Get Health Care
iMED plan members may seek medical care at any licensed medical clinic or hospital. Eligible medical expenses can either be claimed to MSH (the insurance company that administers iMED claims) either by you, or directly by the medical facility.
iMED Direct Billing Network
For your convenience, certain doctor clinics, hospital emergency departments, and pharmacies are set up to bill eligible medical expenses directly to MSH. To access a direct billing facility, you will need to show your iMED Card, and a piece of photo identification.
List of Direct Billing Facilities
Free virtual doctor consultation
iMED members can get free virtual consultation with a Canadian doctor 24/7 through the Maple app.
Learn how to get Virtual CareVery Important Tips!
- In Canada seeking treatment at a hospital is reserved for serious medical emergencies which cannot be safely treated at an out-patient doctor clinic or in a virtual doctor consultation.
Wait times at hospital emergency rooms can exceed 3 hours, and the full cost of a hospital emergency room visit may not be covered if your condition could have been safely treated at a regular out-patient medical clinic. - If you seek care at a hospital, always show your iMED card and a copy of your study permit (if you have one) when you are being admitted. Study Permit holders should qualify for much lower hospital rates.
- When you register as a patient at any clinic, use your name as it appears on your iMED health insurance card. Otherwise there could be a delay in verifying your coverage and in processing your iMED insurance claim.
- Before leaving a hospital or medical clinic, ask the doctor or the clinic staff for a copy of your “health records” for that visit. While you would have the right to request a copy of your health records after leaving a medical facility, obtaining health records after discharge from a hospital can take six weeks or longer.
This step is key to making a successful claim because the insurance company (MSH) needs information from the clinic or doctor that describes the reason you received medical services and your diagnosis; that confidential information is not usually included on your medical invoice or receipt.
What to expect at different types of medical facilities:
At an Out-Patient medical clinic expect to be required to pay up-front for consultation with a doctor (or paramedical practitioner) unless you visit a clinic in the iMED Direct Billing Network. If you pay up front, ask for a copy of your health record for that visit as it will be needed to make a claim.
At a Hospital Emergency Room or Urgent Care Ward your patient invoice would normally be mailed in hard copy to you after discharge, with instructions on how to pay your invoice. Before leaving an Emergency Room ask for a copy of your health records as they will be required to make a claim.
If you are treated at a Hospital Emergency Room in the iMED Direct Billing Network then your patient invoice and health records should get submitted directly to MSH on your behalf.
If admitted as a Hospital In-Patient you (or someone on your behalf) must contact MSH Assistance immediately. Call 1 (800) 808-2694. If you cannot call, write to mshassistance@mshassistance.com
MSH will do their best to coordinate direct billing from the hospital even if the hospital is not in the iMED Direct Billing Network. However, at some hospitals patient invoices will only be sent to the patient address. If your mailing address changes you must update the hospital billing department.
Pre-authorization for Specialist Services, Tests, and Procedures
Obtaining Pre-Authorization from MSH International is strongly recommended if you are referred for consultation with a specialist, and it is required for certain medical tests and procedures, such as CAT scan, MRI, and any surgery or procedure scheduled at a hospital.
To request pre-authorization either call MSH Assistance at 1 (403) 538-2364 or toll free within North America at 1 (800) 808-2694 or write to mshassistance@mshassistance.com
Study Permit Holders Take Note!
For admission to a hospital, including an Out-patient Emergency Ward, students who hold a Study Permit must present a copy of their current Study Permit in order to be charged the appropriate (lower) hospital rates for “Un-Insured Residents” who await coverage under BC MSP. Otherwise you will be charged much higher hospital rates for “Non-residents.” If you do not have a copy of your study permit at time of hospital admission you must provide a copy of your study permit to the hospital billing department afterward to have your patient account adjusted. This can be done by bringing a copy of your student permit to the cashier desk of the hospital, or by emailing a copy to the patient billing department.
