National Pharmacare (Plan NP)

 

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Overview

As of March 1, 2026, the National Pharmacare Plan (Plan NP) provides 100% coverage of select diabetes medications, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and contraceptives for any B.C. resident enrolled in MSP. The federal government contributes funding for national pharmacare.

With the launch of Plan NP, the pricing of insulin as a PharmaCare benefit is regulated under the Drug Price Regulation and subject to the Maximum Pricing Policy, and subject to the Full Payment Policy through an amendment to the Provider Regulation.

Some benefits are partially covered, subject to Low Cost Alternative (LCA) pricing. The public is being encouraged to ask their pharmacist or prescriber to adapt to or prescribe fully covered benefits.

Expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies will begin on April 1, 2026. Details will be available soon in the PharmaCare Newsletter.

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

Full Payment Policy

PharmaCare's Full Payment Policy applies to Plan NP benefits with 100% coverage. This means pharmacies cannot charge a client for the medication or any service associated with the dispense.

Special Authority

Several Plan NP diabetes benefits continue to require Special Authority (SA). Once SA is approved, these benefits have 100% coverage, unless LCA pricing applies. 

Special Authority is no longer required for:

• Empagliflozin
• Empagliflozin/metformin
• Gliclazide
• Insulin glargine (Semglee, Basaglar)
• Topical estrogen and estrogen/progesterone (gels & patches)

No MHTs or contraceptives will require SA.

Benefit lists with DINs

If a client has 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.

Health providers can review the MHT and diabetes DINs that will be covered under Plan NP at:

• Plan NP menopausal hormone therapy
• Plan NP diabetes medications

The same contraceptives previously covered under Plan Z are now covered under Plan NP. 

Eligibility

All B.C. residents enrolled in MSP are eligible for Plan NP coverage. Plan NP coverage is provided at the pharmacy and processed in PharmaNet, as with all BC PharmaCare plans.

Clients in the MSP wait period

Exceptional Plan NP coverage is available to B.C. residents who have completed both steps of MSP enrolment but are still in the wait period/not yet actively enrolled.

How to apply for Plan NP exceptional coverage

The pharmacist must:

• Confirm with the patient that they have completed the two MSP enrolment steps
• Complete and fax the HLTH 5499 – Exceptional coverage: National Pharmacare and Mifegymiso (PDF, 82KB) form to Health Insurance BC (HIBC) at 250-405-3587

HIBC confirms the client is in the MSP wait period, activates 3 months of coverage, and notifies you by fax. If HIBC cannot confirm the client has completed MSP enrolment, they return the form by fax and the client will not have coverage.