Updating your coverage information

It is important that you keep your Fair PharmaCare family information up to date. Changes in your family may change your coverage level.

Each member of your family must be registered with Fair PharmaCare before their prescription costs will be covered.

On this page: Family changes to report l Reinstating your coverage

Family changes to report

Contact us as soon as possible after:

• You marry or enter into a marriage-like relationship
• You have a new baby or adopt a child
• You gain primary (51% or more) custody of a child from a previous marriage or relationship
• You separate or divorce.
  • Both former spouses should contact us. If you and/or your former spouse experience a drop in income due to the separation/divorce, increased assistance may be available. Children can be included one one family account. Children should be on the same parent's Fair PharmaCare account and MSP account. If your family information changes for your MSP coverage only, we will notify you to confirm your Fair PharmaCare information. Respond promptly to prevent termination of your Fair PharmaCare coverage
• Your spouse dies.
  • Your spouse's income is included in the calculation of your Fair PharmaCare coverage until the end of the year. This allows your spouse's prescription costs to count towards your deductible. If this creates financial difficulty, contact us to have your spouse's income removed
• Your spouse becomes a resident in a licensed long-term care facility.
  • If your combined income is less than $42,000, after subtracting your spouse's long-term care fees, you can request increased coverage. If prescription costs are a challenge, ask us about qualifying as "separated." This will allow us to exclude your spouse's income when calculating your Fair PharmaCare coverage
• Your child is no longer considered a dependent by the Medical Services Plan (ask if we can set up separate Fair PharmaCare coverage for them)

Reinstating your coverage

In some circumstances, your income-based Fair PharmaCare coverage may end. If you become eligible for coverage again, contact us to reinstate your coverage. You do not need to re-register.

Your coverage may have ended because:

• You did not return a consent form authorizing PharmaCare to check your income with the Canada Revenue Agency, or withdrew your consent
• Your deductible defaulted to $10,000 per family because we could not verify your income (if, for example, you did not file a tax return)
• Your coverage ended because you left B.C. to live elsewhere or
• You opted out of the B.C. Medical Services Plan

In each case, coverage can be reinstated if you take the needed steps. This might mean filing a tax return, re-enrolling with the BC Medical Services Plan, or providing your consent for PharmaCare to check your income with the Canada Revenue Agency.