Free contraceptives
Last updated on January 30, 2026
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 the 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 licence, BC Services Card or CareCard.
- If you are prescribed an IUD or implant, you will need to arrange a visit to a doctor or clinic to have it inserted
- Pharmacists can administer the contraceptive injection
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
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Product | Ingredient | Benefit status (full means free) | DIN (for pharmacist use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depo-Provera | medroxyprogesterone acetate 150 mg | Full benefit | 2523493 |
| Product | Ingredient | Benefit status (full means free) | DIN (for pharmacist use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexplanon | etonogestrel 68 mg | Full benefit | 2499509 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Mystep | levonorgestrel 1.5 mg | Full benefit | 2548461 |
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.
