All eligible seniors will automatically be enrolled in extended health care and Pharmacare to help pay for medical, dental and vision needs.
The Pharmacare and extended health-care benefits programs assist seniors with the cost of:
- prescription drugs;
- dental care;
- eye care; and
- medical-surgical supplies and equipment.
Eligibility
You must be:
- registered with the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan (YHCIP); and
- a Yukon resident age 65 or over.
You're also eligible if you're:
- a Yukon resident registered with YHCIP;
- aged between 60 and 64; and
- married to a Yukon resident who is 65 years of age or older.
New Yukon resident
If you're a new Yukon resident, it takes 3 months for your Yukon Health Care Insurance coverage and seniors benefits to begin. Apply for the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan.
Why would your benefits stop?
- If you're away from the Yukon for more than 183 consecutive days.
- Your benefits stop the date you permanently move out of the territory.
If you're out of the territory for up to 210 days
You can keep your benefits if you satisfy the director of Insurance Health Services that the Yukon is your only permanent residence.
Resources
Learn more about pharmacare and extended health eligibility, benefits and restrictions
The Pharmacare card confirms your eligibility for all insured physician, hospital and seniors' benefits. The program is the insurer of last resort.
If you receive health insurance benefits through your employer or a 3rd-party insurance agency, you must first submit your claim to the other insurance prior to submitting your claim to Pharmacare.
Pharmacare coverage
Benefits under the Pharmacare program include partial or 100% coverage.
Medical surgical supplies or equipment require pre-approval
You may be able to get:
- walking aids;
- artificial eyes and limbs;
- respiratory equipment;
- commodes; and
- manual wheelchairs.
Hearing aids
- 1 hearing aid is allowed in a 4-year period.
- Repair and adjustment of 1 hearing aid with a 12-month warranty.
- No charge for adjustments.
- Batteries are not covered.
Dental care
- The plan is administered by Pacific Blue Cross on behalf of Pharmacare.
- You'll automatically receive you Pacific Blue Cross insurance card once you're eligible and enrolled in Pharmacare.
- Present this card to your dental provider at each visit.
- The plan pays for dentures or rebases once in a 5-year period.
- Coverage is limited to $1,400 in any 2-year period.
Eye examinations and glasses
- The plan may pay for 1 eye examination, new lenses and a maximum of $100 toward the purchase of frames once every 2 years.
- Benefits do not include the repair of glasses.
- The purchase of tinted or contact lenses is not covered.
Prescription medications
If you do not have the Pharmacare card with you when making a purchase, you may be charged for the cost of drugs. The program may refund this amount, but you must submit the original prescription receipt.
The Pharmacare program will pay the total costs of the lowest priced generics of all prescription drugs. You can find a list of drugs and costs in the Yukon Pharmacare Formulary. The cost includes the dispensing fee.
What Pharmacare does not cover
Pharmacare does not cover the cost of products that do not require a prescription, such as:
- vitamins;
- personal care items;
- laxatives; and
- antacids.
If you have questions about extended health benefits for seniors or Pharmacare, phone 867-667-5403, or toll free in Yukon, Nunavut and the NWT at 1-800-661-0408.