The BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan (Plan NP) is officially launching this March, bringing full coverage to many types of prescription medication. With the rising cost of living, residents who require medication will have one less cost to worry about very soon.
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Not sure if your prescription falls under Plan NP? We detail everything you need to know about what is covered.
Plan NP
Plan NP is B.C.’s newest medication coverage program, which will fully cover things like diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Since contraceptives— including prescription pills, IUDs, hormonal implants, injections, among many others— are already covered by the Province, B.C. is instead putting federal funding for contraceptives towards free treatment of menopausal symptoms.
According to the Government of British Columbia, those with diabetes “will generally have free access to medications like:
- Metformin, which can cost about $100 per year
- Insulin, which can cost between $900 and $1,700 per year
- Sulfonylureas and SGLT-2 inhibitors, which can cost from $100 to over $1,000 per year”
Not all diabetes medications will be covered by Plan NP, though. This includes Ozempic or its generic forms.
Moreover, if you have medications that are already covered by BC PharmaCare, they will still be covered. “Some of them may be covered 100% under national pharmacare. If so, coverage will transfer automatically. Some may no longer require Special Authority for coverage.”
How Does It Work?
Coverage is applied automatically at the pharmacy counter, just like with other BC PharmaCare plans. There’s no need to register or submit any receipts.
All you need to do is present your prescription for a covered medication and your BC Services Card at the pharmacy counter. Then, the pharmacist will process the prescription and give you your medication. Items that are fully covered will require no payment.
The B.C. Government notes that you should “always ask for a prescription with the best PharmaCare coverage. You can also ask a pharmacist if they can substitute your prescription for a medication that is equally safe and effective, but that has better coverage.”
What’s Covered?
For diabetes medications:
- Insulins
- Metformin
- Glyburide
- Gliclazide
- Dapagliflozin
- Empagliflozin
- Empagliflozin with metformin
These diabetes medications require Special Authority for coverage:
- Linagliptin
- Linagliptin with metformin
-
Pioglitazone
- Saxagliptin
- Saxagliptin with metformin
For menopausal hormone therapies:
- Oral conjugated estrogen
- Oral medroxyprogesterone
- Oral micronized progesterone
- Vaginal estrogen
- Topical estrogen and estrogen/progesterone (gels & patches)
- Oral estradiol
Plan NP officially launches on March 1, 2026, and will eventually get expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies on April 1, 2026.
For more information, check out the B.C. Government’s page on it here.
