What is Medicare?
Medicare (assurance maladie in French) is the common name for Canada’s universal public health insurance system. The structure of medicare is outlined in the Canada Health Act and the health legislation of each province and territory. Under the Canada Health Act, all residents (typically citizens and permanent residents) are provided with health insurance for basic health care needs by their provincial or territorial government. More information is available on Health Canada.

What is Pharmacare?
Pharmacare programs are typically subsidy programs designed to assist with the cost of prescription medications and medical supplies. While the structure of pharmacare programs vary across Canada, they often include a premium (monthly or annual payment) and/or deductibles (payment of a portion of the cost) paid by the individual.

What about costs that aren’t covered by the provincial or federal government?
Drug or supply costs that aren’t covered by assistance programs are the responsibility of the individual. You can cover remaining costs through your own income, or through private insurance programs.

Are there any federal programs or tax breaks to assist with medical costs?The Government of Canada, through various programs, provides prescription drug coverage for about one million Canadians who are members of the following eligible groups: First Nations and Inuit, inmates in federal penitentiaries, members of the Canadian Forces, veterans of the Canadian Forces and RCMP, civilian members of the RCMP, and police members of the RCMP

The federal government also oversees the Special Access Program, which allows physicians to apply on their patients