Essential medicines are drugs that meet the priority health care needs of a population and are selected based on evidence for clinical efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

GreenShield’s Essential Medicines program provides up to $1,000² of prescription drug coverage to eligible patients for 12 months from enrolment date towards eligible medications included in GreenShield’s approved essential medicines list. Developed by members of GreenShield’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, this list is informed by the World Health Organization’s model list of essential medicines and with the results of research affiliated with St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto³. Eligible medications are dispensed and delivered free of charge by GreenShield Pharmacy.

GreenShield was founded on the belief that all Canadians deserve the opportunities that better health unlocks. As Canada’s only national non-profit health and benefits company, giving back isn’t what we do, it’s who we are. We’re helping to bridge the essential medicines gap by reinvesting our earnings and redeploying our health services to support underserved and equity-seeking communities.

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While 97 per cent of Canadians have some form of coverage for essential medicines, one million Canadians do not have prescription drug coverage.¹

To be eligible, individuals must meet the following criteria:

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Ontario:

• Resident of Ontario
• Currently employed
• Aged 25 to 64
• Have a household net income below the program threshold⁴
• Not enrolled in a private or employee prescription drug plan, regardless of the level of coverage available  
• Not enrolled in, or currently participating in a provincial drug program⁵

Nova Scotia:

• Resident of Nova Scotia
• Currently employed
• Aged 18 to 64
• Have a household net income below the program threshold⁴
• Not enrolled in a private or employee prescription drug plan, regardless of the level of coverage available
• Not enrolled in, or currently participating in a provincial drug program⁵

Alberta:

• Resident of Alberta
• Currently employed
• Aged 18 to 64
• Have a household net income below the program threshold⁴
• Not enrolled in a private or employee prescription drug plan, regardless of the level of coverage available
• Not enrolled in, or currently participating in a provincial drug program⁵

British Columbia:

• Resident of British Columbia
• Currently employed
• Aged 19+
• Have a combined household net income below the program threshold
• Not enrolled in a private prescription drug plan, regardless of the level of coverage available
• Must be enrolled in BC Medical Service Plan (MSP)
• Must be enrolled in Fair PharmaCare

You can apply via the links below or download the application for Ontario, Nova Scotia or Alberta and submit your application form to our program Specialist via email: essentialmedicines@greenshield.ca‍

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Questions? Please contact our Essential Medicines program Specialist between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (ET)Phone: 519-739-1208 or toll-free at 1-888-348-5188Email: essentialmedicines@greenshield.ca