Seems our MSP is going up in the new year as our company issued us a little information brochure.

Not a big jump for me personally as I fall into the "over $30K" range and the increase is $2.75 a month. What I didn't realize is that unless you make less than $22K, you will also be getting a marginally increase.

Where am I going with this? I have to admit I didn't really give it much thought before but a $2.75 increase to $69.25 is peanuts to me compared to what that impact is to some making less than $30k. And a family of 3 or more making $28,001 a year will pay $102.40 Seems a little skewed and I think they should change the income range categories to something a little more realistic.

Another interesting stat they gave was that nearly one million BC'ers receive MSP subsidies (below $30K) which includes more than 800,000 residents that pay no MSP at all. There are 4.4 million people in BC (2011 stats). That means that one out four BC'ers make less than $30K a year. I find that a little shocking.

Government tends to have unrealistic visions of what people need income wise to survive and what they can afford.

Maybe premiums should be based on a % of income?

I wish BC would just dump premiums altogether, other provinces seem to manage fine without them.