B.C. expands diabetes supply coverage and adds smart pump for some Type 1 patients

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 30, 2026

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The Government of British Columbia announced on Monday, March 30, 2026, that it is expanding public coverage for a new range of diabetes-related supplies and devices starting April 1, in a move aimed at lowering out-of-pocket costs and improving access to day-to-day diabetes care. The change includes basic home-management supplies as well as coverage for an advanced insulin pump for some people living with Type 1 diabetes.

Under the announcement, newly covered items include lancets, alcohol swabs, and blood or urine ketone strips, with annual quantity limits of 400 lancets, 300 alcohol swabs, and 100 ketone strips. The province said these items are part of a home testing kit for diabetes management and can cost between $30 and $100 per month. Coverage will be available through existing PharmaCare plans, including Fair PharmaCare and other targeted plans, with full coverage for some eligible groups.

The province also said patients with Type 1 diabetes who meet certain clinical criteria will be eligible for coverage of Ypsomed AG’s mylife Ypsopump. When paired with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor and a smartphone application, the pump forms a hybrid closed-loop automated insulin-delivery system. B.C. said this is the first hybrid closed-loop system to receive PharmaCare coverage, while other technologies remain under review.

Officials said the expanded coverage could save some patients hundreds of dollars and, in certain cases, thousands. The province added that PharmaCare may cover as much as $7,000 of the pump cost depending on the person’s plan. The expansion is tied to a broader national pharmacare agreement signed by B.C. and the federal government in March 2025, worth up to $670 million over three years.