Fair PharmaCare - Frequently Asked Questions

Income Information

How do you define "net income"?

Your net income is the amount reported on Line 236 of your income tax return two years ago, less any Universal Child Care Benefits you received during that year.

Why is my Fair PharmaCare coverage based on my income from two years ago?

Fair PharmaCare financial assistance is based on the calendar year (January 1st - December 31st). Your financial assistance level is determined at the beginning of each year.

Income tax returns can be filed as late as April 30th of each year. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) must then process the returns. This means that income information from the most recent tax year is not available in time for PharmaCare to determine your assistance for the following year.

However, if your net family income has dropped 10% or more, you can request that your assistance be based on a more recent year. You will need to supply documents supporting the decrease in income and you must apply before the end of the calendar year. Please see the information about Income Reviews included further down on this page.

What if I'm not sure what my net income was?

You can find your net income on Line 236 of your tax return or the Notice of Assessment that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) sends after they have processed your return. The amount of Universal Child Care Benefits you received would have been included on Line 117 of your tax return but is not noted on the Notice Assessment. If necessary, you can contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-959-8281, or call your local tax services office for assistance.

I have a higher income than my spouse and do not wish to register. Can my spouse still register for the Fair PharmaCare plan?

You must register for Fair PharmaCare as a family. If you do not register, your spouse will not be able to register.

Why do I have to sign a consent form?

The federal government, through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), requires us to obtain your consent before we can access your income information. Without your income information, we will be unable to calculate your maximum level of coverage and cannot provide you with Fair PharmaCare coverage based on your income. If you register for the plan but either you, or you and your spouse, do not provide your consent, your family will be assigned the default deductible of $10,000 per family.

What if I accidentally provided an incorrect income when I registered?

If you provided the wrong income amount, contact Health Insurance BC right away so that your coverage can be calculated accurately.

If the amount you reported when registering was too high, you may not be getting the maximum coverage available to you; if the amount you reported was too low, you may be getting excess coverage. By correcting the problem promptly, you reduce the risk of having to wait for a reimbursement or having to re‑pay excess assistance.

What if my income changes? What happens next year?

Each year, we will verify your family net income with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and adjust your level of coverage automatically. Your signed consent form allows PharmaCare to access your income information in future years.

How can I be sure that my income information is secure and confidential?

As required by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the information will be carefully secured and access to it will be tightly controlled. Only specially designated Ministry of Health Services and/or Health Insurance BC staff will be able to access your information.

I am a veteran and my drug costs are covered by the Veterans Affairs Canada. Why must my income be included in the family income?

Fair PharmaCare coverage is based on a family's net income which is used as an indicator of a family's ability to pay for prescription medications. Applying this requirement to all B.C. families ensures fairness and equity for all Fair PharmaCare registrants.

Additionally, some prescription drugs and supplies that are not covered by your federal plan may be covered under BC PharmaCare. If you use any of those products, the purchases will count towards your family's Fair PharmaCare deductible and family maximum.