Fair Entry partnership expands free prescription access for low-income Calgarians

The City of Calgary and GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health care and insurance organization, have launched a pilot partnership designed to expand access to essential prescription medications for Calgarians facing barriers to care.

Eligible Fair Entry clients can now be referred to GreenShield's Essential Medicines program, which provides no-cost access to select essential prescription medications for up to 12 months. The program is aimed at people who do not have prescription drug coverage and need reliable access to medications to manage their health.

Fair Entry, the city's single access point to multiple subsidy programs, determines eligibility based on income, residency, and in some cases age. By combining Fair Entry eligibility with GreenShield's existing Essential Medicines program, the partnership reduces barriers to access while supporting more seamless care.

"It's important everyone knows they belong in Calgary," said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. "As increasing costs and inflation continue to add pressure to families across our city, it's important the City of Calgary is a part of the solution."

GreenShield's Essential Medicines program, launched in 2023, has already supported more than 11,000 individuals across multiple provinces in accessing essential medications, enabling over 16,000 prescriptions to be filled. "Access to essential medications should be a right, not a privilege," said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President of GreenShield Cares.

Fair Entry, launched in 2015, currently serves 130,000 approved Calgarians. Approvals are valid for a 12-month period. More information is available at calgary.ca/FairEntry.