What Your Plan Covers
Your asrTrust plan covers 100% of the cost of many prescription drugs if:
- Your doctor, nurse practitioner or dentist prescribes the drug
- The drug is on the plan’s covered drug list (called a formulary)
- The claim follows the plan rules
How Are Drugs Included on the Covered Drug List (the formulary)?
Not all Health Canada–approved drugs are covered. Higher-cost drugs that don’t provide added benefit may be excluded. GreenShield manages the asrTrust formulary and reviews new drugs (including vaccines) regularly.
When You May Pay Out-of-Pocket
- Drug not on the formulary (you may pay the full cost), including:
- Over-the-counter items (like cold medicine, pain pills, or vitamins), as these don’t require a prescription
- Some vaccines that are not on the covered list
- Prescription drugs that are not on the covered list
What you can do:
- Ask your prescriber or pharmacist about an equivalent covered option
2. Brand-name drug when a generic exists (you may pay the difference)
- Some drugs have a generic version. Generics work the same as brand-name drugs but cost less.
- For example, Lipitor is a brand-name drug, while atorvastatin is the generic version.
- The plan pays up to the generic cost. If you choose the brand-name drug, you pay the difference.
What you can do:
- Ask your pharmacist whether a generic is available.
- Some high-cost drugs (often biologics) may need prior approval. In some cases, you may need to try a lower-cost alternative (such as a biosimilar) first.
Summary
“100% coverage” means 100% of eligible costs for eligible drugs — not every drug, item, or brand.
You can check if your drug is covered using GreenShield’s website or app:
https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/check-your-coverage
If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist or call GreenShield at 1-877-266-5494 — they can help.
Posted: May 4, 2026
