Canada’s pharmacare bill is now law.

Canada’s pharmacare bill has officially become a reality after it officially passed through the Senate Thursday and received royal assent.That means many will soon have access to more medications, including those for diabetes and contraception, which are deemed essential and can cost hundreds or thousands out of pocket each year, though specific provincial agreements are still in negotiation.

The legislation, part of the now-defunct political agreement between the Liberals and the NDP, establishes a framework for the creation of any future universal pharmacare plan.

“Today is about pharmacare. It is an incredibly important day for this country,” Health Minister Mark Holland said during a Friday media briefing. “I am not going to say this was easy…. Getting this bill adopted through the House and the Senate was incredibly difficult.”

Now that Bill C-64 is law, the pharmacare plan will provide coverage for certain diabetes treatments and contraception in provinces that reach agreements with the federal government.

These agreements will support reproductive freedom by providing up to nine million women and gender diverse people in Canada free access to contraception, Holland says.

Additionally, the 3.7 million people in Canada living with diabetes will have universal access to a suite of medications that reduce the risk of serious health complications and improve quality of life, the government said.

Here’s what you need to know about the bill.

The pharmacare legislation includes universal access to contraception and diabetes medications, with the goal to expand the number of covered medications in the future.

It also implements a universal first-dollar coverage pharmacare plan for medications, meaning that the government pays the costs upfront.

The diabetes medications covered include first-line treatments that lower blood glucose levels, providing Canadians with access to essential therapies such as:

• Insulin, which is used by patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
• Metformin, which is used by patients with Type 2 diabetes.
• Medications often used in combination with insulin and metformin by patients with Type 2 diabetes, including sulfonylureas and SGLT-2 inhibitors.You can find a full list of the covered diabetes medication on the government of Canada’s website.

  The bill also covers access to contraceptives for roughly nine million Canadians of reproductive age.

  “Contraceptive drugs were chosen as part of this next step of universal pharmacare specifically because improved access to contraception improves equality. It reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies and improves reproductive rights,” Health Canada stated in a February media release.

  The contraception coverage includes oral contraceptives, copper and hormonal IUDs, injections, implants, rings and morning-after pills.

  Find a full list of the covered contraceptive medication on the government of Canada’s website.