Ministry of Health
BC Family Residence Program
Connecting Children and Families with Medical Care
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BC Family Residence Program (BCFRP)?
What assistance is available through this program?
Who is eligible for benefits through this program?
How do I know if I live far enough away to be eligible for the BCFRP accommodation subsidy?
How do I apply for benefits through this program?
Do I need to re-apply for the accommodation subsidy each time my child (including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns) needs care at BC Children's Hospital?
Must I have confirmation from a medical professional to access benefits?
How do I get confirmation if my doctor knows nothing about the program? (if we don't have a social worker?)
Can I choose my own accommodation and have the BCFRP pay on my behalf?
What if I don't like the accommodation choice offered to me and my family?
Does the program include meals?
Does the program include local transportation?
Is the program only for families with children?
Is there any assistance for seniors or other adults needing to travel to Vancouver?
Can I be reimbursed?
When does the program begin?
Who should I call?
What is the BC Family Residence Program?
The BC Family Residence Program provides accommodation assistance to enable families to stay together when their child requires medical care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns. Enhanced travel assistance is also provided through ground transportation for children and air transportation for patients of all ages.
What assistance is available through this program?
Accommodation for families: the program, administered by Variety - The Children's Charity, provides accommodation subsidies for families with a child who requires medical care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.
Accommodation is arranged by Variety - the Children's Charity at convenient locations in the Vancouver area so that a family is able to stay close by while their child is receiving medical care.
For more information contact:
Toll free: 1 866-496-6946
Ground transportation for children: B.C. children, accompanied by their parents or care givers, who must travel for specialized medical care, may obtain free transportation to medical care aboard the Shriners Care Cruiser. For more information contact:
Toll free: 1 800-661-KIDS (5437) or www.shriners.bc.ca/bus/index.shtml.
Air transportation for individual patients: this program helps patients of all ages access specialized medical care with free air flights arranged through a national charity called Hope Air. Flights can be arranged for travel within BC and Canada. For more information contact:
Toll free: 1 877-346-HOPE (4673) or www.hopeair.org.
Who is eligible for benefits through this program?
Accommodation (families with a child 18 years and under)
To qualify for assistance with accommodation costs, families must:
- be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC, and
- have a child who is receiving medical care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns, and
- live outside Metro Vancouver.
Ground transportation for children
Any B.C. child, accompanied by their parents or caregivers, who must travel for specialized medical care may qualify for transportation with the Shriners Care Cruiser.
Air transportation for patients of all ages
To qualify for assistance through Hope Air patients must:
- be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC;
- the medical care (reason for travel) must be for an insured service of MSP;
- meet Hope Air's eligibility criteria; and
- be able to travel on regular commercial flights without requiring special assistance beyond what is normally provided by most airlines.
Note: There is no age restriction for this program. Air travel may include an escort if medically necessary and the airline seat inventory can accommodate the request for an escort.
How do I know if I live far enough away to be eligible for the BCFRP accommodation subsidy?
Families living in communities outside Metro Vancouver are eligible for accommodation assistance through the program. Families living within the following communities which comprise Metro Vancouver are not eligible for accommodation assistance: Anmore, Belcarra, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, West Vancouver and Electoral Area A.
Note: Residents of Bowen Island and island communities within Electoral Area A are eligible for the Accommodation subsidy due to the requirement of ferry travel.
Reference should be made to the Metro Vancouver web site to determine if you reside within these boundaries.
How do I apply for benefits through this program?
Individual patients and families may contact the agencies directly to apply for assistance through the program. Information regarding medical appointment/hospitalization will be confirmed by these agencies with the patient's physician, social worker or hospital.
Physician offices, social workers, and hospital personnel are encouraged to contact the program agencies on behalf of their patients to confirm eligibility for benefits.
Do I need to re-apply for the accommodation subsidy each time my child (including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns) needs care at BC Children's Hospital?
After the first application, a family does not need to re-apply again; however, Variety - The Children's Charity requires proof that your child is receiving care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns. Confirmation is usually provided through the family's physician, social worker or hospital personnel.
Must I have confirmation from a medical professional to access benefits?
Yes, to receive the accommodation subsidy, families should obtain confirmation from the child's doctor, hospital, social worker, or other health care professional. In the event that a family applies directly, confirmation must be obtained by email, phone, fax, or written note from the child's attending physician, social worker, or hospital, providing date(s) of medical visit or treatment at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.For air transportation arranged by Hope Air, patients are asked to supply the name and telephone number of their referring physician, the name of the physician and/or treatment centre they will be attending, and confirmation of MSP coverage. Hope Air will request permission from the applicant to confirm this information.
How do I get confirmation if my doctor knows nothing about the program? (if we don't have a social worker?)
A family may apply directly to the program for assistance. Confirmation is required from the child's physician, social worker or hospital, providing date(s) of medical visit or treatment.
Can I choose my own accommodation and have the BCFRP pay on my behalf?
No. Accommodation for the patient's family is pre-arranged by the program.
What if I don't like the accommodation choice offered to me and my family?
Families who wish to make their own arrangements for accommodation are responsible for the cost of that accommodation.
Does the program include meals?
No. The program does not include meals or other personal expenses.
Does the program include local transportation?
No. Local transportation costs are the responsibility of the patient and patient's family.
Is the program only for families with children?
Accommodation subsidies are only available to families with a child receiving medical care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.
Ground transportation with the Shriners Care Cruiser is only available to children, accompanied by their parents or caregivers, who must travel for specialized medical care.
Air transportation through Hope Air is available for individual patients of any age that meet Hope Air's eligibility criteria.
Is there any assistance for seniors or other adults needing to travel to Vancouver?
The BC Family Residence Program provides assistance with air transportation for patients of all ages through Hope Air. Additionally, the provincial Travel Assistance Program (TAP) and the regional Health Connections programs may able to assist some patients who need to come to Vancouver for medical care.
Accommodation assistance under the BC Family Residence Program is only provided to families of children who are receiving medical care at BC Children's Hospital, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.
Can I be reimbursed?
No. There is no reimbursement for personal travel or accommodation costs. Payment of the accommodation subsidy is made directly to the facility or service provider.
When does the program begin?
The program is scheduled to begin April 1, 2010.
Who should I call?
For information, please contact:
BC Family Residence Program
Toll-free in B.C.: 1 800-465-4911
In Victoria: 250 952-1742
(8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday)
or www.bcfamilyresidence.gov.bc.ca
Accommodation Subsidy for Families
Variety - The Children's Charity of British Columbia:
Toll free: 1 866-496-6946
Air Transportation for Patients of All Ages
Toll free: 1 877-346-HOPE (4673) or www.hopeair.org
Ground Transportation for Children
Shriners of British Columbia and Yukon:
Toll free: 1 800-661-KIDS (5437) or www.shriners.bc.ca/bus/index.shtml