Does your provincial drug plan cover testosterone?
Every province lists injectable testosterone on its public drug plan in some form, but not in the same way. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan list the injections as regular benefits, and Quebec's RAMQ search shows them as covered. Ontario lists them under Limited Use and British Columbia under Special Authority, both of which require a documented cause of low testosterone. Gels are the least covered form. Being listed does not make a product free: you are covered only if the plan covers you, and then only after its deductible or co-payment.
OHIP, MSP and the other provincial health insurance plans pay for the doctor visit and for the blood test when a clinician orders it. The medication is a separate question, answered by each province's drug plan. The table gives the status each plan prints for the three forms of testosterone sold in Canada. The conditions, who each plan covers, and the source with its date follow the table.
Coverage by province
| Province | Public plan | Injectables (cypionate, enanthate) | Gels | Oral capsules (undecanoate) | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Alberta Drug Benefit List (government-sponsored plans) | Regular benefit | Not a benefit | Special authorization | 24 September 2026 |
| British Columbia | BC PharmaCare | Special authorization | Not listed | Not a benefit | 26 September 2026 |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Pharmacare | Regular benefit | Not listed | Regular benefit | 24 September 2026 |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Drug Plans | Regular benefit | Special authorization | Special authorization | 26 September 2026 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program | Regular benefit | Special authorization | Special authorization | 26 September 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Pharmacare | Regular benefit | Exception status | Regular benefit | 26 September 2026 |
| Ontario | Ontario Drug Benefit | Limited Use | Limited Use | Limited Use | 26 September 2026 |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Pharmacare | Depends on the program | Special authorization | Special authorization | 26 September 2026 |
| Quebec | RAMQ public prescription drug insurance plan | Covered, per the RAMQ search tool | Covered, per the RAMQ search tool | Covered, per the RAMQ search tool | 26 September 2026 |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Drug Plan | Regular benefit | Not listed | Regular benefit | 24 September 2026 |
Alberta: Alberta Drug Benefit List (government-sponsored plans)
What the plan says: Testosterone cypionate 100 mg/mL and enanthate 200 mg/mL injections are regular benefits. Oral undecanoate 40 mg needs special authorization. AndroGel and Testim gels are not a benefit. Jatenzo is under review.
Who the plan covers: Coverage for Seniors (65 and older) and Non-Group Coverage, a premium plan open to Albertans under 65. Both charge a 30% co-payment up to $35 a prescription. (plan page, source dated 2 April 2026)
Source: Alberta Interactive Drug Benefit List, search for testosterone, source dated 23 September 2026. Checked 24 September 2026. Full guide.
British Columbia: BC PharmaCare
What the plan says: Injectable cypionate and enanthate are limited coverage drugs, covered only with Special Authority, which is approved automatically when the criteria are met: testosterone deficiency with a cause such as hypogonadism, orchiectomy, undescended testes, Klinefelter syndrome, a pituitary tumour or pituitary removal, or gender-affirming therapy. Approval is indefinite. Oral undecanoate is a non-benefit. The gels do not appear in the formulary search.
Who the plan covers: Fair PharmaCare is open to every BC resident enrolled in MSP who consents to an income check. The deductible and family maximum depend on income; after the deductible PharmaCare pays 70%. (plan page, source dated 27 August 2026)
Note: The gels are recorded as not listed because they do not appear in the PharmaCare formulary search, which leaves out most drugs PharmaCare does not cover.
Source: Limited coverage drugs, testosterone, source dated 21 April 2026. Formulary search coverage data updated 15 September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026. Full guide.
Manitoba: Manitoba Pharmacare
What the plan says: Five products are Part 1 benefits: cypionate 100 mg/mL (Depo-Testosterone and Taro-Testosterone Cypionate), enanthate (Delatestryl and a generic 200 mg/mL) and oral undecanoate 40 mg (Taro-Testosterone). No gel is listed.
Who the plan covers: Manitobans with Manitoba Health coverage whose drugs are not covered by another provincial or federal program, regardless of age or condition. Pharmacare pays after an annual deductible set from family income. (plan page)
Source: Manitoba drug formulary lookup, search for testosterone, source dated 23 September 2026. Checked 24 September 2026. Full guide.
New Brunswick: New Brunswick Drug Plans
What the plan says: Cypionate 100 mg/mL and enanthate 200 mg/mL are regular benefits. Gels and oral undecanoate need special authorization for hypogonadism with a specific cause, confirmed by clinical features and two free testosterone measurements; older men with non-specific symptoms do not qualify. Gels are also covered for gender-affirming therapy when a regular benefit option is not appropriate.
Who the plan covers: The New Brunswick Drug Plan is for residents with Medicare and no drug coverage, with income-based premiums and a 30% co-payment. The Prescription Drug Program covers seniors on the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Social Development clients and some others. (plan page)
Source: New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary, source dated 10 September 2026. Formulary dated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program
What the plan says: Cypionate (Taro and Depo-Testosterone) and enanthate are open benefits, filled 30 days at a time. Gels and oral undecanoate need special authorization for hypogonadism with a specific cause, confirmed by clinical features and two biochemical tests; older men with non-specific symptoms do not qualify. Gels are also covered for gender-affirming therapy when an open benefit option is not appropriate.
Who the plan covers: A payer of last resort with several plans: Foundation (income support), 65Plus, Access (low income), Assurance (high drug costs relative to income) and Select Needs. (plan page)
Source: NLPDP coverage status table. Coverage status table dated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Pharmacare
What the plan says: Cypionate, enanthate and oral undecanoate are listed as benefits for the Seniors' and Family Pharmacare programs. Gels have exception status for hypogonadism with a specific cause confirmed by two biochemical tests, up to 5 g a day, with a separate listing for gender-affirming therapy. The AndroGel pump is not a benefit.
Who the plan covers: Seniors' Pharmacare (65 and older without private drug coverage), Family Pharmacare (income-based, open to Nova Scotians with a health card) and Community Services programs. (plan page)
Source: Nova Scotia Formulary. Formulary dated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
Ontario: Ontario Drug Benefit
What the plan says: Taro-Testosterone Cypionate, generic enanthate, Taro-Testosterone oral capsules and the AndroGel, Taro and Testim gels are all Limited Use: covered when the prescriber documents that the person meets the Limited Use criteria for confirmed low testosterone with a cause. Depo-Testosterone, Delatestryl and Andriol are not a benefit.
Who the plan covers: People 65 and older, OHIP+ for people 24 and under without private insurance, Ontario Works and ODSP recipients, long-term care and home care, and the Trillium Drug Program for people with high drug costs relative to income. (plan page, source dated 18 August 2026)
Source: Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary, search for testosterone. Page shows last updated 02/09/2026. Checked 26 September 2026. Full guide.
Prince Edward Island: PEI Pharmacare
What the plan says: Cypionate and enanthate are listed for the Family Health Benefit, Catastrophic and Financial Assistance programs. Gels and oral undecanoate need special authorization for hypogonadism with a specific cause confirmed by two biochemical tests; oral undecanoate also requires that injectable testosterone was unsuccessful, not tolerated or not suitable.
Who the plan covers: Seniors Drug Program (65 and older), Generic Drug Program (under 65 without private insurance), Catastrophic Drug Program (income-based cap), Family Health Benefit and Financial Assistance. (plan page)
Note: As printed, the injectables are not coded for the Seniors or Generic Drug programs while the gels are. That reads oddly and has not been confirmed with PEI Pharmacare.
Source: PEI Pharmacare Formulary, source dated 23 September 2026. Formulary updated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
Quebec: RAMQ public prescription drug insurance plan
What the plan says: The RAMQ coverage search shows cypionate, enanthate, the AndroGel, Taro and Testim gels and Taro oral undecanoate as covered, with no exception drug label. Jatenzo is not covered.
Who the plan covers: Mandatory for people without access to a private group plan, automatic at 65, and for people on financial assistance. Anyone eligible for a private plan must join it. (plan page)
Note: The legal List of Medications could not be read directly, so product-level status comes from the RAMQ search tool only.
Source: RAMQ, find out if a medication is covered, search for testostérone. RAMQ says search results are not legally binding. Checked 26 September 2026.
Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Drug Plan
What the plan says: The formulary effective 1 September 2026 lists cypionate 100 mg/mL, enanthate 200 mg/mL (Delatestryl and a generic) and oral undecanoate 40 mg with no exception drug status. No gel is listed.
Who the plan covers: Residents with valid Saskatchewan health coverage, excluding people covered federally. Seniors and children 14 and under pay up to $25 a prescription; the Special Support Program is income-tested. (plan page)
Source: Saskatchewan Online Formulary Database, source dated 27 August 2026. Checked 24 September 2026. Full guide.
What a listing does and does not mean
- Regular or open benefit: covered without a separate approval, for people the plan covers.
- Limited Use, Special Authority, special authorization or exception status: covered only when the prescriber confirms or applies for the plan's criteria. In British Columbia a request that meets the criteria is approved automatically.
- Not a benefit or not listed: the plan does not pay for it. Private insurance may.
- Who the plan covers matters as much as the listing. The Ontario Drug Benefit, for example, covers people 65 and older, people 24 and under without private insurance, people on social assistance and Trillium enrollees, not every Ontarian. BC's Fair PharmaCare and Manitoba Pharmacare are open to all residents, with an income-based deductible.
What the medication costs when you pay for it yourself, and what online services add on top, is on the costs page. Each province's public routes to assessment are on the access page.
Common questions
Is testosterone covered by OHIP?
OHIP covers the doctor visit and the blood test when a clinician orders it. The medication is covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit, not OHIP, and only for people the ODB covers. Taro-Testosterone Cypionate, generic enanthate, Taro-Testosterone oral capsules and the AndroGel, Taro and Testim gels are all Limited Use: covered when the prescriber documents that the person meets the Limited Use criteria for confirmed low testosterone with a cause. Depo-Testosterone, Delatestryl and Andriol are not a benefit. People 65 and older, OHIP+ for people 24 and under without private insurance, Ontario Works and ODSP recipients, long-term care and home care, and the Trillium Drug Program for people with high drug costs relative to income.
Does BC PharmaCare or MSP cover TRT?
MSP covers the visit and the blood test. For the medication: Injectable cypionate and enanthate are limited coverage drugs, covered only with Special Authority, which is approved automatically when the criteria are met: testosterone deficiency with a cause such as hypogonadism, orchiectomy, undescended testes, Klinefelter syndrome, a pituitary tumour or pituitary removal, or gender-affirming therapy. Approval is indefinite. Oral undecanoate is a non-benefit. The gels do not appear in the formulary search. Fair PharmaCare is open to every BC resident enrolled in MSP who consents to an income check. The deductible and family maximum depend on income; after the deductible PharmaCare pays 70%.
Does Alberta cover testosterone?
Testosterone cypionate 100 mg/mL and enanthate 200 mg/mL injections are regular benefits. Oral undecanoate 40 mg needs special authorization. AndroGel and Testim gels are not a benefit. Jatenzo is under review. These listings apply to Alberta's government-sponsored plans: Coverage for Seniors (65 and older) and Non-Group Coverage, a premium plan open to Albertans under 65. Both charge a 30% co-payment up to $35 a prescription.
Do public plans cover testosterone for age-related low testosterone?
Most plans tie coverage to low testosterone with a documented cause. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI state in their special authorization criteria that older men with non-specific symptoms do not qualify for gels or oral capsules, and Ontario and BC require a documented cause for their Limited Use and Special Authority coverage.
Does private insurance cover testosterone?
Many workplace and personal plans cover prescription drugs, and whether testosterone is included, and on what conditions, depends on the plan. In Quebec anyone eligible for a private group plan must join it, and in several provinces the public plan pays only after private coverage. Ask your insurer before you fill the prescription.
Sources
- Alberta Interactive Drug Benefit List, search for testosterone, Alberta Drug Benefit List (government-sponsored plans). Source date 23 September 2026. Checked 24 September 2026.
- Limited coverage drugs, testosterone, BC PharmaCare. Source date 21 April 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- Manitoba drug formulary lookup, search for testosterone, Manitoba Pharmacare. Source date 23 September 2026. Checked 24 September 2026.
- New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary, New Brunswick Drug Plans. Source date 10 September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- NLPDP coverage status table, Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. Coverage status table dated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- Nova Scotia Formulary, Nova Scotia Pharmacare. Formulary dated September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary, search for testosterone, Ontario Drug Benefit. Page shows last updated 02/09/2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- PEI Pharmacare Formulary, PEI Pharmacare. Source date 23 September 2026. Checked 26 September 2026.
- RAMQ, find out if a medication is covered, search for testostérone, RAMQ public prescription drug insurance plan. RAMQ says search results are not legally binding. Checked 26 September 2026.
- Saskatchewan Online Formulary Database, Saskatchewan Drug Plan. Source date 27 August 2026. Checked 24 September 2026.