Dispensing fees can have a significant effect on drug plan costs, as they ultimately play a role in determining the rates charged to policyholders and their employees. Encouraging plan members to be smart consumers, in addition to considering a dispensing fee cap as part of your plan design, can help mitigate rising drug benefit costs.

Pharmacists independently set the fees they charge to dispense medication ‑ some have lower fees than others. There are often variations in pricing throughout a province or even within a larger city. While there are exceptions, chains like those listed below, tend to be relatively consistent in their pricing.