The program came into effect May 1, 2003, but there is no cut-off in terms of registration. If you haven’t yet registered, you may still do so.

What has Changed?
Under Fair Pharmacare, the major Pharmacare plans - the universal plan and the seniors plan - are being combined into one. The new plan assists families to pay for eligible prescription drugs based on their net income. The lower your family income, the more assistance you will receive toward your prescription costs.

The ministry of health estimates that close to 84 percent of B.C. residents will pay the same, or less, than they did under the previous system.

How Will The New Program Work?
Depending on income, most patients will pay a deductible for prescription costs before seeing the benefits.

Seniors with a family income of less than $33,000 will pay 25 percent of their drug costs until they have reached $400 or the ceiling, at which point 100 percent of their costs will be covered.

Families who are not seniors and who have an income of less than $15,000 will pay 30 percent of their drug costs until they have spent $300, at which point 100 percent of their costs will be covered.

If a person chooses not to register his or her income, the deductible will automatically be set at the maximum $10,000. (In other words, $10,000 would have to be spent on prescription drugs before any subsidies are granted.)

How Do I Qualify?
Every family with dependents must register to receive benefits, and must meet the following criteria:

• be a B.C. resident for at least three months.
• be registered with the Medical Services Plan of B.C.
• be a resident in Canada for the last 12 months.
• be either a Canadian citizen or holder of permanent resident status.
• have filed a tax return for 2001.

To register for Fair Pharmacare, you will require the following:

• B.C. Care Card numbers for yourself, your spouse (if applicable) and dependent children (if applicable).
• 2001 net family income (line 236 of your income tax return) for yourself and your spouse (if applicable).
• Social Insurance Numbers for yourself and your spouse (if applicable).
• your birth date and those of your spouse (if applicable) and dependent children (if applicable).

How Do I Register?
You may register for Fair Pharmacare in one of three ways:

• By phone: call 1-800-387-4977
• By Internet at:www.gov.bc.ca (click on the “Register for Fair Pharmacare” link.)
• By mail. You can pick up a registration form at your London Drugs pharmacy or download one on the Internet. (Go to www.gov.bc.ca, click on the “Register for Fair Pharmacare” button.)

Please note that, if you were receiving premium assistance under the old Pharmacare plan, you will have been automatically registered for Fair Pharmacare. A form that you are required to sign after disclosing your net income will have been sent to your home. You do not therefore have to call the toll-free number or register online or by mail.