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BC PharmaCare plans – information for health professionals

Last updated on November 25, 2024

This page is for health professionals. It links to information about PharmaCare's coverage plans and select benefits. Information for the public is available at BC PharmaCare plans

A person can be covered by several plans at once.

For most plans, a person be a B.C. resident, actively enrolled in MSP. This means they have:

  • Completed the Application for Health and Drug Coverage and, usually,
  • Presented their identification at an ICBC driver licensing office (adults), and
  • Reached the end of the MSP wait period, which is two months plus the balance of the month they started living in B.C.

Note: Exceptional Plan Z and Plan G coverage, and in some cases Plan P coverage, is available for people in the MSP wait period.

Coverage, criteria and procedures for specific medications: Contraceptives | Opioid agonist treatment | Paxlovid | Prolastin-C | COPD inhalers

These five primary plans cover a wide range of benefits:

Individuals covered by Plan C and F are encouraged to register for Fair PharmaCare. This way, if coverage through Plan C or Plan F ends, coverage through Fair PharmaCare will begin automatically.

Seven supplemental plans cover specific items related to specific conditions and patient groups:

  • Plan S (Smoking Cessation)
  • Plan X (British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS)
  • Plan Z (Assurance)

For items not covered under the supplemental plans, individuals must register for Fair PharmaCare or qualify for coverage under another primary plan.

Fair PharmaCare Plan

Coverage under the Fair PharmaCare plan is based on income. It is the only plan that people register for on their own. They provide their Social Insurance Number and consent for their income returns to be checked each year so that their deductible and family maximum can be set. Over 1.3 million B.C. families are registered for Fair PharmaCare coverage.

Please encourage all your clients to register. You can print off the Fair PharmaCare pamphlet (available in 15 languages) or give them the online link (www.gov.bc.ca/ahdc) or the number for the help desk (1-800-663-7100). Fair PharmaCare is indicated in the formulary search as Plan I.

First Nations Health Benefits (Plan W)

Plan W covers 100% of the cost of many prescription drugs, some medical devices and supplies, dispensing fees, and certain over-the-counter drugs and non-OTC items. If you have a First Nations client who wants to be enrolled in Plan W, please have them contact FNHA at 1-855-550-5454. 

Income Assistance (Plan C)

Plan C automatically covers 100% of the cost of many prescription drugs, some medical devices and supplies, and dispensing fees for B.C. residents receiving benefits and income assistance through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR), or in the care of or an agreement with Ministry of Children and Family Services (MCFD).

Long-term Care (Plan B)

Plan B provides 100% coverage of eligible prescription drugs and medical supplies for permanent residents of licensed long-term care facilities that are registered to be Plan B providers. When someone becomes a permanent resident of a Plan B facility, they are automatically covered. Plan B does not apply to people staying in extended-care, acute-care, multi-level, or assisted-living facilities or short-term patients in a licensed long-term care facility.

Psychiatric Medications (Plan G)

The Psychiatric Medications plan (Plan G) covers 100% of the cost of many psychiatric medications and drugs to treat opioid use disorder when cost is a serious barrier to a person getting treatment (i.e., less than $42,000 adjusted family net income plus $3,000 per dependent). Prescribers apply for Plan G coverage on the patient's behalf. Plan G coverage is for a limited time. Please support clients in renewing their coverage. Exceptional coverage is also available in certain circumstances. 

Palliative Care (Plan P)

Plan P covers 100% of the cost of eligible medications for B.C. residents who have reached the end stage of a life-threatening disease or illness and who wish to receive palliative care at home (including with family or friends, in a supportive/assisted living residence, or hospice unit at a long-term care facility). Physicians and nurse practitioners register patients. 

Assurance Plan (Plan Z)

Plan Z automatically covers 100% of the cost of contraceptives, Mifegymiso, opioid use disorder treatment (OAT), Paxlovid, and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) medications for any B.C. resident, though exceptional coverage is available to new B.C. residents in the wait period for MSP. No registration required.

Smoking Cessation (Plan S)

Plan S covers 100% of the cost of nicotine gum, lozenges or patches, and some or all of the cost of certain smoking cessation prescription drugs for B.C residents of any age. A pharmacist enrols people in the program.

Cystic Fibrosis (Plan D)

Plan D covers 100% of the cost of eligible digestive enzymes in the Plan D formulary and partial or full coverage of other products in the formulary, depending on a client's other PharmaCare plan (i.e., Plan C, Plan F, Plan W, or Fair PharmaCare). Clients register with a provincial cystic fibrosis clinic to get coverage.

Children in the At Home Program (Plan F)

Plan F covers 100% of the cost of eligible prescription drugs and medical supplies for children and teens with complex health care needs, who are receiving benefits through the The ​At Home Program of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). MCFD organizes the client's PharmaCare coverage.

British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (Plan X)

Plan X covers antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive individuals through the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

 Medication Management (Plan M)

Plan M covers individuals for eligible services provided by pharmacies, such as clinical services, medication reviews, and publicly funded vaccinations.

Share information with your clients

PharmaCare pamphlets for the public are available in 15 languages. Please print and share with your clients. Post the QR Matrix Sheet (PDF) in your office or pharmacy for easy access.

PharmaCare coverage and MSP enrolment

Most PharmaCare plans require people to be enrolled in MSP to receive coverage.

Coverage is sometimes available under Plan Z (Assurance) and Plan G (Psychiatric Medications) for people living in B.C. who are in the wait period for MSP coverage or have not have completed both MSP enrolment steps.

MSP enrolment

To enrol in MSP and obtain a photo BC Services Card, most adults must complete two steps:

Note: Children and temporary document holders don’t need to attend an ICBC office. They will be issued a non-photo BC Services Card.

MSP coverage becomes active once MSP enrolment is complete and the resident has completed the wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which they established residency in B.C., plus two months.

Once these two steps are done, MSP coverage becomes active after the balance of the month in which you established residency in B.C., plus two months.

First Nations clients

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) manages MSP for First Nations people in B.C. Status First Nations people can enrol for MSP through the First Nations Health Benefits program (Plan W). The MSP enrolment application is available online or by calling First Nations Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454.