Open ProvincesHealth care in British Columbia: health card, drug plans and dental help
How health insurance works in British Columbia, provincial drug plans with their amounts, dental care and disability supports.
Your provincial health insurance
Medically necessary hospital and doctor services in British Columbia are covered by the provincial plan: MSP (Medical Services Plan). Your health card is the key to those services. It is valid in your province, and you should keep your previous coverage until the new one starts, since a waiting period can apply when you move. Official government site ↗
Drug coverage and health programs
Fair PharmaCare
Income-based help with prescription drug costs; register once.
| Amount | as published in November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deductible if you do not register | $10,000 / year |
| Family net income under about $30,000 | no deductible |
| Highest family maximum | $10,000 / year |
- Your deductible and annual family maximum are set from family net income two years earlier.
- After the deductible, PharmaCare pays part of eligible costs; after the family maximum, 100%.
- More generous schedule when someone in the family was born before 1940.
How to get it: Register once, free, online or at 1-800-663-7100, and consent to the income check with the CRA.
Dental care
Dental care is mostly not covered by provincial health insurance. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan helps eligible residents without private dental insurance.
| Amount | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adjusted family net income must be under | $90,000 |
Related tools and guides
General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures show their source and the date they were read; confirm with the official body before making a decision.
Guides for this province
- Renting in British Columbia: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in British Columbia: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to British Columbia: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in British Columbia: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in British Columbia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in British Columbia: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in British Columbia: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in British Columbia: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in British Columbia: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in British Columbia: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to British Columbia: nominee program, steps and processing times