The Problem: Unpaid Medical Bills Are Costing BC Taxpayers
Every year, people from outside Canada visit British Columbia — as tourists, business travellers, students, or temporary guests. The vast majority are honest, law-abiding visitors who contribute to our economy. We welcome them.
However, a significant number of non-resident visitors receive medical care at BC hospitals and clinics, and then leave without paying their bills. Under the current system, those unpaid costs are absorbed by BC's publicly funded health care system — which means you, the BC taxpayer, are picking up the tab.
This page is not about BC residents, Canadian citizens, or people who have made their home in British Columbia. This is about visitors from outside Canada who use our health care system without paying for it.
Emergency, life-saving care will always be provided to anyone in need — that is a fundamental value we share. But there is no good reason why non-emergency medical treatment for foreign visitors should be paid for by British Columbians.
What the Research Shows
On June 8, 2026, the non-partisan think tank SecondStreet.org released data obtained from BC health regions showing the true cost of this problem.
📌 Non-residents received health care in BC and did not pay their bills — costing taxpayers $200.6 million since 2020/21.
"The government should definitely be taking a look at this problem. This is costing B.C. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars while access to health care for residents continues to deteriorate. B.C.'s situation is the worst we've seen in Canada so far."
— Colin Craig, President, SecondStreet.org
To put $200.6 million in perspective: that money could have paid for more than 21,000 hip replacement operations for British Columbians who are waiting in pain for surgery. (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information cost data.)
BC's situation has been identified as the worst case of this problem seen anywhere in Canada so far.
Why This Matters to Everyday British Columbians
- Fairness to taxpayers. BC residents pay taxes specifically to fund health care for themselves and their families. It is not fair to ask them to cover the medical bills of foreign visitors who choose not to pay.
- Protecting limited health care resources. BC's health care system is already under strain. Long wait times, overcrowded emergency rooms, and shortages of doctors and nurses affect real people every day. Every dollar lost to unpaid foreign visitor bills is a dollar that cannot be spent on the people this system is meant to serve.
- Encouraging responsible travel. Travel medical insurance is widely available and affordable. Most countries expect visitors to carry it. Requiring proper insurance before arriving in Canada is a reasonable and internationally common standard.
- Aligning with global practice. Many countries — including those in Europe — already require travellers to show proof of health insurance with at least €30,000 in coverage before granting a travel visa. Canada is behind the curve on this basic protection.
- Protecting the future of public health care. A health care system that cannot collect payment for services rendered is financially unsustainable. Addressing this problem now helps protect Medicare for future generations of British Columbians.
What We Are Asking For: Common-Sense Policy Solutions
This is not a radical proposal. It is a practical, fair approach that many other countries already use. We are asking BC's MLAs and the provincial government to support the following measures:
- Require proof of valid travel medical insurance before non-resident visitors enter Canada. The federal government should work with provinces to make this a condition of entry for most visitors, similar to how the Schengen area in Europe requires a minimum of €30,000 in health coverage. Exemptions could apply where appropriate (for example, for citizens of countries with reciprocal health agreements).
- Require up-front payment or a deposit for non-emergency medical care provided to non-resident visitors. Provincial health regions should have clear authority and processes to collect payment before treatment in non-emergency situations, rather than attempting to collect after the visitor has left Canada.
- Improve collection and enforcement of unpaid medical bills from non-residents. This includes better inter-agency coordination, use of credit reporting mechanisms in the visitor's home country where agreements exist, and pursuing outstanding accounts through diplomatic or legal channels where feasible.
- Ban re-entry to Canada for non-residents who have outstanding unpaid medical bills from a previous visit. The federal government has the authority over border entry and should use it as an enforcement tool. If a visitor received care and did not pay, they should not be permitted to return until the debt is resolved.
- Establish a national tracking database for unpaid non-resident medical bills, shared between provinces and the federal government, so that enforcement is consistent and effective across the country — not just province by province.
- Explore reciprocal health care agreements with countries that have high volumes of visitors to BC. Where a mutual agreement can reduce costs for both sides, Canada should pursue it — but in the absence of such an agreement, payment requirements should be clearly enforced.
Important: None of these proposals would affect emergency or life-saving care, which will always be provided regardless of ability to pay. The focus is on preventing the ongoing pattern of non-emergency care being provided to non-residents who have no intention of paying.
How to Contact Your MLA
What Is an MLA?
An MLA — Member of the Legislative Assembly — is your elected representative in the BC provincial government. They represent your community in Victoria and have the power to raise issues, ask questions, and push for policy changes. Hearing from their constituents (the people who live in their riding) is one of the most effective ways to influence what MLAs focus on.
How to Find Your MLA
You can find the name and contact information of your MLA by entering your postal code or address on the BC Legislature's official website:
🔗 Find Your MLA (BC Legislative Assembly website)
Tips for Writing an Effective Message
- Be polite and respectful. A calm, factual letter is more persuasive than an angry one.
- Identify yourself as a constituent. Mention that you live in their riding — this matters to MLAs.
- Be concise. Keep your message to one page or less. Busy offices respond better to clear, focused letters.
- State clearly what you want. Ask the MLA to support specific policies — do not leave them guessing.
- Request a response. Politely ask them to reply and share their position on the issue.
- Use your own words where possible. Personalized letters carry more weight than form letters, though the sample below is a good starting point.
Sample Letter to Your MLA
Below is a sample letter you can adapt and send by email or post to your MLA. Simply fill in the blanks with your own information and make any changes that feel right to you. You do not have to use this word for word — the most important thing is that your MLA hears from you.