How does the BCGEU strike affect physicians?

Photo from BCGEU

The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) began job action on September 2, 2025. The BCGEU job action affects some services that impact physicians, such as the Ministry of Health and Health Insurance BC (HIBC).

1. The HIBC contact centre remains open.

• Customer service representatives are available Monday to Friday from 8 am- 430 pm (except statutory holidays).
• If you have any questions or concerns, please contact HIBC by phone, fax, or online.

2. Mail services to government ministries and HIBC are directly impacted.

• For the quickest processing time, please use online or fax submission of forms and documents where possible.

3. Direct deposit is your best option for timely payment.

• You can apply for direct deposit payment from the Medical Services Plan using the HLTH 2832 form, if you have not already done so.
• If needed, you can update your direct deposit information using the HLTH 2832 form.

4. To minimize the potential impacts of the strike on your clinic and your patients, please use the following online options for submission of forms to HIBC.

• The new Claims Correspondence Upload Portal allows you to submit supporting documents online in response to a letter or other request from Health Insurance BC.
• Send any needed correspondence or supporting documents to HIBC as soon as possible. This will give the best opportunity to process your request in a timely manner.
• For those physicians who bill using forms (not EMR/Teleplan):
  • Submit medical and health care service claims for opted-in practitioners (HLTH 1915): Pay Practitioner Claim – Province of British Columbia
  • Submit medical and health care service claims for opted-out practitioners (HLTH 1916): Pay Patient Claim – Province of British Columbia

• If you have submitted a form or other document to HIBC, please allow 21 business days for processing and response.