National pharmacare in B.C.

Last updated on March 4, 2026

The BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan (Plan NP) launched for B.C. residents on March 1, 2026.

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Plan NP covers the full cost of many diabetes medications, contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).

If you have diabetes, you generally have free access to medications like:

  • Metformin, which can cost about $100 per year
  • Insulin, which can cost between $900 and $1,700 per year
  • Sulfonylureas and SGLT-2 inhibitors, which can cost from $100 to over $1,000 per year

Some medications are partially covered. A pharmacist or prescriber can often change a partially covered prescription (i.e., brand name) to an equally safe and effective product that is 100% covered (i.e., generic) under the Low Cost Alternative (LCA) program. Generics cost 15% to 90% less than brands. The LCA program supports wise use of drug coverage funding.

For some diabetes medications (saxagliptin, linagliptin and pioglitazone), your prescriber must submit a Special Authority (SA) request for coverage. The SA request must be approved before you fill your prescription to receive coverage. Track SA requests at Health Gateway.

Expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies will begin on April 1, 2026.

If you had medications covered by BC PharmaCare before March 1, they will still be covered. Some of them may be covered 100% under Plan NP. Coverage transfers automatically. Some may no longer require Special Authority for coverage.

Plan NP dispenses do not count towards the Fair PharmaCare deductible or family maximum.

B.C. residents must be enrolled in the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP) to be eligible.

How it works

B.C. residents must be enrolled in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) to be eligible. If you have applied and your MSP coverage is not yet active, a pharmacist can help you get exceptional coverage.

Coverage will be provided automatically at the pharmacy counter as with other BC PharmaCare plans. You will not need to register for coverage or submit receipts.

For coverage:

  1. Present a prescription for a covered medication and your BC Services Card at the pharmacy counter. A prescription is not needed for insulins.
  2. The pharmacist processes the prescription and provides your medication. For fully covered items, you pay nothing. The pharmacist cannot charge you for the medication or any related services, including dispensing fees.

Always ask for a prescription with the best PharmaCare coverage. You can also ask a pharmacist if they can substitute your prescription for a medication that is equally safe and effective, but that has better coverage.

What is covered

If you have a prescription for a Plan NP medication, it is covered. It doesn’t matter what the prescription is for. Exceptions are saxagliptin, linagliptin and pioglitazone, which need Special Authority, and non-benefit insulins.

Diabetes medications

  • Insulins
  • Metformin
  • Glyburide
  • Gliclazide
  • Dapagliflozin
  • Empagliflozin
  • Empagliflozin with metformin

The diabetes medications below require Special Authority for coverage. The SA request must be approved before you fill your prescription to receive coverage. Track SA requests at Health Gateway.

  • Linagliptin
  • Linagliptin with metformin
  • Pioglitazone
  • Saxagliptin
  • Saxagliptin with metformin

You can find the full list of covered diabetes medications at Plan NP diabetes medications. 

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

  • Oral conjugated estrogen
  • Oral medroxyprogesterone
  • Oral micronized progesterone
  • Vaginal estrogen
  • Topical estrogen and estrogen/progesterone (gels & patches)
  • Oral estradiol

You can find the full list of covered menopausal hormone therapy medications at Plan NP menopausal hormone therapy.

Contraceptives

  • Most prescription contraceptive pills
  • Intrauterine devices (IUDs) – hormonal and copper
  • Hormonal implant
  • Hormonal vaginal rings
  • Contraceptive injection
  • Emergency contraception (no prescription needed)

For more information on contraceptives covered by Plan NP, visit Free contraceptives

Background

On March 6, 2025, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years. Under the agreement, 100% coverage for eligible contraceptives, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), began in B.C. on March 1, 2026.

Expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies will begin on April 1, 2026.​

 

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