Beginning in the middle of February, a new BC Services Card will be brought in to replace the aging CareCard. From Feb. 15 through the next five years, British Columbians between the ages of 19 and 74 will have the chance to replace their CareCards with the BC Services Card; the new card is free of charge and all they need to do to obtain it is renew their enrolment in the Medical Services Plan.
As we know all too well technology has changed a lot since 1989, when the CareCard was introduced. The new BC Services Card incorporates some of the new technology that has been developed in the past two decades, making it both more secure and more convenient than the CareCard. It includes features such as a photograph, anti-forgery technology, identity proofing, and a date of expiry. It serves as photo ID and can even be combined with a driver’s license, so you won’t need to worry about carrying extra cards around with you.
Since the new card can be combined with your driver’s license, you will have the option of enrolling when you are renewing your license; for those who don’t drive, you can still enroll at our local ServiceBC office or anywhere that driver’s licenses are issued. Once you have enrolled, you will receive the new BC Services Card, and will need to re-enrol every five years. The BC Services Card is free, and if you choose to combine it with your driver’s license, this will cost no more than the driver’s license itself.
For certain groups of people, such as children, elderly citizens, or those in residential care or hospital care, the procedure involved may be difficult. The program takes this into consideration, and these groups will be exempt from the requirement to re-enrol, which will instead be handled through special arrangements.
The new card also lays the groundwork for potentially developing an easier and more convenient way of accessing government services online in the future. If you would like to learn more about the BC Services Card, please visit www.bcservicescard.ca.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.
