How Canadians Can Save Money on Prescription Medications

How Canadians Can Save Money on Prescription Medications

Prescription drug costs in Canada can be brutal (despite government regulations) and it goes beyond just the medication itself. Pharmacies set their own dispensing fees (within provincial limits), and in my area, those range from $4.99 to $12.99 per prescription. If you or your family take multiple medications, it adds up fast.

But don’t worry, I put my ADHD hyperfocus into overdrive and found a whole pile of ways you can save on prescription drugs in Canada. Here you go, hope it’s helpful!

SAVE ON DISPENSING FEES 

Check all your local pharmacy dispensing fees with this handy tool from Lumino Health. Use their drop down to select the “Pharmacy” filter to find all your local pharmacies and their dispensing fees.

Tip: You don’t need a membership to use Costco Pharmacy, and their dispensing fees are often lower than major chains, making them a great option to save on prescriptions. 

GRAB THIS DISCOUNT CARD 

Sign up for an InnoviCares card. It’s a free savings card that helps Canadians pay less for brand-name medications. Sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, it covers part of the cost difference between brand-name and generic drugs, meaning you can pay less without switching medications. You just register online and bring the card to your pharmacy. Once added to your file, it automatically applies to future refills. It’s stackable with private insurance and works at most Canadian pharmacies, making it an easy way to cut prescription costs with minimal effort. 

You can see which drugs they cover in your province before signing up. 

REFILL LESS OFTEN 

To save on dispensing fees, ask your prescribing doctor to prescribe 90 days when possible. (This isn’t an option for restricted drugs like stimulants, unfortunately.) 

GO GENERIC

You can ask for generic instead of brand name drugs. Generic drugs are essentially the same as brand-name drugs in terms of active ingredients, dosage, strength, safety, and effectiveness. However, there are a few key differences: 
 
What’s the same: 
Active Ingredients – Generics contain the same medicinal ingredient as the brand-name version. 
Effectiveness & Safety – Health Canada ensures that generics work the same way in the body as the original drug. 
Dosage & Strength – They come in the same dosages and forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, injections). 
Approval Process – Generics go through rigorous testing before Health Canada approves them.  
 
What’s different: 
Price – Generics are much cheaper because the original manufacturer already did the expensive research and development. 
Inactive Ingredients – The fillers, colouring, or coatings might differ, but these don’t affect how the drug works. 
Appearance – Generic drugs can’t look identical to the original due to trademark laws, so they may have a different shape, size, or colour. 

For most people, generics are a safe, effective, and budget-friendly alternative to brand-name drugs. (In rare cases, people may react to different fillers or coatings, so if you notice any issues, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.) 

GET MANUFACTURER DISCOUNTS

Most manufacturers offer discounts, but they sure don’t make it easy to find them. If you don’t know who makes your meds, just google “[drug name] + manufacturer” then search for discounts in Canada. You’ll be surprised how many offer them. Here are a few manufacturers that offer drug discount cards in Canada. 

AstraZeneca Canada 
They have a Patient Assistance Program for eligible patients facing financial challenges. You can also use the innoviCares card for additional discounts. Some of their drugs include: Symbicort, Crestor, Nexium, and Brilinta. 
 
Innomar Strategies 
They have patient support programs across Canada, collaborating with various pharmaceutical companies to facilitate access to specialty medications. They provide services like reimbursement assistance, coordination of infusion and injection services, and patient education.  
 
Ferring Canada 
They offer patient assistance programs to ensure access to their medications. They make stuff like Menopur, Pentasa, Firmagon, and Minirin. 

GlaxoSmith Kline GSK Canada 
GSK offers various patient support programs for various drugs to help with medication access. They make Advair, Tivicay, Shingrix, Trelegy Ellipta, and more. 

Lilly Canada 
You have to contact them directly to request discounts, either by email or phone. HERE is the list of drugs they make. They’re known for making Trulicity, Mounjaro, Jardiance, Taltz, and more.

Novo Nordisk Canada 
Novo Nordisk offers a variety of patient support programs to assist with medication needs. They’re well known for making Ozempic®, Saxenda®, Wegovy®, NovoRapid®, and Tresiba®. 

Pfizer Canada 
They have many payment assistance options to allow patients to stay on their original brand-name medications at little or no additional cost compared to generics. They’re known for making Lipitor, Viagra, Lyrica, and Celebrex. 
 
Roche Canada 
Roche offers patient support programs including financial assistance to ensure access to their medicines. They also help patients with reimbursement navigation, infusion and injection support, pharmacy services, and ongoing assistance throughout the treatment journey. Some of Roche’s well-known medications include Herceptin, Avastin, Actemra, and Tamiflu. 

Takeda Canada 
Takeda offers various Patient Assistance Programs for their drugs. One of note is their Vyvanse discount card that you can get HERE. You can also phone them directly if the cost is still too high, and they’ll happily extend further discounts to those in financial need. Their most popular meds are Vyvanse, Entyvio, Dexilant, and Amitiza. 

Taiho Pharma Canada 
Taiho Pharma Canada provides various support services, including financial assistance for eligible patients prescribed Taiho medications (like Lonsurf, Teysuno, and Futibatinib.) 

Bonus: These discount options are stackable with benefits coverage if you’ve got it, so you’ll reduce your out-of-pocket cost even more. If you’re like me (without any coverage), the savings really add up. And as usual, this isn’t a sponsored post. I wish it was, cuz life’s expensive these days! 
 
PROVINCIAL DRUG PROGRAMS 

Each province has programs to help cover medication costs, especially for seniors, low-income individuals, and those with high drug costs. 

Province/ 

Territory 

Program Name(s)  Eligibility  Premium  Deductible  Co-payment/Co-insurance  Maximum Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Costs 
AB  Non-Group Coverage  All residents  Yes 

Single: $63.50/month 

Family: $118/month 

No  30% of prescription cost 

Max $25 per prescription 

No maximum specified 
BC  Fair PharmaCare  All residents  No  0-3% of net family income  After deductible, 30% of prescription cost  2-4% of net family income 

After reaching family maximum, 100% coverage 

SK  Special Support Program  All residents  No  3.4% of net family income 

Paid semi-annually 

After deductible, 35% of prescription cost  No maximum specified 
MB  Pharmacare Program  All residents without other coverage  No  2.97-6.73% of net income 

Minimum $100 

No co-payment  No maximum specified 
ON  Trillium Drug Program  Residents with high drug costs relative to income  No  3-4% of annual net income 

Paid quarterly 

After deductible, $2 per prescription  No maximum specified 
  Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program  – Seniors (65+) 

– Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients 

– Residents of long-term care homes 

– Home care recipients 

– Trillium Drug Program participants (after deductible) 

No 

 

 

– Seniors with higher income: $100 annual deductible 

– Others: None 

– Seniors with higher income: $6.11 per prescription 

– Seniors with lower income: $2 per prescription 

– Others: $2 per prescription or none 

Not specified 
QC  Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan  Residents without private insurance  Yes 

$0-$667 annually 

Varies with income 

$19.45 monthly  After deductible, 34.8% of prescription cost  Monthly: $88.83 

Annual: $1,029 

NL  Assurance Plan  All residents  No  5-10% of annual net income 

Varies with income 

Co-insurance rate capped based on family income  No maximum specified 
NS  Family Pharmacare  Residents without other provincial coverage  No  1-20% of annual net income  20% of prescription cost  6-35% of net income 

Varies with income 

NB  New Brunswick Drug Plan  Residents without private insurance  Yes 

$16.67-$166.67 monthly 

Varies with income 

No  30% of prescription cost 

Max $5-$30 per prescription 

Varies with income 

No maximum specified 
NU  Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program  – Eligible First Nations and Inuit individuals  No  None  None  Not specified 
NT  Extended Health Benefits (EHB) Program  – Seniors (60+) 

– Specified disease conditions 

No  No  None  Not specified 
PEI  Generic Drug Program  Residents under 65 without private insurance  No  No  Maximum $19.95 per generic drug  No maximum specified 
YK  Pharmacare and Extended Health Care Benefits  – Seniors (65+) 

– Spouses aged 60-64 of eligible seniors 

No  None  None  Not specified 

OTHER SAVINGS 
 
Use Pharmacy Reward Programs 
 
Some pharmacies, like Shoppers Drug Mart (PC Optimum) and Rexall (Be Well), offer loyalty points that can be redeemed for future purchases, including prescriptions. (But keep in mind, both examples have high dispensing fees, so you’ll have to consider whether it’s worth going there for the points, or worth going elsewhere to save on fees.) 
 
Health Spending Accounts (HSA) 

Some employers offer Health Spending Accounts, which can cover prescription drugs. If you have an HSA, use it to reduce out-of-pocket costs. 

Pharmacy Price Matching 

Some pharmacies match competitors’ prices on prescription medications. It’s worth asking if yours does. 
 
Contact Local Pharmacies Directly: Reach out to pharmacies in your area to inquire about their price matching policies. Speaking with a pharmacist or store manager can provide clarity on whether they offer this service. 

Check Official Websites: Some pharmacy chains may outline their pricing policies online. Reviewing the official website of the pharmacy can offer insights into any available price matching options. 

Compare Prices: Even if a pharmacy doesn’t officially offer price matching, being aware of competitors’ prices can sometimes lead to discounts or adjustments, especially if you discuss this with the pharmacist. 

Online Canadian Pharmacies 

Legit online pharmacies can offer lower dispensing fees and savings on medications. Just ensure they are licensed by a provincial regulatory body (e.g., check the CIPA website). 

Use a Tax Deduction for Medical Expenses 

Save your receipts! If your total medical expenses exceed 3% of your income, you can claim them on your taxes for a non-refundable credit. 
 

I spent a LOT of time pulling all this together, but I can’t be held accountable for info that has changed since I did my research, so please just use this post as a guideline to determine how you can keep more money in your pocket. 

Share It Via

Alex