Health
Summary
- The BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan launches for provincial residents on Sunday, March 1, 2026
- The plan will cover the full cost of many diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy
- Nearly 570,000 British Columbians living with diabetes will be supported, as well as approximately 160,000 people with menopausal symptoms
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Hundreds of thousands of people in B.C. now have access to diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy at no cost under the new BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan (Plan NP).
“This is a game changer for people who will now be able to access vital medications without worrying about how much they cost,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Coverage for menopausal therapy and diabetes medication will increase the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of British Columbians, and this builds on our government’s expansion of PharmaCare, including becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide free prescription birth control.”
On March 6, 2025, the provincial government and Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years.
“Many Canadians are feeling the pressure of daily expenses, including the high cost of their medications,” said Marjorie Michel, federal Minister of Health. “Pharmacare programs like this mean that residents of British Columbia will no longer have to worry about the cost of many medications.”
More coverage for menopausal hormone therapy, diabetes medications
Under the agreement, the funding is for 100% coverage of eligible medications for diabetes, including Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy, starting Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Coverage is processed at the pharmacy counter like all BC PharmaCare plans. Residents enrolled in the Medical Services Plan need to present their prescription and B.C. Services Card. They do not need to register for coverage.
“Diabetes is an expensive condition to manage, and individuals with diabetes and families often have to pay high out-of-pocket costs to acquire the medication, devices and supplies needed to help reduce the risk of developing serious complications,” said Perry Balascak, a Burnaby resident who lives with Type 1 diabetes. “I have lived with this disease for 58 years of my life and I know the importance of managing and navigating this disease. I welcome the federally funded PharmaCare coverage so some of the financial burden can be lifted for British Columbians living with diabetes.”
Covered medications include insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, such as glyburide and gliclazide, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, saxagliptin, linagliptin and pioglitazone.
“The launch of the BC Pharmacare National Pharmacare plan on March 1, with first-dollar coverage of all commonly used diabetes tablets and biosimilar insulins, is tremendously welcome news for British Columbians living with diabetes, their families and their doctors,” said Dr. Tom Elliott, medical director, B.C. Diabetes. “No longer will people living with diabetes have to decide between putting food on the table and filling a prescription for basic life-saving diabetes medication.”
Oral, topical and vaginal menopausal hormone therapies are also covered.
“Menopausal hormone therapy is an effective treatment to reduce menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life for people experiencing menopause,” said Cheryl Davies, chief operating officer, B.C. Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. “We recently marked one year since opening the Complex Menopause Clinic at B.C. Women’s and hear first-hand how this treatment can be transformative. This announcement, which has been informed by significant research and advocacy for women’s health, paves the way for policy decisions to improve health care at both provincial and national levels.”
The Province already provides free contraceptives, and the same contraceptives will continue to be free under national pharmacare.
BC PharmaCare has long covered diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapies, but people often had to meet deductible requirements based on income before receiving full coverage.
Expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies will begin on April 1, 2026.
Quick Facts:
- In 2022, Diabetes Canada estimated the following costs:
- up to $18,300 per year for Type 1 diabetes.
- up to $10,000 per year for Type 2 diabetes.
- Costs varied throughout B.C.
- Common menopause hormone therapies (e.g., estrogen pills, patches, gels) cost from $240 up to $1,800 per year without insurance.
Learn More:
- Information for the public is available at: https://gov.bc.ca/nationalpharmacare
- To learn more about BC PharmaCare, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare
- For more information about PharmaCare’s coverage of diabetes medications, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover/medical-supplies-coverage/diabetes-supplies
- For more information on free contraceptives in B.C., visit: www.gov.bc.ca/contraceptives
- To learn more about the B.C.-Canada pharmacare agreement, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/transparency/health-agreements/national-pharmacare-bilateral-agreements/british-columbia.html
A backgrounder follows.
