Compare your annual out-of-pocket prescription spend across the 10 provincial public plans, employer / private benefits, and combined coverage.
Free tool
No coverage
$1,500.00/ year
List price (annual): $1,500.00
Out-of-pocket: $1,500.00 (100 %)
Saved vs. uninsured: $0.00
Each provincial plan has its own deductible, copay, and income-tested ceiling. This calculator uses a simplified 2025 snapshot — Ontario’s Trillium has an income-tested deductible (~4 % of household income) and a small per-Rx copay; Quebec’s RAMQ caps at $1,247/yr per adult; BC’s Fair PharmaCare uses a 100 % deductible scaled to family income. For your exact deductible, use your province’s online estimator. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the upcoming national pharmacare programme may affect what you pay starting in 2025–26.
Coverage in Canada is patchwork
Each province runs its own public plan with different deductibles, copays, and eligibility rules. Ontario’s Trillium Drug Program uses an income-tested deductible; Quebec’s RAMQ caps annual spend at $1,247/adult; BC’s Fair PharmaCare uses a 100 % family-income deductible. Most working-age Canadians without employer benefits pay full retail until they hit a provincial deductible.
How to lower your bill
Generics save 30–80 %. 100-day fills cut dispensing fees by 2/3. Compare pharmacies — Costco and Walmart are typically lowest, independent pharmacies are negotiable. Mail-order is cheapest if you take stable doses long-term. The Canadian Pharmacare Act now covers contraceptives and diabetes drugs nationally — confirm with your province.
Tax credit fallback
If you pay more than ~3 % of your net income (or $2,759, whichever is lower) in eligible medical expenses, the excess qualifies for the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit. Provincial credits stack. Track receipts and prescriptions all year.
This tool is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed Canadian healthcare professional. Read our full disclaimer.