Free contraceptives

Last updated on November 25, 2024

On this page: How it works | Covered contraceptives | Medical abortion | Resources

PharmaCare pays for these prescription contraceptives for any B.C. resident:

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

To get free contraceptives, you need to be enrolled in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). If you have applied and your MSP coverage is not yet active, a pharmacist can help you get exceptional coverage.

Contraceptives are also covered for non-contraceptive use.


How it works

1. The prescription

Get a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist at, for example, a walk-in clinic, hospital, pharmacy, or through a street nurse program. As of June 1, 2023, pharmacists can prescribe contraceptives. Read about pharmacist prescribing at Pharmacy services in B.C.

Request a type that PharmaCare fully covers. Some contraceptives are partially covered.

  • If you've been prescribed a prescription that isn't fully covered, you can ask a pharmacist to change it to an equivalent that is free
  • To switch to a different type of contraception, for example from the pill to an IUD, talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist
  • You do not need a prescription for emergency contraception. Ask the pharmacist how to get emergency contraceptives for free

2. Present or get a prescription at a pharmacy

Present the prescription and your Personal Health Number at a pharmacy. Your Personal Health Number can be found on the back of your driver's license, BC Services Card or CareCard.

3. Pay nothing

The pharmacist dispenses your prescription. You pay nothing (as long as it is a fully covered contraceptive). The pharmacist can not charge you a fee for the dispense, assessment, or any other action associated with filling the prescription.

Covered contraceptives

Prescription contraceptive pills
Product Ingredient Benefit status
(full means free)
DIN
(for pharmacist use)
Alesse 21 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option
2236974
Alesse 28 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2236975
Alysena 21 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2387875
Alysena 28 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2387883
Apri 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2317192
Apri 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2317206
Audrina 21 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2532174
Audrina 28 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2532182
Aviane 21 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2298538
Aviane 28 ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
Full benefit 2298546
Brevicon 0.5/35 (21) ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5 mg
Full benefit 2187086
Brevicon 0.5/35 (28) ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5 mg
Full benefit 2187094
Brevicon 1/35 (21) ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 1 mg
Full benefit 2189054
Brevicon 1/35 (28) ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 1 mg
Full benefit 2189062
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2462060
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2421437
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2421445
Freya 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2396491
Freya 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2396610
Jencycla norethindrone 0.35 mg Full benefit 2441306
Linessa 21 ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
desogestrel 0.1/ 0.125/ 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2272903
Linessa 28 ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
desogestrel 0.1/ 0.125/ 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2257238
LOLO 28 noethindrone acetate 1 mg
ethinyl estradiol 0.010 mg
Full benefit 2417456
Marvelon 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2042487
Marvelon 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2042479
Min-Ovral 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2042320
Min-Ovral 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2042339
Mirvala 21  ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2410249
Mirvala 28  ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2410257
Movisse norethindrone 0.35 mg Full benefit 2410303
Mya ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2415380
Ovima 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2387085
Ovima 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2387093
Portia 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2295946
Portia 28  ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
Full benefit 2295954
Synphasic 21 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5/ 1 mg
Full benefit 2187108
Synphasic 28 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5/ 1 mg
Full benefit 2187116
Tri-Cira 21 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2508087
Tri-Cira 28 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2508095
Tri-Jordyna 21 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2486296
Tri-Jordyna 28 ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2486318
Tricira-Lo 21 ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2401967
Tricira-Lo 28 ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg
Full benefit 2401975
Triquilar 21  ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.05/ 0.075/ 0.125 mg
Full benefit 707600
Triquilar 28  ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.05/ 0.075/ 0.125 mg
Full benefit 707503
Yasmin 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2261723
Yasmin 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2261731
Yaz ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option.
2321157
Zamine 21 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2410788
Zamine 28 ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg
Full benefit 2410796

Copper IUDs

Product Benefit status (full means free) PIN (for pharmacist use)
Flexi-T 300 Full benefit 66127954
Flexi-T +300 Full benefit 66128087
Flexi-T 380 Full benefit 66128088
Liberte UT 380 Short Full benefit 66128089
Liberte UT 380 Standard Full benefit 66128090
Liberte TT 380 Short Full benefit 66128091
Liberte TT 380 Standard Full benefit 66128092
Liberté UT 380 Silver-Copper Standard   Full benefit 66128387
Liberté UT 380 Silver-Copper Short Full benefit 66128388
Mona Lisa 10 Full benefit 66128153
Mona Lisa 5 Mini Full benefit 66128154
Mona Lisa 5 Standard Full benefit 66128390
Mona Lisa N Full benefit 66128158

Hormonal IUDs

Product Ingredient Benefit Status (full means free) DIN (for pharmacist use)
Kyleena levonorgestrel 19.5 mg Full benefit 2459523
Mirena levonorgestrel 52 mg Full benefit 2243005

Contraceptive injection

Product Ingredient Benefit status (full means free) DIN (for pharmacist use)
Depo-Provera medroxyprogesterone acetate 150 mg Full benefit 2523493

Hormonal implant

Product Ingredient Benefit status (full means free) DIN (for pharmacist use)
Nexplanon etonogestrel 68 mg Full benefit 2499509

Hormonal vaginal ring

Product Ingredient Benefit status DIN (for pharmacist use)
Haloette Delivers etonogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 120 mcg / 15 mcg per day Full benefit 2520028
NuvaRing Delivers etonogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 120 mcg / 15 mcg per day Partial benefit 2253186

 Emergency contraceptives

Product Ingredient Benefit status DIN (for pharmacist use)
Contingency One levonorgestrel 1.5 mg Full benefit 2425009
Backup Plan One-step levonorgestrel 1.5 mg Full benefit 2433532
Plan B levonorgestrel 1.5 mg Partial benefit (patient pays difference) 2293854
PharmaCare doesn't currently cover cervical caps, condoms (often available free at sexual health clinics), diaphragms, patches, or sponges.

Medical abortion (two-pill combination)

PharmaCare pays the full cost of medical abortion for any B.C. resident with a prescription. All you need to do is present a prescription and your BC Services Card at the pharmacy counter. You can read about medical abortion at HealthLinkBC. If you are in the wait period for MSP coverage, the pharmacist will ask you to sign a form for exceptional coverage. 

You may be interested in information about coverage of surgical abortion.