On this page: How it works | Covered contraceptives | Medical abortion | Resources
PharmaCare pays for these prescription contraceptives for any B.C. resident:
- Most prescription contraceptive pills
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) – hormonal and copper
- Hormonal implant
- Hormonal vaginal ring
- Contraceptive injection
- Emergency contraception (no prescription needed)
To get free contraceptives, you need to be enrolled in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). If you have applied and your MSP coverage is not yet active, a pharmacist can help you get exceptional coverage.
Contraceptives are also covered for non-contraceptive use.
How it works
1. The prescription
Get a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist at, for example, a walk-in clinic, hospital, pharmacy, or through a street nurse program. As of June 1, 2023, pharmacists can prescribe contraceptives. Read about pharmacist prescribing at See a pharmacist.
Request a type that PharmaCare fully covers. Some contraceptives are partially covered.
- If you've been prescribed a prescription that isn't fully covered, you can ask a pharmacist to change it to an equivalent that is free
- To switch to a different type of contraception, for example from the pill to an IUD, talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist
- You do not need a prescription for emergency contraception. Ask the pharmacist how to get emergency contraceptives for free
2. Present or get a prescription at a pharmacy
Present the prescription and your Personal Health Number at a pharmacy. Your Personal Health Number can be found on the back of your driver's licence, BC Services Card or CareCard.
- If you are prescribed an IUD or implant, you will need to arrange a visit to a doctor or clinic to have it inserted
- Pharmacists can administer the contraceptive injection
3. Pay nothing
The pharmacist dispenses your prescription. You pay nothing (as long as it is a covered contraceptive). The pharmacist can not charge you a fee for the dispense, assessment, or any other action associated with filling the prescription.
Covered contraceptives
Prescription contraceptive pills
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status
(full means free) |
DIN
(for pharmacist use) |
| Alesse 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2236974 |
| Alesse 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2236975 |
| Alysena 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2387875 |
| Alysena 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2387883 |
| Apri 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2317192 |
| Apri 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2317206 |
| Audrina 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2532174 |
| Audrina 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2532182 |
| Aviane 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2298538 |
| Aviane 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.1 mg |
Full benefit |
2298546 |
| Brevicon 0.5/35 (21) |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5 mg |
Full benefit |
2187086 |
| Brevicon 0.5/35 (28) |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5 mg |
Full benefit |
2187094 |
| Brevicon 1/35 (21) |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 1 mg |
Full benefit |
2189054 |
| Brevicon 1/35 (28) |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 1 mg |
Full benefit |
2189062 |
| Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit |
2462060 |
| Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit
|
2421437 |
| Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit
|
2421445 |
| Freya 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit
|
2396491 |
| Freya 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2396610 |
| Jencycla |
norethindrone 0.35 mg |
Full benefit |
2441306 |
| Linessa 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
desogestrel 0.1/ 0.125/ 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2272903 |
| Linessa 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
desogestrel 0.1/ 0.125/ 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2257238 |
| Marvelon 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2042487 |
| Marvelon 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2042479 |
| Min-Ovral 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2042320 |
| Min-Ovral 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2042339 |
| Mirvala 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2410249 |
| Mirvala 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
desogestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2410257 |
| Movisse |
norethindrone 0.35 mg |
Full benefit |
2410303 |
| Mya |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit |
2415380 |
| Ovima 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2387085 |
| Ovima 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2387093 |
| Portia 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2295946 |
| Portia 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.15 mg |
Full benefit |
2295954 |
| Synphasic 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5/ 1 mg |
Full benefit |
2187108 |
| Synphasic 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norethindrone 0.5/ 1 mg |
Full benefit |
2187116 |
| Tri-Cira 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2508087 |
| Tri-Cira 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2508095 |
| Tri-Jordyna 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2486296 |
| Tri-Jordyna 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2486318 |
| Tricira-Lo 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2401967 |
| Tricira-Lo 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 25 mcg
norgestimate 0.18/ 0.215/ 0.25 mg |
Full benefit |
2401975 |
| Triquilar 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.05/ 0.075/ 0.125 mg |
Full benefit |
707600 |
| Triquilar 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
levonorgestrel 0.05/ 0.075/ 0.125 mg |
Full benefit |
707503 |
| Yasmin 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2261723 |
| Yasmin 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2261731 |
| Yaz |
ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Partial benefit
*Please talk to a pharmacist for a free generic option. |
2321157 |
| Zamine 21 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit |
2410788 |
| Zamine 28 |
ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg
drospirenone 3 mg |
Full benefit |
2410796 |
Copper IUDs
| Product |
Benefit status (full means free) |
PIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Flexi-T 300 |
Full benefit |
66127954 |
| Flexi-T +300 |
Full benefit |
66128087 |
| Flexi-T 380 |
Full benefit |
66128088 |
| Liberte UT 380 Short |
Full benefit |
66128089 |
| Liberte UT 380 Standard |
Full benefit |
66128090 |
| Liberte TT 380 Short |
Full benefit |
66128091 |
| Liberte TT 380 Standard |
Full benefit |
66128092 |
| Liberté UT 380 Silver-Copper Standard |
Full benefit |
66128387 |
| Liberté UT 380 Silver-Copper Short |
Full benefit |
66128388 |
| Mona Lisa 10 |
Full benefit |
66128153 |
| Mona Lisa 5 Mini |
Full benefit |
66128154 |
| Mona Lisa 5 Standard |
Full benefit |
66128390 |
| Mona Lisa N |
Full benefit |
66128158 |
Hormonal IUDs
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status (full means free) |
DIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Kyleena |
levonorgestrel 19.5 mg |
Full benefit |
2459523 |
| Mirena |
levonorgestrel 52 mg |
Full benefit |
2243005 |
Contraceptive injection
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status |
DIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Depo-Provera |
medroxyprogesterone acetate 150 mg |
Full benefit |
2523493 |
Hormonal implant
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status |
DIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Nexplanon |
etonogestrel 68 mg |
Full benefit |
2499509 |
Hormonal vaginal ring
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status |
DIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Haloette |
etonogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 11.7 mg / 2.7 mg |
Full benefit |
2520028 |
Emergency contraceptives
| Product |
Ingredient |
Benefit status |
DIN (for pharmacist use) |
| Contingency One |
levonorgestrel 1.5 mg |
Full benefit |
2425009 |
| Backup Plan One-step |
levonorgestrel 1.5 mg |
Full benefit |
2433532 |
| Plan B |
levonorgestrel 1.5 mg |
Partial benefit (patient pays difference) |
2293854 |
PharmaCare doesn't currently cover cervical caps, condoms (often available free at sexual health clinics), diaphragms, patches, rings or sponges.
Medical abortion (two-pill combination)
PharmaCare pays the full cost of medical abortion for any B.C. resident with a prescription. All you need to do is present a prescription and your BC Services Card at the pharmacy counter. You can read about medical abortion at HealthLinkBC. If you are in the wait period for MSP coverage, the pharmacist will ask you to sign a form for exceptional coverage.
You may be interested in information about coverage of surgical abortion.
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Last updated on January 31, 2024