Get help quitting tobacco

BC PharmaCare's Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C residents of any age stop using tobacco products.

PharmaCare pays:

• The full cost of nicotine gum, lozenges and patches (nicotine replacement therapy or NRT) or
• Some or all of the cost of certain smoking cessation prescription drugs, with coverage depending on your PharmaCare plan

On this page: How does it work? | How to get gum, lozenges and patches (NRTs) | How to get smoking cessation prescription drugs | Switching between NRTs and prescription drugs

How does it work?

Each calendar year (January to December), you can receive PharmaCare coverage for one continuous course of treatment of up to 12 weeks (84 days) for either NRT or prescription medication. You will get one month’s supply at a time. The 12-week coverage period begins when you pick up your first NRT product or fill your first prescription.

If you are still smoking at the end of the treatment, you can receive coverage for another course of treatment the following year (starting January 1), if you meet the eligibility criteria again.

After you pick up your first month's supply, you have 84 days to request your remaining prescription or NRT supplies. After that, if you want additional coverage, you will have to wait until the next calendar year before PharmaCare will help pay for these products again. To complete the full course of treatment before the end of the calendar year, the latest you can start treatment is November 6.

Note: If NRTs are part of your smoking cessation plan and you need to stop your treatment before the 12-week course is complete, you can contact PharmaCare to request coverage for the remainder of the 12-week course when you are ready to resume NRT.

How to get gum, lozenges and patches (NRTs)

Visit your local pharmacy. You and the pharmacist must both sign a declaration form. You do not need a prescription, and you can likely get NRTs the same day. 

A pharmacist can also assess you for nicotine dependence as part of the Minor Ailment and Contraception Service (MACS). They can then recommend treatment options (including NRTs) if appropriate.

You do not need to be signed up for Fair PharmaCare, but you do need to be enrolled in MSP.

PharmaCare covers the following types of NRT:

Product type and brand name	Strengths
Nicorette® gum (ultra fresh mint flavour only)	2 mg 4 mg
Nicorette® lozenges (mint flavour only)	2 mg 4 mg
Nicoderm® patches	Step 1 patches - 21 mg Step 2 patches - 14 mg Step 3 patches - 7 mg

You may want to talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about whether NRTs are the best choice for you if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have a chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problem, kidney disease, breathing issue)
• Were recently in the hospital

Quitting smoking can affect how your body handles substances including medications and caffeine. Talk to your healthcare provider about any medications or substances you may be taking. 

During a quit attempt, monitoring or adjustment may be needed for medications such as:

How to get smoking cessation prescription drugs

1. Talk to a healthcare provider, including a pharmacist, to see if smoking cessation drugs are right for you.
2. If they prescribe a drug, they will advise you on how best to improve your chances of quitting.
3. Fill your prescription at the pharmacy.

PharmaCare helps pay for two prescribed smoking cessation drugs:

• Bupropion (brand name Zyban^®only), and
• Varenicline generics (you may know the drug as Champix)

You must be covered by one of these PharmaCare plans:

• Fair PharmaCare - Coverage depends on whether you have met your deductible and family maximum
• Residential Care (Plan B) - Full cost covered
• B.C. Income Assistance (Plan C) - Full cost covered
• Psychiatric Medications (Plan G) - Full cost covered
• First Nations Health Benefits (Plan W) - Full cost covered

To find out if you are covered by any of these plans, contact the PharmaCare help desk.

Switching between NRTs and prescription drugs

Switching from one NRT product to another NRT product: If you started with an NRT product and want to switch to a different NRT product, you can request this at your pharmacy when you go for your next refill.

Switching from one prescription drug to another prescription drug: If you started with a smoking cessation prescription drug and want to switch to a different prescription drug, your healthcare provider can likely prescribe the other drug. Your healthcare provider will need to submit a Special Authority request before PharmaCare will cover the new drug.

Switching from an NRT product to a prescription drug: If you started with an NRT product and want to switch to a prescription smoking cessation drug, you will usually have to wait until the next calendar year before PharmaCare will provide coverage. In some cases, PharmaCare will cover the prescription drug in the same year. Your healthcare provider will need to submit a Special Authority request.

Switching from a prescription drug to an NRT product: If you paid the entire cost of the prescription smoking cessation drug without any PharmaCare contribution, you can get an NRT product free of charge. If PharmaCare paid part or all of the cost of the prescription smoking cessation drug, you may be able to get an NRT product at no charge in the same year. Your healthcare provider will need to submit a Special Authority request.

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