What BC PharmaCare covers

Drugs covered by other agencies or facilities, such as those:

• Dispensed or administered in hospitals and emergency departments
• Used to treat cancer (available through BC Cancer Agency)
• For transplants (available through BC Transplant Society)
• For kidney dialysis (available through BC Renal Agency)
• Vaccines funded by the BC Centre for Disease Control 
• For anti-retroviral treatment (funded by PharmaCare but provided through BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS)

The following medical supplies and devices:

• Hearing aids or hearing aid batteries
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines
• Wheelchairs and walkers
• Eyeglasses
• Bandages
• Baby formula
• Herbal medicine products
• Artificial sweeteners, and
• Other supplies and devices not listed on Medical Supplies

Drugs:

• Purchased from pharmacies not enrolled in the PharmaCare program
• Purchased outside B.C. or from companies/pharmacies outside B.C. (except eligible Plan W benefits)
• Purchased over the counter, unless eligible under a specific PharmaCare plan
• That PharmaCare has decided not to cover (see Drugs Requiring Pre-Approval for exceptions)
• For which a manufacturer has not submitted a request for PharmaCare coverage
• PharmaCare is currently considering for coverage
• Available as part of a private clinical trial
• Prescribed by a veterinarian
• Normally used for cosmetic purposes (e.g. hair loss, wrinkle prevention)
• Paid for by another payer, such as:
  • A private or federal insurer
  • WorkSafe BC or ICBC
  • Through an award for damages, or settlement agreement

These fees:

• Any portion of a dispensing fee above the maximum dispensing fee PharmaCare covers
• Dispensing fees above the maximum number of fees PharmaCare covers
• Drug costs above the maximum drug price PharmaCare cover

The following pharmacy services:

• Pharmacogenomics testing