Open ProvincesHealth care in Nova Scotia: health card, drug plans and dental help
How health insurance works in Nova Scotia, provincial drug plans with their amounts, dental care and disability supports.
Your provincial health insurance
Medically necessary hospital and doctor services in Nova Scotia are covered by the provincial plan: MSI (Medical Services Insurance). 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
Family Pharmacare and Seniors' Pharmacare
Drug coverage with costs based on family income.
| Amount | program year April 1 to March 31 |
|---|---|
| Seniors' Pharmacare: co-payment | 30% of each prescription |
| Seniors' Pharmacare: annual co-payment maximum | $382 |
| Seniors' Pharmacare: maximum annual premium | $424 |
- Family Pharmacare has no premium: each family gets its own deductible and co-payment maximum by letter, based on income and family size.
- Seniors' Pharmacare is for residents 65 and over without other drug coverage; lower-income seniors may pay no premium.
How to get it: Enrol with Nova Scotia Pharmacare online or by mail.
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 Nova Scotia: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in Nova Scotia: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to Nova Scotia: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in Nova Scotia: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in Nova Scotia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in Nova Scotia: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in Nova Scotia: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in Nova Scotia: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in Nova Scotia: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in Nova Scotia: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to Nova Scotia: nominee program, steps and processing times