Free birth control: what four jurisdictions cover

Free prescription birth control is now available in four parts of the country. Health Canada’s national pharmacare pages list British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon as the only jurisdictions that have reached an agreement with Ottawa so far. The rules differ in each place, from which products are covered to how you pick them up.

Health Canada says pharmacare covers a range of birth control options and diabetes medications. It only covers the cost of listed products, including the dispensing fee. Delivery fees and pharmacist prescribing fees are not covered. The federal pages say only provinces or territories with an agreement are listed, and they list no others.

Here is what each jurisdiction’s own government page says.

Quick comparison

British Columbia

The B.C. government says PharmaCare pays for prescription contraceptives for any B.C. resident. That includes most prescription birth control pills, hormonal and copper IUDs, the hormonal implant, the vaginal ring and the contraceptive injection. Emergency contraception is covered and does not need a prescription.

You pay nothing as long as the product is fully covered, and pharmacists cannot charge a fee for dispensing or assessing you. The province lists some brands as partially covered, and its advice is to ask a pharmacist about a free generic option. Cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, patches and sponges are not covered.

A prescription can come from a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist. B.C. pharmacists have been able to prescribe contraceptives since June 1, 2023. IUDs and implants need a separate visit for insertion. If you are not yet enrolled in MSP, the province says a pharmacist can help you get exceptional coverage.

Manitoba

Manitoba covers birth control through the Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program, which began April 15, 2025. The province says most birth control medications are covered, as are emergency contraceptive pills. Four copper IUDs (Mona Lisa 10, Mona Lisa 5 Standard, Mona Lisa 5 Mini and Mona Lisa N) can be ordered at no cost through your health care provider.

To qualify you need an active Manitoba Health card and cannot already have 100 per cent coverage through a federal or other provincial drug program. Over-the-counter products such as condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms and sponges are not covered.

The program pays for the eligible product, up to the lowest-cost interchangeable option, plus a professional fee of up to $14. Oral contraceptives are limited to one such fee per three months. Emergency contraceptive pills are covered up to three times per fiscal year (April to March). People without a Manitoba Health card can find free or low-cost birth control through community health clinics and teen clinics, according to the province.

Prince Edward Island

P.E.I.’s National Pharmacare Program began May 1, 2025. Enrolment is automatic, so there is no application. The province lists covered products that include several combined pills, the progestin-only pill, the Depo-Provera injection, an etonogestrel product, levonorgestrel emergency contraception, copper and hormonal IUDs, and the vaginal ring.

Medications on the list are available at no cost. If you choose a brand-name drug when a generic exists, you pay the difference. Coverage only applies at P.E.I. pharmacies and is not retroactive, so purchases made before May 1, 2025 are not reimbursed.

Yukon

The Yukon National Pharmacare Program covers certain contraceptive products listed in the Yukon Drug Formulary. The territory’s page does not name individual products or give a start date, so check the formulary or ask a pharmacist.

You are eligible if you are a Yukon resident with valid Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan coverage and are not covered under certain federal programs, such as Non-Insured Health Benefits. Enrolment is automatic. Covered medications are free, though choosing a brand-name drug means paying the difference. Prescriptions filled outside the territory are not covered, and supplies are limited to up to 100 days.

What if you live somewhere else?

The federal pages do not list any other province or territory, and they do not say whether others are negotiating. That does not necessarily mean there is no coverage where you live. Provincial drug plans and private insurance can cover birth control in other ways, and the rules vary. A pharmacist or your provincial health ministry can tell you what applies to you.

Before you go to the pharmacy

• Bring your valid provincial or territorial health card.
• Ask whether your specific product is fully covered or only partially covered.
• Ask whether a generic version would be free.
• Check whether your province lets pharmacists write the prescription, which can save a doctor’s visit.

Programs like these can change, so confirm the details on your government’s page before you go.

Sources: Health Canada, How to access national pharmacare; Government of B.C., Free contraceptives; Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program; P.E.I. National Pharmacare Program; Yukon National Pharmacare Program.

This article is based on official guidance from Health Canada and the governments of British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon, and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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