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Press Release - February 27, 2026
AccessBC Celebrates Free Menopause Hormone Therapy in BC!
AccessBC’s public healthcare advocates are celebrating the launch of the National Pharmacare Plan in BC. The plan, also known as Plan NP, builds on BC’s trailblazing implementation of free prescription contraception for all residents in April 2023, and expands the scope of medications that will be available for free to BC residents.
As of March 1, 2026, BC residents will receive coverage for the full cost for eligible diabetes and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) medications, with some additional medications receiving partial coverage. Coverage for selected diabetes-related devices and supplies will also be extended beginning April 1, 2026.
“We commend the BC and federal governments for following through on their commitment to implement the Pharmacare Act and eliminate out of pocket costs for these life-saving and life-changing medications,” said AccessBC Chair and co-founder Teale Phelps Bondaroff. “The successful uptake of BC’s groundbreaking free prescription contraception program has already demonstrated the transformative impact of removing financial barriers to basic healthcare. We will be celebrating here in BC, while urging the federal government to ensure that people across Canada receive the same level of universal access.”
More information on Plan NP’s implementation and coverage is available from the Government of BC here.
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Background
On March 6, 2025, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years. Under the agreement, 100% coverage for eligible diabetes medications, including for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), will begin in B.C. on March 1, 2026.
On April 1, 2023, British Columbia became the first province to make prescription contraception free. This policy covers a wide range of contraceptives, including pills, injections, implants, IUDs, and emergency contraception. Since B.C. already offers universal coverage of contraceptives, the Province is putting federal funding for contraceptives towards free treatment of menopausal symptoms.
In BC, universal, no-cost prescription contraception has dramatically improved access to contraceptives for thousands of residents. According to the BC Ministry of Health, from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2025, 370,000 British Columbians were able to access prescription contraception free of cost. This included 219,000 hormonal pills, 87,000 emergency contraceptives, 83,000 hormonal IUDs, 13,000 implants, 13,000 copper IUDs, 12,000 hormonal injections,and 6,000 vaginal rings.
The policy has helped increase contraception usage. Research from UBC published this week, found a 49%-per-cent jump in long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use after BC made contraception free.