National Pharmacare (Plan NP) takes effect in B.C. on March 1

In this issue:

Travel coverage details plan members should know if they’re in or going to Mexico*

*Indicates content we will share with your clients.

National Pharmacare (Plan NP) takes effect in B.C. on March 1

The Province of British Columbia (B.C.) will implement the first phase of the National Pharmacare Act, also known as Bill C64 (Act), on March 1, 2026.

The new program will be called National Pharmacare (Plan NP). The province joins Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, who have already implemented the first phase of their own programs. All three provinces, along with Yukon, signed bilateral pharmacare agreements with the federal government last year.

National Pharmacare (Plan NP) coverage details

The federal government has agreed to provide universal coverage for many diabetes drugs and contraceptives, including deductibles, during the first phase of implementation of the Act. Equitable will no longer cover drugs that are eligible for coverage under Plan NP.

Diabetes devices and supplies are not included in the first phase of plan implementation. However, expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies is expected to begin in B.C. on April 1, 2026.

Since B.C. already offers universal coverage of contraceptives through its provincial pharmacare program, the province is using that portion of the federal funding to cover menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Many diabetes medications such as metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas and SGLT-2 inhibitors will be fully covered under Plan NP.

Some diabetes medications and MHTs will only be partially covered when the program takes effect. As well, many diabetes medications will continue to require Special Authority through the province.

What will Equitable plan members need to do?

Coverage will be provided automatically at the pharmacy counter. Plan members simply need to present a prescription for a covered medication and their Medical Services Plan of B.C. (MSP) card to their pharmacist. If a plan member isn’t fully enrolled in the MSP yet, their pharmacist will help them secure coverage under Plan NP.

The pharmacist will charge the provincial plan directly for the relevant medications. There will be no direct impact to plan members or their experience at the pharmacy for fully covered drugs.

Where do GLP-1 drugs fit in?

GLP-1 agonist drugs will not be covered under Plan NP. Equitable plan members who are prescribed this type of drug to treat diabetes must try a first-line diabetic treatment before we can deem them eligible for coverage of the GLP-1 agonist.

Plan members who are already taking a GLP-1 agonist to treat diabetes will continue to be eligible for coverage. New plan members or plan members with new prescriptions for GLP-1 agonists must provide us proof that shows they’ve tried a first-line diabetic treatment to confirm eligibility—unless we already have a previous record of their insulin use. Proof can be either a past receipt or a claim statement.

Our priority is supporting the best outcomes for plan sponsors and their members. We are working with TELUS Health, our pharmacy benefits manager, to keep you updated as more details become available.

Travel coverage details plan members should know if they’re in or going to Mexico

Plan members with Travel Assist medical emergency coverage included in their benefits plan should keep the following information in mind if they’re planning travel to Mexico or if they’re in the country now.

Due to recent violence in Mexico, the Government of Canada has issued the following travel advice to anyone in or planning to visit the country.

Plan members are not covered if they receive out-of-province services where the Canadian government had issued a warning to avoid all or non‑essential travel before they entered the country.

Plan members should contact Trident Global Assistance, the company that administers our Travel Assist benefits, before departing if they have questions about their coverage or to confirm if they’re covered for travel to their specific destination.

Here’s how plan members can reach the Trident Global Assistance toll-free 24-hour emergency hotline:

In Canada or the U.S: 1-800-321-9998
Elsewhere: Call collect at 519-742-3287

They should be prepared to provide the following information:

Name
Group policy number
Certificate number
Government health insurance plan number

If a plan member arrived in Mexico before the travel advisory was issued and are past their day allowance, they should call Trident if they need to have their day maximum extended past the allowable period.

Equitable’s Travel Assist medical emergency coverage does not include any trip cancellation or trip interruption benefits.

Communicating to plan members

We are making every effort to share this information with affected plan members. Please encourage your clients who have Travel Assist coverage included in their benefits plan to share this message with their plan members.