PharmaCare Coverage Compass

Follow the questions below to learn how BC PharmaCare can help you pay for prescription medications, pharmacy services, and medical devices and supplies. When you fill a prescription, PharmaCare’s share of the cost is calculated automatically. You pay only the costs that PharmaCare does not cover.

Are you a B.C. resident enrolled in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP)?

Call Health Insurance BC (HIBC) for questions about MSP enrolment:

Service BC Centres can also help with MSP enrolment and renewal, getting a BC Services Card, and provide information on the status of your MSP account.

If you have enrolled but are not yet covered by MSP, you may be able to get exceptional PharmaCare coverage for contraceptives, diabetes medications, menopausal hormone therapy, mental health medications, opioid agonist treatment, Mifegymiso and MAiD. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber for support.

All B.C. residents must enrol in MSP. Enrol now at Apply for B.C. health and drug coverage. Register for Fair PharmaCare at the same time!

If you have enrolled but are not yet covered by MSP, you may be able to get exceptional PharmaCare coverage for contraceptives, diabetes medications, menopausal hormone therapy, mental health medications, opioid agonist treatment, Mifegymiso and MAiD. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber for support.

If you are a B.C. resident enrolled in MSP, you are also automatically enrolled in the Fair PharmaCare Plan with a $10,000 deductible. To get coverage based on your family net income, you will need to register at Apply for B.C. health and drug coverage.

If you have MSP coverage, BC PharmaCare automatically pays the full cost of certain medications, such as eligible contraceptives, diabetes medications, menopausal hormone therapy, opioid agonist treatment (OAT), Mifegymiso, and medical assistance in dying (MAiD). PharmaCare also pays for 84 continuous days of nicotine replacement therapy (gum, patches, lozenges) annually.

If you are a B.C. resident not yet covered by MSP, you may be able to get exceptional PharmaCare coverage for contraceptives, diabetes medications, menopausal hormone therapies, mental health medications, opioid agonist treatment, Mifegymiso and MAiD. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber for support.

PharmaCare also pays for pharmacy services such as vaccine and drug administrations, renewing and adapting prescriptions, and pharmacist assessments of minor ailments like urinary tract infections, heartburn, and skin conditions. Pharmacists can prescribe for these conditions and for contraception.

Have you registered for the Fair PharmaCare Plan?

Great! Fair PharmaCare has an income-based deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay for eligible costs before you get help.

If you are having trouble paying your deductible, you may be able to pay in monthly installments by applying for the monthly deductible payment option (MDPO). If your income has dropped by 10% or more in the previous or current year, you can ask for an income review to lower your deductible. For details, visit Get help paying your Fair PharmaCare deductible.

Fair PharmaCare coverage is based on net income. The less you earn, the more help you get. It’s easy to register. Register at Apply for B.C. health and drug coverage. Registration for Fair PharmaCare includes signing a consent form to allow the Ministry of Health to check your net income with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Visit Fair PharmaCare Registration Status Search to check if you're registered. If you are registered but no longer have coverage, visit Updating your coverage information to learn more and get your coverage reinstated.

Have you been prescribed medication for a mental health condition or opioid use disorder (OUD)?

If your adjusted family income is under $42,000, and you meet the clinical criteria you may be eligible for Plan G, which covers the full cost of mental health and OUD medications. Contact a health care provider to apply. If you have enrolled in MSP but it isn’t active yet, you can get exceptional coverage. Learn more in the Plan G Information Sheet (PDF).

Go to Step 4.

Do you want to stop smoking or using tobacco products?

You are automatically covered by Plan S, which pays the full cost of nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, and covers some prescription drugs. A pharmacist can sign you up. Plan C, Plan G, Plan W and Plan B cover 100% of the cost of some prescription smoking cessation drugs; Fair PharmaCare covers part or all of the cost, when you have met your deductible or family maximum. Visit Get help quitting tobacco to learn more.

For more information refer to What BC PharmaCare covers.

Do you live in a long-term care (LTC) facility?

Ask your LTC facility if the facility is registered for Plan B. Many facilities are. If so, you are automatically covered by Plan B. Plan B pays the full cost of many prescriptions, medical devices and ostomy supplies. If your facility is not registered for Plan B, make sure to register for Fair PharmaCare to support your coverage (refer to Step 2).

Go to Step 6.

Are you a First Nations individual, enrolled with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)?

You are likely covered by PharmaCare Plan W. Plan W covers the full cost of many prescription drugs, some medical devices and supplies, some over-the-counter products, and dispensing fees. To check if you are enrolled in Plan W, call FNHA Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454.

Plan W coverage is available to eligible First Nations individuals in B.C. who are enrolled with the FNHA and have active MSP coverage. If you want to check your eligibility or enrol, call FNHA Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454.

Plan W coverage is available to eligible First Nations individuals in B.C. who are enrolled with the FNHA and have active MSP coverage. If you want to check your eligibility or enrol, call FNHA Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454.

Go to Step 7.

Are you at the end stage of a life-threatening disease and wish to receive palliative care at home?

“Home" is defined as wherever you are living, whether in your own home, with family or friends, in a supportive/assisted living residence, or in a hospice unit at a long-term care facility.

A doctor or nurse practitioner can register you for Plan P, which pays the full cost of many palliative care medications. Registration for Plan P also gives you access to health authority support for medical supplies and equipment.

For more information, read the BC Palliative Care Benefits patient information sheet, available in multiple languages.

Go to Step 8.

Do you care for children and/or teens with severe disabilities or complex healthcare needs at home?

Children registered in the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s (MCFD) At Home Program are enrolled in Plan F, which pays the full cost of eligible prescription drugs and medical supplies. PharmaCare coverage through the At Home Program ends at the end of the month your child turns 18. If they have a disability, they can apply for disability assistance 6 months before their 18th birthday, which provides coverage under Plan C. If they don’t qualify, apply for Fair PharmaCare.

Go to Step 9.

Do you have cystic fibrosis (CF)?

If you are registered with a provincial CF clinic you are enrolled in Plan D, which pays the full cost of digestive enzymes for CF. Fair PharmaCare, Plan C, Plan F and Plan W also cover certain vitamins, nutritional supplements and hypertonic saline solutions when purchased at a pharmacy. View the list of eligible products.

Go to Step 10.

Are you receiving assistance through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR) or are you a child or youth in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or an Indigenous Governing Body?

“Provincial income assistance" does not include employment insurance (EI). 

You are likely covered by Plan C. Under Plan C PharmaCare automatically pays the full cost of many prescriptions, medical devices and supplies, and dispensing fees. You are encouraged to register for the Fair PharmaCare plan in case your Plan C coverage ends.

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR) provides basic financial support for low or no income individuals, persons with disabilities benefits (PWD), and persons with persistent and multiple barriers to employment benefits (PPMB). Provincial income assistance does not include federal employment insurance (EI).

PharmaCare's plans help B.C. residents pay for prescription medications, medical devices and supplies, and pharmacy services. Coverage depends on PharmaCare policies. Read more to find out how these policies can affect your coverage.

Many drugs treat the same condition. PharmaCare groups equally safe and effective medications and fully covers the lowest-cost or generic option.

  • Use the Formulary Search to check if your drug is fully or partially covered. Click on the DIN/PIN/NPN for full details
  • Ask your pharmacist if an equally safe and effective version of your medication has better coverage

Some drugs require a special request from a prescriber to be partially or fully covered. Check the drug list on the PharmaCare Formulary Search to learn if your medication needs a “Special Authority” coverage request from your prescriber. You must meet the Special Authority criteria for coverage. You can track your request in Health Gateway.

Got questions or need help?