B.C. taxpayers left with $200.6M in unpaid medical bills by foreigners

From 2020/21 to 2024/25, B.C. health authorities reported about $200.6M in losses from unpaid non-resident care.

British Columbia taxpayers have been stuck with more than $200 million in unpaid medical bills from non-residents over the past five years, according to new data released by SecondStreet.org, even as residents face growing wait times and worsening access to health care.

“The government should definitely be taking a look at this problem,” said SecondStreet.org President Colin Craig. “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.”