Prescription Drug Coverage (Pharmacare)

The Department of Community Services provides prescription drug coverage, known as Pharmacare, to

• Income Assistance clients (which includes Extended Pharmacare and Transitional Pharmacare clients)
• Services for Persons With Disabilities clients
• Children in the care of child welfare through either a district office of the Department of Community Services or a Children's Aid Society/Family and Children's Services agency
• Low Income Pharmacare for Children clients

Under the program, your Nova Scotia Health Card is also your Pharmacare card. You must show your card to the pharmacist to get your Pharmacare benefits. Only the person whose name is on the card can use it. You should check the expiry date on your card to ensure that it does not need to be replaced. If your card is expired, or if you lose your card, please call 1-800-563-8880 for information on obtaining a replacement.

For more information on the specific benefits provided by the program, see Questions and Answers about Pharmacare Benefits and Reimbursement on the NS Department of Health web site.

Eligibility

Clients of Income Assistance: The Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) Act and Regulations are used to guide decisions about who is eligible to receive Income Assistance Pharmacare benefits and special needs funding for prescription drug coverage.

Clients of Services for Persons With Disabilities: The Social Assistance Act (SA) is used to guide decisions about who is eligible to receive benefits.

Next steps

Please contact your caseworker to determine eligibility.

If you are not yet an Income Assistance client, see our information on How to Apply.

Related information

• Pharmacare information on the NS Department of Health web site.
• Low Income Pharmacare for Children
  Prescription drug coverage available to families who receive the Nova Scotia Child Benefit.
• The Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare Program
  Information on the Department of Health web site.
• The ESIA Policy Manual provides information, clarification, authority levels and ministerial direction supporting the legislation. Please refer to Chapter 6 -  Special Needs and Chapter 9 - Pharmacare.
• Employment Support and Income Assistance Act
• Employment Support and Income Assistance Regulations
• Social Assistance Act