As a health benefits society, Pacific Blue Cross is dedicated to keeping you informed about important changes in the delivery of health care. We are sending you information about changes to the reimbursement of prescription contraceptives, as announced recently by the government of British Columbia.

Effective April 1, 2023, PharmaCare will provide reimbursement for eligible contraceptives at no cost to every resident of B.C. that is registered with MSP. This level of coverage is the first of its kind in Canada and Pacific Blue Cross applauds the government in its support of its citizens.

What does this mean for you as a Pacific Blue Cross member?

If you currently receive coverage from PBC for a prescription contraceptive that will now be covered by PharmaCare, then you will only see a change in the payer on your receipt. Instead of Pacific Blue Cross, you will see the cost of eligible contraceptive drugs now covered by PharmaCare.

If your plan did not have this type of coverage previously, and you are receiving a prescription contraceptive that is fully covered by PharmaCare, you will see a balance of $0 when picking up your contraceptive from the pharmacy.

It is important to note that there are some exceptions to the PharmaCare prescription contraceptive program. You may wish to check that your contraceptive is fully covered before trying to fill your prescription at the pharmacy. This information is located on the B.C. PharmaCare website.

How do you access free contraceptives through PharmaCare?

Effective April 1, 2023, all B.C. residents enrolled in MSP will automatically be able to receive eligible prescription contraceptives free, from a pharmacy in B.C. Simply bring your prescription to a pharmacy with your B.C. Services Card and have it filled as per your pharmacy’s usual process.

What if your contraceptive is not fully covered by PharmaCare?

If you are taking a prescription contraceptive that was previously covered by Pacific Blue Cross and now it is only partially covered by PharmaCare, Pacific Blue Cross may reimburse the remaining amount according to plan limits and conditions.

If you are taking a prescription contraceptive that was previously covered by Pacific Blue Cross and is not covered by PharmaCare after April 1, then you may continue to receive the same reimbursement from your plan.

Members who do not currently receive coverage for contraceptives under their Pacific Blue Cross plan and wish to receive their contraceptive at no cost may speak with their prescriber about switching to a PharmaCare covered benefit.

If you have additional questions about these changes, contact us at 604 491-2000 or toll-free at 1 877 PAC-BLUE (1 877 722-2583).