Consent Information

When registering for Fair PharmaCare, you (and, if applicable, your spouse) will be asked to sign a consent form authorizing the Ministry of Health and/or Health Insurance BC to access certain information from your income tax file.

The federal government, through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), requires us to obtain your written consent. The income information accessed is used only to determine your PharmaCare coverage.

What if I don't return my consent form?

If you do not provide us with a signed consent form, we cannot determine your appropriate level of coverage. Without confirmation of your income, your level of coverage would be set at the default level of a $10,000 deductible for each member of your family.

What if I lose my consent form?

If you have lost your consent form: Request a copy of the consent form using our online Forms Copy Request or by contacting Health Insurance BC.  

Do other government programs require signed consent forms?

Any government program that needs to access your information must obtain your written consent and sign a detailed Memorandum of Agreement with the CRA that limits their access to, and use of, information.

Within the B.C. Ministry of Health, both the Medical Services Plan and the Home and Community Care Branch require written consent from individuals who apply for benefits. Other provincial governments, such as Manitoba, also require written consent to administer benefits.

Can my information be used for any other purpose?

No. The information cannot be used for any purpose other than determining your family's level of Fair PharmaCare coverage.

What specific information is collected?

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and the CRA permits us to access four items of tax information with your signed consent, specifically:  

Line 236 - Net Income: The line provides your net income and can be used only to determine your level of Fair PharmaCare coverage.

Line 117 – Universal Child Care Benefits payments: This amount is deducted from your net income when determining your level of Fair PharmaCare coverage.

Line 303 - Married Amount: The ministry will use this information to determine the income of your spouse or common-law partner only if:

• both you and your spouse/common-law partner have signed a consent form; and
• the your spouse/common-law partner has not filed a separate income tax return; or
• the demographic information you provided for your spouse/common-law partner when registering for Fair PharmaCare does not match CRA data.

GST/HST Credit Application: Used only under the circumstances outlined above for Line 303.

Can my pharmacist determine my net income?

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Last Revised: January 04, 2008