue Cross), and you must apply within 60 days of your group coverage ending.

Guaranteed Acceptance accepts everyone with no medical questionnaire, across four tiers, so you can match coverage to your budget. This is a good option for those who have missed the 60-day window for Group Conversion and have existing health conditions.

To apply for any individual plan, you must be a BC (or Yukon) resident enrolled in MSP, and the policyholder must be at least 19.

Want to know which plan is best for you? Use our easy Plan Finder tool and get an immediate quote.

Is there a deadline to apply after coverage under your parents’ plan ends?

You can apply for most individual plans at any time, but if you have a pre-existing medical condition, there's one deadline you don't want to miss.

Group Conversion is only available for 60 days after your group benefits end. If you apply within that window, you can get coverage without completing a medical questionnaire – a valuable option for anyone with a health history.

Even better, apply before your current coverage ends. That way, you can move seamlessly from one plan to the next, avoid a gap in coverage, and lock in your benefits while Group Conversion is still available.

How do you get your own health and dental plan?

1. Use the Plan Finder. Answer a few quick questions for personalized recommendations in minutes.
2. Or chat to our friendly customer service team. Call 1 877 722-2583 (toll-free) or 604 419-2200, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
3. Apply before your current coverage ends to avoid any gap in protection.

FAQ