drug coverage in canada: a helpful guide

Most Canadians have access to reimbursement for prescription medications through private insurance plans (third-party insurance), the provincial / territorial drug benefit programs or federal programs for certain groups.

Given that health care falls within the jurisdiction of each individual province and territory, it may depend on where you live as to whether your provincial or territorial drug benefit plan includes funding for your particular medication. Canadians who are eligible for coverage from their respective public drug plan are often surprised to discover that although a particular prescription drug is reimbursed in the neighbouring province, it is not in their own.

To help you navigate the various drug plans, the website DrugCoverage.ca provides a useful guide to reimbursement for prescription medications in Canada. This site provides information on these programs and provides links to important pages of their websites. Click on the province of interest (either on the map or on the dropdown menu) for an overview of the private insurance, provincial / territorial drug benefit programs and federal programs available to residents of that province or territory. Alternately you can go directly to any program or page using the sidebar menu.