June 01, 2022
Telus Health MyCare virtual walk-in clinics were in high demand during the pandemic. But B.C.’s Medical Services Commission is now investigating whether the private, fee-based services allow patients to jump the queue, which is against the law. Critics are concerned that Telus Health’s LifePlus program, which requires patients to pay thousands of dollars a year, is creating a two-tier medical system. Patients don’t pay for virtual visits through Babylon, which Telus bills to the provincial health insurances system (MSP). The LifePlus plan, however, is touted by TELUS as a service that offers enhanced and personalized care, including access to specialists, which can result in fast-tracked MRIs or other medical tests.