Every province and territory helps seniors pay for prescription drugs, but the rules are very different from place to place. In some places coverage starts on its own at 65 and costs a small fee per prescription. In others you pay a premium or a deductible based on your income, and in a few you have to apply. Here is each plan side by side, with official figures as of September 2026.
Seniors’ drug plans at a glance
“Automatic” means you don’t need to fill in a form, as long as your provincial health coverage is up to date. The sections below explain each plan.
| Province or territory | Plan | Starts | What you pay | Enrol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Fair PharmaCare | Any age | Income-based deductible and family maximum; 70% paid after the deductible (75% if born before 1940) | Register once |
| Alberta | Coverage for Seniors | 65 | No premium; 30% of each prescription, up to $35 | Automatic |
| Saskatchewan | Seniors’ Drug Plan | 65 | $25 per prescription | Apply |
| Manitoba | Pharmacare | Any age | Yearly deductible of 3.45% to 7.77% of adjusted family income (at least $100), then nothing | Apply once |
| Ontario | Ontario Drug Benefit | 65 | $100 deductible, then up to $6.11 per prescription | Automatic |
| Quebec | Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan | 65 (if no private plan) | Premium up to $789; $21.25 monthly deductible; 30% co-insurance; up to $1,263 a year | Automatic |
| New Brunswick | NBPDP Seniors plan (with GIS) or New Brunswick Drug Plan | 65 | Drug Plan: premium and 30% co-pay based on income | Apply |
| Nova Scotia | Seniors’ Pharmacare | 65 | Yearly premium plus a 30% co-pay, each with a yearly maximum; no premium if you get the GIS | Apply |
| Prince Edward Island | Seniors’ Drug Program | 65 | $8.25 plus $7.69 of the pharmacy fee per prescription | Automatic |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 65Plus Plan (with GIS) | 65 | Dispensing fee, up to $6 | Automatic |
| Yukon | Pharmacare for seniors | 65 (60 if your spouse is 65+) | Call the program | Automatic |
| Northwest Territories | Extended Health Benefits | 60 | No cost-share on eligible drugs | Apply |
| Nunavut | Extended Health Benefits, Seniors’ Coverage | 65 | Covers the cost of drugs on the formulary | Contact the EHB office |
Plan by plan
British Columbia: Fair PharmaCare
B.C. has no separate seniors’ plan. Fair PharmaCare covers families of any age based on income from two years earlier. You pay eligible costs until you reach your deductible. PharmaCare then pays 70%, or 75% if someone in your family was born before 1940. Once you reach your family maximum, it pays 100% for the rest of the calendar year. Register once online or at 1-800-663-7100, then return the income consent form within 30 days. If you don’t, your deductible is set at $10,000.
Alberta: Coverage for Seniors
Coverage for Seniors is premium-free. From April 1, 2026, you pay 30% of each prescription, up to $35. If your age is already confirmed with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, coverage is added on the first of the month after you turn 65. If it isn’t, Alberta mails you a package up to 6 months before your birthday.
Saskatchewan: Seniors’ Drug Plan
You pay $25 for each eligible prescription. To qualify for 2027 coverage, your 2025 net income (line 23600) must be $81,633 or less. You must apply, and you can do so up to two months before you turn 65. Form A lets Saskatchewan check your income with the CRA, so coverage renews each year on its own. If you get the GIS, a separate $200 semi-annual deductible and 35% co-payment apply instead.
Manitoba: Pharmacare
Manitoba Pharmacare is for people of any age. For the April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 benefit year, your deductible is 3.45% to 7.77% of your adjusted family income from 2024, with a minimum of $100. After that, Pharmacare pays 100% of eligible drug costs. You apply once, and enrolment carries over each year. Apply by March 31, 2027 to be covered for this benefit year. Questions go to 1-800-297-8099.
Ontario: Ontario Drug Benefit
Coverage starts automatically the month after you turn 65. For August 2026 to July 2027, most seniors pay a $100 deductible, then up to $6.11 per prescription. Seniors with net income up to $25,480 (single) or $42,290 (couple) can apply to pay no deductible and up to $2. See our Ontario Drug Benefit guide for details.
Quebec: RAMQ public plan
RAMQ registers you automatically at 65. If you can get a private plan, you have to choose your insurer. From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027:
- Premium: $0 to $789 per person, based on net family income, paid through your Quebec tax return
- Deductible: $21.25 a month, then 30% co-insurance
- Most you pay: $105.25 a month or $1,263 a year
- If you get less than 94% of the maximum GIS: $58.08 a month or $697 a year
- If you get 94% or more of the maximum GIS: generally free
New Brunswick: two options
If you get the Guaranteed Income Supplement, you can join the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) Seniors plan. The application package is mailed to you 60 days before you turn 65. If you don’t get the GIS, you can apply for the New Brunswick Drug Plan. Its rates, in effect since November 1, 2025, depend on family income:
- Premiums per adult run from $72 a year (single income $19,168 or less) to $2,896 a year (single income over $94,002).
- You pay 30% of each prescription, up to a maximum of $5.25 to $36.00, depending on your income.
For the Seniors plan co-payment, call New Brunswick Drug Plans at 1-800-332-3692.
Nova Scotia: Seniors’ Pharmacare
You need to be 65 or older with no other drug plan. You pay a yearly premium and a 30% co-payment, each capped yearly. Call 1-800-544-6191 for current amounts. The program year runs April 1 to March 31. If you get the GIS, you don’t pay the premium, and lower-income seniors may pay less. Nova Scotia sends you an application package before you turn 65. Apply within 90 days of becoming eligible, or you may face a late entry penalty. You have to renew by April 1 each year.
Prince Edward Island: Seniors’ Drug Program
You’re enrolled automatically at 65 if you have a valid PEI Health Card. For each eligible prescription, you pay $8.25 plus $7.69 of the pharmacy’s professional fee. The program pays the rest.
Newfoundland and Labrador: 65Plus Plan
The 65Plus Plan is for residents 65 and older who get Old Age Security and the GIS. The drug card is issued automatically once Service Canada confirms your GIS. You pay the dispensing fee, up to $6. The province also runs other plans, such as the Access Plan and the Assurance Plan. Check the Prescription Drug Program website to see whether one fits you.
Yukon: Pharmacare for seniors
You qualify if you’re 65 or older and registered with the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan. You also qualify at 60 to 64 if you’re married to a Yukon resident who is 65 or older. Yukon enrols eligible seniors automatically and mails you a sign-up application. For what you’ll pay, call 867-667-5403 or 1-800-661-0408.
Northwest Territories: Extended Health Benefits
If you’re 60 or older, eligible drugs on the NWT Pharmacare Formulary are covered with no cost-share. You apply for Extended Health Benefits through Health and Social Services. Once you’re registered, you get an Alberta Blue Cross card to show at the pharmacy.
Nunavut: Extended Health Benefits, Seniors’ Coverage
Non-Indigenous Nunavut residents 65 and older who are enrolled in the Nunavut Health Care Plan may qualify. Seniors’ Coverage pays for drugs on the formulary, including exception drugs. It also covers up to $1,000 of dental care per calendar year. To ask about registering, contact the EHB office at 1-800-661-0833 or [email protected].
National pharmacare: diabetes drugs and contraception
Under national pharmacare, some contraception and diabetes products are free at the pharmacy in provinces and territories that have signed an agreement with Ottawa. As of Health Canada’s April 2026 update, those are British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon. Many items still need a prescription. Your provincial seniors’ plan still covers everything else. See our national pharmacare guide.
Who qualifies and how to apply
- Keep your provincial or territorial health card valid. Every plan requires it.
- Watch your mail in the months before you turn 65. Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Yukon mail you information or forms.
- If your plan needs an application, send it in before or right after your birthday. In Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, applying late can delay coverage or cost you more.
- File your taxes every year, even with little or no income. Income-based premiums and deductibles use your CRA tax return.
- If you get the GIS, tell your plan. In several provinces, it lowers or removes your costs.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming coverage is automatic. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, you have to apply.
- Not returning consent forms. In B.C., a missing income consent form sets your deductible at $10,000.
- Forgetting to renew. Nova Scotia requires renewal by April 1. Saskatchewan’s Form B needs a new application each year.
- Missing low-income help. Ontario’s Seniors Co-Payment Program and Quebec’s GIS rates can cut your costs a lot.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for a payment or gift cards to release a benefit. Apply only through your province’s or territory’s official website or phone line. See our scam guide. To find other programs you may qualify for, try our benefits checkup.
Common questions
Do seniors get free prescriptions in Canada?
Not usually. Most plans charge a co-payment, premium or deductible. Seniors 60 and older in the Northwest Territories pay no cost-share on eligible drugs, and Nunavut’s Seniors’ Coverage pays for formulary drugs. In Quebec, seniors getting 94% or more of the maximum GIS are generally covered free.
Do I have to apply for drug coverage when I turn 65?
It depends on where you live. Coverage is automatic in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, PEI and Yukon, and in Newfoundland and Labrador if you get the GIS. In most other places, you apply.
Does getting the GIS lower my drug costs?
In many provinces, yes. Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador all have special rules or plans for seniors who get the GIS. Check that your GIS is in place before you turn 65.
What if I still have a private plan from work?
In Quebec, you must choose between the public plan and your private insurer at 65. In Nova Scotia, you join Seniors’ Pharmacare only once your other coverage ends. Apply within 90 days to avoid a penalty.
Is national pharmacare available where I live?
As of April 2026, only British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon had signed agreements covering contraception and diabetes medications.
