The GreenShield Cares Essential Medicines Program provides 12 months of coverage of up to $1,000 for a defined list of prescription medications with no out-of-pocket costs, no co-pays or deductibles and free shipping.

Please review the program eligibility details and definitions below before submitting an application.

Nova Scotia Essential Medicines Program Application

Before you get started

Program eligibility

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program:

Permanent resident of Nova Scotia
Currently employed
Aged 25 to 64
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
Not enrolled in a provincial drug program*

Drug programs in Nova Scotia include, but are not limited to, Department of Community Services Pharmacare Benefits and Disability Support Program.

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*Individuals eligible for Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare are encouraged to speak with a program Specialist before proceeding with the application process

Program definitions

The following definitions help explain our program's acceptance criteria listed above. Please read them carefully before starting your application.

Permanent resident of Nova Scotia

For the purposes of the Essential Medicines program, a resident is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who resides in the province of Nova Scotia.

Household

A single person living alone; or individuals living in a household (whether related or not) who are not under the guardianship of another, are financially independent because they do not rely on other household members for financial support and pay for their own expenses, including utility bills, rent, groceries, medical expenses, childcare, etc.
Two or more persons who share a residence, may have a family relationship, may live In a conjugal relationship outside of marriage, but are dependent on each other for financial support. The key factor Is financial dependency, excluding those who are financially Independent and self-supporting.
Two persons living together if one is the legal guardian of the other, and one is dependent on the other for financial support.
Children living with you, including children and youth who are students, who may not live with you but rely on you for financial support, such as students who are away for school or children studying abroad.
Parents, grandparents, and other relatives who live with you and rely on you or you rely on them for financial support.

Combined net household income

Represents the money the household has left over after subtracting taxes and other deductions from all household members combined gross income in a calendar year, essentially after taxes take-home pay.

Employment

Represents an individual’s employment status and includes actively working part-time or full-time whether on a permanent or contract basis This includes individuals employed but not actively working due to being on leave including sick, or other types of leave; there is intent to return to work with the same employer in the future and that same employer does not provide prescription drug coverage while on leave.

Begin Application

What happens if you’re not eligible?

There are several public drug programs that help cover the costs of vital medications. Discover which programs help Nova Scotians afford their medications, and find the right support for you or a loved one.

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