Long-term Care (Plan B)
Last updated on June 4, 2026
This page explains BC PharmaCare Long-term Care (Plan B) coverage.
On this page
What to know
Plan B is for B.C. residents who live permanently in a licensed long-term care facility enrolled in PharmaCare Plan B.
Plan B covers the full cost of many prescription drugs, pharmacy services, and some medical devices and supplies.
Not all long-term care facilities in B.C. are enrolled. Before moving into a long-term care facility, ask if it is enrolled in Plan B for the best PharmaCare coverage.
Who is eligible for Plan B
Coverage is for adult B.C. residents who are permanent residents of a licensed long-term care facility enrolled as a PharmaCare Plan B site.
You do not need to register (or apply) for Plan B. If the facility you move to is enrolled in Plan B, coverage begins the day you move in.
Plan B does not apply to people who are:
- Living in extended care, acute care, multi-level, or assisted living facilities
- Temporarily living in licensed long-term care facility (e.g., for respite care, hospice or palliative care)
Facilities must maintain Plan B designation for coverage; if a facility opts out, residents will no longer have Plan B coverage.
People who do not live in a facility enrolled in Plan B are eligible for other coverage under PharmaCare plans, including Fair PharmaCare. Visit Fair PharmaCare Registration Status Search to check if you're already registered to get the best coverage possible. Use the PharmaCare Compass to determine your eligibility for other plans.
To find out which drugs PharmaCare covers, and under which plans, use the BC PharmaCare Formulary Search tool.
What Plan B covers
Permanent residents of long-term care facilities enrolled in PharmaCare Plan B receive 100% coverage of:
- Many prescription medications, and
- Many pharmacy services, such as dispensing and medication reviews, and publicly funded vaccinations administered by a pharmacist.
Plan B covers the cost of eligible medical supplies and devices, up to a maximum price set by PharmaCare. This includes:
- Prostheses and orthoses
- Ostomy supplies
- Insulin pumps (with Special Authority approval), and
- Insulin pump supplies (pods, infusion sets/kits, and insulin pump reservoirs/cartridges).
PharmaCare's Full Payment Policy means that you cannot be charged for medications when they are a full benefit under Plan B.
The Full Payment Policy does not apply to medical devices and supplies, so you may have to pay for costs beyond the maximum amount PharmaCare covers.
Learn more about maximum costs and the Full Payment Policy at BC PharmaCare policies.
Licensed long-term care facilities in B.C. are required to provide routine medical supplies such as needles, syringes and blood glucose test strips at no cost to residents. These supplies are not covered by Plan B.
Special Authority
Some drugs require a special request from a healthcare provider to be partially or fully covered by PharmaCare. If your prescriber believes a Special Authority (SA) drug would be best for your circumstances, they can request SA coverage. Pharmacists who are collaborating with a prescriber as part of comprehensive care at a long-term care facility can also submit SA requests.
Find out more at Drugs that require Special Authority.
Resources
- Advance Care Planning (guide) – available in multiple languages
- PharmaCare Policy Manual, Section 7.3: Long-term Care (Plan B)
- BC PharmaCare: Get help paying for medications and medical supplies – general information about PharmaCare coverage
