Catastrophic Drug Program

PEI Pharmacare

Caps what an Island household pays out of pocket for eligible prescriptions in a year at a percentage of its income, and covers everything above the cap. Verbatim: "All costs of eligible medications are covered by the program after the household cap amount has been reached." The percentage runs from 3% of income up to $20,000 to 6.5% above $150,000.

The catch: It has to be re-applied for every single year - coverage runs to 30 June and stops, verbatim: "your eligibility will start from the date noted in your approval letter, and will continue until June 30. To avoid interruption in coverage, you must re-apply each year." Applying late costs money rather than time, because the cap is pro-rated up, not down: the page's own worked example is a $2,200 household cap becoming $1,738 for a household applying on 15 September, meaning it pays a larger share before coverage starts. Holding another public drug programme does not exclude you - people on the Seniors or Diabetes programmes qualify here too once they pass their cap.

Who can get it

  • Are a PEI resident as defined by the Drug Cost Assitance Act. [Published wording; the statute is the Drug Cost Assistance Act.] must meet
  • Have filed your most recent income tax return in PEI and agree to household income verification through Canada Revenue Agency. must meet
  • Up to $20,000 you will pay 3% of your annual income on prescription medication costs before assistance. [Lowest of fourteen published bands; the top band is 6.5% above $150,000.]
  • A household may consist of an adult aged 19 and older (unless enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution and under the age of 26); an adult and a spouse (married or common-law); an adult and any dependent children; or an adult, a spouse, and any dependent children.

When it is open

  • Annual re-application
    30 June 2026 to 30 June 2027
    Annually on 30 June
    Once approved, your eligibility will start from the date noted in your approval letter, and will continue until June 30. To avoid interruption in coverage, you must re-apply each year.

Sources

At a glance

Worth
Not a cash amount
Effort
Application
Time to money
Not recorded
How it arrives
Account credit
How often
Annual
Proof needed
Income documents
Where
Prince Edward Island
Last checked
13 August 2026