Fair PharmaCare plan (2024)

Fair PharmaCare helps B.C. families pay for many prescription drugs, dispensing fees and some medical devices and supplies. The plan is based on income. The less a family earns, the more help they get.

See if you're already registered. If youregistered but no longer have coverage, see reinstating your coverage.

You can also register by paper (PDF)or phone.

Who is eligible for Fair PharmaCare?

All residents of B.C. are eligible for Fair PharmaCare coverage if they:

Have Medical Services Plan (MSP)coverage, and
Give PharmaCare permission to check their income with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Temporary coverage starts the same day you register byphone or online, based on the income information you provide.

Coverage is for families, not individuals. A family can be a:

Single person
Married or common-law couple

Single person with dependent children
Couple with dependent children

What does Fair PharmaCare cover?

Fair PharmaCare covers some:

Prescription drugs
Medical devices
Pharmacy services

For more information refer toWhat BC PharmaCare covers.Use thePharmaCare Formulary Searchto check which which drugs are covered(click on a drug's DIN/PIN/NPN in your search results for coverage details, including plans).

Important: Fair PharmaCare does not cover costs from previous yearsor from times when the family’s MSP coverage was not active.

What you need to register

For all family members:

Personal Health Number (found on the back of your driver’s licence or BC Services Card)
Birth dates

For you and your spouse (if you have one):

Social Insurance Numbers
Income from your tax return from two years ago, including:
- Net income (line 23600)
- Any income from a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) (line 12500)

Consent to check income

After you register, PharmaCare will send you a consent form that you must fill in, signand send back within 30 days, so that we can check your income with CRA.

If you do not return your CRA consent form, temporary coverage will end, and your family's deductible will be set at $10,000
It may take up to 90 days to confirm your income with the CRA
Once we verify your income, PharmaCare will send you a confirmation letter within 30 days, which will explain your coverage for the calendar year

PharmaCare calculates your coverage each year based on the income information PharmaCare receives from the CRA. Each year's coverage is based on your income from 2 years prior.

As long as PharmaCare is able to verify your income each year with the CRA, your coverage continues.

Lost your consent form? VisitRequest consent formor contact us. Return the form as soon as possible to ensure temporary coverage continues.

If you did not file taxes in Canada 2 years ago: If you are anew residentof Canada, or were working overseas, or recently turned 19, or wereotherwise exempt from filing taxes in Canada 2 years ago, you may be able tosubmit a Fair PharmaCare Proof of Income Affidavit (PDF, 763 KB).

Can't find your tax return? You can request your notice of assessment from previous years by contacting CRA, toll-free, at1 800959-8281 or through yourCRA My Account. You can usethe BC Services Card appto access CRA My Account.

What is a deductible?

A family’s deductible is the amount they need to spend each year on eligible costsbefore Fair PharmaCare starts to help with these costs. Once a family reaches their deductible, PharmaCare pays 70% of eligible costs, or 75%if a familymember was born before 1940.

Estimate your deductible at Fair PharmaCare assistance levels
Request anincome review or monthlypayment optionif you need helpmeeting your deductible. Refer to Get help paying your Fair PharmaCare deductible for more information.

What is a family maximum?

The family maximum is the most a family will spend out of pocketper yearon eligible drugs, feesand medical supplies.

After a family reaches their family maximum, Fair PharmaCare pays 100% of their eligible costs for the rest of the year
Estimate your family maximum at Fair PharmaCare assistance levels

How deductibles and family maximums work

Children and students

To receive Fair PharmaCare coverage, dependent children are:

Under the age of 19 OR age 19-24 and attending school full time
- full-time students can contact us to stay on their family’s plan
Included on their parents' MSP plan (in the case of shared custody, they must be on only one parent's PharmaCare account and on thatparent’s MSP plan).
Not married or living in a marriage-like relationship

When someone who is notconsidered dependent turns 19, they should register for Fair PharmaCare on their own plan. Theirparents'incomes will not affect their deductible or family maximum, so they may be eligible for more coverage.

If you have private health insurance, you may still get help with costs from Fair PharmaCare.