About The Public Service Health Care Plan Benefit Card

Since November 1, 2010 the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) benefit card has been accepted at pharmacies across Canada. Plan members do not have to pay 100% of the cost of their covered prescription drugs and eligible medical supplies at time of purchase before submitting their claims for reimbursement. The card allows pharmacists to process expenses electronically.

In addition, benefit recipients can obtain a 100-day supply when refilling their prescription for any PSHCP-eligible drug. If you are travelling abroad for an extended period and need a bigger supply of medication, you can contact Sun Life, who will work with your pharmacist to make it available to you for purchase.

While the Card covers generic drugs "by default", you can still obtain brand name drugs if "no substitutions allowed" has been specified on your prescription.

It is important to know that the Card is currently integrated with the B.C., Manitoba or Saskatchewan health care plans. Once you meet or exceed the provincial deductible, your provincial plan becomes "first payer" and assumes responsibility for part, or all, of your claim. Sun Life requires you to register for provincial plans so that, when applicable, the province will cover costs that it otherwise would have to incur. This very common practice is known as the "coordination of benefits". Note that even though Sun Life pays for a large portion of your prescription, the entire expense is counted against your provincial deductible.

The Quebec health care plan is also integrated with the PSHCP benefit card. We will update this web site as soon as the information becomes available.

Please follow the links below for information on your specific area.

British Columbia

Register online at https://pharmacare.moh.hnet.bc.ca/
or
Register by phone at (604) 683-7151 (Vancouver) or 1-800-663-7100 (rest of B.C.).

Once you have registered and received a registration number, inform Sun Life via phone, email, letter or fax. You will need your policy information and certification number. You can find Sun Life contact information at https://www.sunnet.sunlife.com/web/PSHCP/Member/contactus.asp

Saskatchewan

Register online for the Saskatchewan Health Drug Plan's Special Support Program at http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/special-support-program
or
Register by phone at (306) 787-3317 or toll free at 1-800-667-7581

Once you have registered and received a registration number, contact Sun Life using one of the methods described above.

Manitoba

Register online for the Manitoba Pharmacare Program at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/forms.html
or
Register by phone at (204) 786-7141 or toll free at 1-800-297-8099

Once you have registered and received a registration number, contact Sun Life using one of the methods described above.

Remember that if you had to pay out of pocket for a prescription, you can request a reimbursement by filing a paper claim once you are registered with your provincial health authority.

Remember that if your provincial plan is responsible for paying only part of your medical expense, you can submit a claim for the remainder to Sun Life.

More information can also be found by following the links below:

Treasury Board
#27 - Why Do I Have To Provide Proof Of Provincial Coverage?
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hr-rh/bp-rasp/benefits-avantages/hcp-rss/faq-eng.asp

PSHCP - March 2011 Bulletin
Provincial drug plan coverage
http://www.pshcp.ca/english/bulletins/default.shtml

Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) Regional Services- B.C.
PSHCP Benefit Card and Registration with BC Fair Pharmacare
http://www.fsna-bc.org/index.php?bShow=5&cat=1

If you require more information or clarification on using the card, please follow this process in order:

(1) Contact Sun Life at 1-888-757-7427 or visit www.sunlife.ca/pshcp

(2) Speak to your workplace Compensation Advisor or Human Resources contact.

(3) Review the Questions and Answers section (http://www.pipsc.ca/portal/page/portal/website/issues/pensioninfo/pen_main/news/faq71910) to determine if the information you require has already been posted on the PIPSC web site.

(4) If you have not received the answers you are looking for, or if you are unhappy with the service you have been provided, contact your PIPSC Pensions and Benefits Advisor, John Staric at 1-800-267-0446 ext. 2302 or email him.