HOW DOES THE FAIR PHARMA CARE PLAN WORK?
British Columbians with the lowest incomes will receive immediate financial assistance under the Fair PharmaCare plan.
As in the past, under the new plan, BC families pay their full eligible prescription drug costs until they reach a level known as their deductible. Once their deductible is reached, PharmaCare assists families in paying for their eligible drug costs for the remainder of the year.
Your deductible is based on your family's net income. A temporary deductible is established for you as soon as your registration is processed. A letter confirming this deductible is then sent to you once your income information has been verified with the Canada Revenue Agency. This verification process may take several months.
If you or your spouse were born in 1939 or earlier, PharmaCare will pay 75% of the cost of your eligible prescriptions, once you've reached your new deductible.
For BC families who are non-seniors, PharmaCare pays 70% of your family's eligible drug costs for the year, once you reach your deductible.
To ensure British Columbians' annual drug costs do not exceed their ability to pay, there may be a point in the year when you will have paid an amount known as your family maximum. At that point, PharmaCare will cover 100% of your family's eligible drug costs for the remainder of the year.
To complete your on-line registration now, click on Register for Fair PharmaCare.
WHAT DOES PHARMACARE PAY TOWARDS PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS?
PharmaCare pays a percentage of eligible prescription drug costs including dispensing fees, once you reach your family deductible.
What if I did not register by January 1, 2005?
If you register for Fair PharmaCare on or before December 31, 2005, any amounts that you pay towards eligible prescription costs in 2005 will count towards your 2005 deductible.
If you exceed your Fair PharmaCare deductible between January 1, 2005, and the date you register, PharmaCare will contribute to your eligible prescription costs as soon as your registration is processed.
You will be reimbursed for any eligible prescription costs you pay over your new deductible between January 1, 2005, and the date your registration is processed. Any reimbursement for 2005 will be issued early in 2006. *
* Reimbursements cannot be issued until your family net income has been verified with the Canada Revenue Agency. To do this, PharmaCare requires your signed consent authorizing PharmaCare to access specific information from your income tax return.
IF I DON'T REGISTER, WILL I HAVE TO PAY $10,000 FOR MY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
No. If you do not register for the Fair PharmaCare plan, PharmaCare will not have any income information for you or your family. In this case, you or your insurance company will be responsible for the full cost of your prescription drugs up to a $10,000 annual deductible per family member. Of course, you will be responsible only for the actual cost of your prescriptions - if your prescription cost $25, that is what you would pay. Each member of your family will pay for any prescription costs until they reach the $10,000 deductible.
To receive your maximum financial assistance under Fair PharmaCare, you should register with the plan. You can register at any time.
Once you have registered, your family's annual deductible will be adjusted automatically to a level that is based on your family net income. You can get an estimate of your deductible by using the Fair PharmaCare Calculator. To register for Fair PharmaCare, call Vancouver: 604-683-7151, Rest of BC:
1-800-663-7100 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM weekdays, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturdays) or register on-line.
DO I NEED TO SUBMIT MY RECEIPTS TO PHARMACARE?
No. PharmaNet - PharmaCare's province-wide computer network that links all pharmacies to PharmaCare's central system - automatically records your eligible prescription drug costs at the time you purchase each prescription. However, you may wish to keep your receipts for your own records, especially if you have private health insurance or claim medical expenses for tax purposes.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I BECOME 19 YEARS OF AGE?
When you turn 19 years old, you can register for the Fair PharmaCare plan if you have filed an income tax return for the applicable taxation year (i.e., 2003 for 2005). If you do not register, you will remain as a dependent in your family until the end of the calendar year in which you turn 19.
You will need to register to be eligible for financial assistance under the Fair PharmaCare plan unless you are enrolled full time in a post secondary institution recognized by the Ministry or qualify as a child under the Medical Services Plan.
HOW DOES MY PHARMACIST KNOW WHEN I MEET MY DEDUCTIBLE?
Your pharmacist will not know your income or your deductible. Each time you have a prescription filled, PharmaNet advises the pharmacist only of the amount PharmaCare is contributing toward the prescription being purchased.
