BC PharmaCare: Get help paying for medications and medical supplies
Last updated on November 15, 2024
People who live in B.C. can get help from BC PharmaCare to pay for:
Are you covered?
PharmaCare has a number of plans, including Fair PharmaCare, for B.C. residents covered by MSP:
- Everyone is encouraged to register for the Fair PharmaCare plan. Even if you are covered by another plan. The less your family earns, the more help you get. Register now!
- As a B.C. resident, you are automatically covered by PharmaCare's Plan Z, which pays the full cost of many contraceptives, opioid use disorder treatment, and a few other medications
- If you are receiving provincial income assistance, you should be automatically covered by Plan C, which pays the full cost of many medications
- If you are enrolled with the First Nation Health Authority, you should be covered by Plan W
- If your prescriber enrolled you in Plan G, prescriptions for medications covered by the plan should be fully paid for. Note: Be sure to get your Plan G coverage renewed before it runs out
Coverage at the pharmacy counter
PharmaCare coverage is processed at the pharmacy counter when you get your prescription dispensed. If you or your medication is covered by a 100% coverage plan, such as Plan Z, Plan G, Plan C or Plan W, or you have met your Fair PharmaCare family maximum, you should not pay for your prescription or the dispense. If you or your medication is covered only by Fair PharmaCare, you will pay some or all of the prescription cost and dispense until you meet your family maximum.
What's covered
Visit What PharmaCare covers or search the drug list — click on the DIN/PIN for plans.
If you have questions about your PharmaCare coverage, you may want to learn about:
- Coverage policies
- Drugs that require Special Authority (some items need special approval for coverage)
- Drug review (how PharmaCare decides which drugs to cover)
Are you registered for Fair PharmaCare, but paying more than you expected for your prescriptions?
- Pharmacies charge different amounts for drugs and services. You may want to compare prices and services
- Is your drug covered? Ask your pharmacist or physician if they can prescribe or adapt your prescription to a drug that PharmaCare covers
- If you need help paying your Fair PharmaCare deductible, consider signing up for monthly deductible payments. You may be able to get help with prescription costs right away
- If your family income has dropped by 10% or more in the past two years, you can apply for an income review, which may lower your deductible or family maximum
- On January 1, you may start paying the full amount for your medications, with eligible costs going toward your Fair PharmaCare deductible
Access your prescription records
Get a record of the prescriptions you have filled at B.C. community pharmacies:
- Download a copy by signing in to Health Gateway
- Order a copy through your pharmacy or the Ministry of Health.
Information for health professionals
Note: PharmaCare cannot help with purchases at pharmacies that are not enrolled in PharmaCare. Purchases at these pharmacies won’t count towards your deductible.
Your Voice
Complete a Your Voice survey to share your experience and thoughts about drugs that PharmaCare is considering covering.
