What happens if you do not register
Fair PharmaCare is BC's income-based prescription drug program. Registration is free and you only do it once. Households that are not registered are treated as having a $10,000 deductible: you pay prescription costs up to that amount before PharmaCare starts to reimburse.[1]
How coverage works once you are registered
The deductible and the annual family maximum depend on household net income, using the tax figure from two years earlier. In 2026 that means 2024 income. After the deductible is met, PharmaCare pays 70%; once the family maximum is reached, eligible costs are covered at 100%.[2]
Examples from the province's assistance-level table:[2]
| Household net income | Deductible | Family maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Under $13,750 | None; covered from the first dollar | None |
| About $50,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
| About $100,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
If someone in the household was born in 1939 or earlier, PharmaCare pays 75% and the deductible is lower.[2]
Points that often cause problems
- Coverage starts on the day you register. Drugs bought earlier count toward the deductible but are not refunded.[3]
- You must register by December 31 for the registration to count for that year.[3]
- You will receive a CRA income-verification consent form. Return it within 30 days, or the deductible reverts to $10,000.[1]
- Only drugs on the formulary are covered, and at the Low Cost Alternative (LCA) price. If you insist on the brand-name drug, you pay the difference.[4]
If your income has dropped
Households whose income is down 10% or more from two years earlier can apply before year end to have the deductible recalculated on the new income.[1][3]
How to register
- Search for Fair PharmaCare on the BC government website to register online, or call 1-800-663-7100.[1]
- Have the PHN (Personal Health Number) of every family member and the SIN of the adults ready. Everyone in the household needs MSP.[1]
- When the income-verification consent form arrives, sign and return it within 30 days.
Plan NP drugs do not need registration
Common diabetes drugs, contraceptives and menopause hormone therapy are now covered in full at the pharmacy through Plan NP, without registering for Fair PharmaCare first.[5]