PharmaCare And You

The PharmaCare program helps eligible British Columbia residents with the expense of eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies.

Publicly funded BC PharmaCare is one of the most comprehensive drug programs in Canada. The quality of the program stems from the combination of its comprehensive coverage for B.C. residents and its coverage of the drugs patients need to achieve real health benefits.

Who we cover

B.C. residents are eligible for coverage under the following PharmaCare plans:

• Fair PharmaCare – B.C. families eligible for financial assistance under Fair PharmaCare, based on their net income. You can register for Fair PharmaCare online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Plan B – Permanent residents of licensed residential care facilities
• Plan C – Individuals receiving income assistance from the Province of British Columbia
• Plan D – Individuals registered with a provincial cystic fibrosis clinic
• Plan F – Children receiving medical or full financial assistance through the At Home Program of the Ministry of Children and Family Development
• Plan G – Clients of mental health services centres for whom the cost of medication is a significant barrier to treatment
• BC Palliative Care Benefits Program – For those who choose to receive palliative care at home.

What we cover

BC PharmaCare covers a comprehensive list of drugs and medical supplies, including:

• Most drugs prescribed by your physician, surgeon, dentist, midwife, nurse practitioner or podiatrist
• Insulin, needles, syringes and blood glucose monitoring strips for people with diabetes
• Certain ostomy supplies
• Designated permanent prosthetic appliances
• Designated children's orthotic devices (braces).

If you are eligible for assistance, PharmaCare’s share of your drug costs is calculated automatically at the time of purchase. You pay only the costs not covered by PharmaCare. For some items, such as prosthetics and orthotics, a manual claim must be submitted by you or the supplier.

A secure, province-wide computer system called PharmaNet keeps track of your prescription and medical supply costs – you don’t have to “do the math” or submit receipts.

What is not covered through PharmaCare

• Drugs administered in hospitals and emergency departments (these are funded through the local health authority)
• Cancer drugs (funded by PharmaCare but provided through the BC Cancer Agency)
• Anti-retroviral medications (these are available at no charge through the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS)
• Transplant medications (these are available through the BC Transplant Society)
• Kidney dialysis medications (available through the BC Renal Agency)
• Eyeglasses
• Baby formula
• Hearing aids or hearing aid batteries
• Drugs prescribed by a veterinarian
• Herbal medicine products
• Bandages
• Artificial sweeteners
• Most over-the-counter medications
• Wheelchairs, walkers, and other medical devices
• Drug costs that have been fully reimbursed by another insurer (including private insurers, Veterans' Affairs Canada, the Canadian Forces, the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, and the RCMP).
• Drugs or supplies purchased outside of British Columbia
• Mail-order prescriptions requested from companies or pharmacies located outside the province
• Repeat prescriptions required during an extended absence from B.C.
• Drug costs above the maximum price recognized by PharmaCare
• Dispensing fees above the maximum dispensing fee recognized by PharmaCare.

When you move away from British Columbia, PharmaCare coverage ends the day you leave the province.

• To find out if a specific drug is covered, contact Health Insurance BC.
• To find out if a drug has been reviewed for possible PharmaCare coverage, see our Drug Review Results page.
• To access lists of the drugs that require prior Special Authority approval to be eligible for full coverage, see the Special Authority information in our Coverage Policies section.
• The drug information on this site is listed by generic name only. If you know only the brand name, you may find the generic name in our cross-reference of common brand/generic drug names.

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