BC PharmaCare: How Fair PharmaCare and Other Plans Work
Last reviewed 2026-09-24
BC PharmaCare is British Columbia's public drug plan. Most residents are covered through Fair PharmaCare, which bases what you pay on your family's net income. Several special plans cover specific groups with little or no cost.
Fair PharmaCare
Fair PharmaCare is open to anyone with active BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage who has filed an income tax return. You pay full cost until you reach your income-based deductible, then PharmaCare pays a share (usually 70%) until you reach your family maximum, after which it pays 100% for the rest of the calendar year. Lower-income families, and families with a member born before 1940, get more generous levels.
Other PharmaCare plans
- Plan B — residents of licensed long-term care facilities.
- Plan C — people receiving income assistance.
- Plan F — children in the At Home Program.
- Plan G — mental health medications for eligible people.
- Plan P — palliative care at home.
- Plan W — First Nations Health Benefits.
Free prescription contraception
Since April 2023, BC PharmaCare covers many prescription contraceptives in full for BC residents with MSP coverage, including pills, IUDs, implants and emergency contraception.
How to register
- Register for Fair PharmaCare online through the BC government site, or by phone.
- Everyone in your family must have MSP coverage and have filed taxes for the relevant year.
- Coverage uses your income from two years before the current year; you can request an income review if your income dropped significantly.
Frequently asked questions
Is BC PharmaCare free?
Not for most people. Fair PharmaCare has an income-based deductible, then shares costs until your family maximum. Some special plans and contraceptives are fully covered.
Does PharmaCare cover every drug?
No. It covers drugs listed on the BC PharmaCare formulary; some need Special Authority approval from your prescriber.
When does the Fair PharmaCare year reset?
Deductibles and family maximums reset on January 1 each year.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not medical or financial advice. Program rules and amounts change — confirm with the official source or your pharmacist.