Financial Considerations

Accessing affordable medications (e.g. generics, insurance plans)

Accessing affordable medications can be challenging. However, in Canada, there are many resources available to help lower the cost associated with buying medications.

Strategies for accessing affordable medications:

• Review your health and other insurance coverage (including no-fault auto insurance)
• Check for patient assistance programs
• Check for government assistance programs
• Check prescription assistance services
• Consider buying generic medications Medication with the same active ingredient as a brand name drug, is taken the same way and offers the same effect. Can be produced once the patent on the brand name drug has expired.
• Explore discount options at community health clinics
• Consider using mail-order pharmacies Pharmacies that dispense and deliver medications to the patient’s home.
• Depending on the type of medication, see if you can buy in bulk
• Ask your prescriber if any of your over-the-counter A medication that can be bought without a prescription (doctor’s orders). For example, acetaminophen. or natural health products Naturally occurring substances that can be used in products to maintain or restore health. Common natural health products include vitamins, minerals, and substances that come from a natural source (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids). can be prescribed (this helps with insurance coverage)

Most Canadians have access to insurance coverage for medications through a combination of provincial and public insurance plans. Each provincial and territorial government offers a drug benefit plan for eligible people. Publicly funded drug plans provide different levels of prescription drug coverage based on age, income, and medical condition.

Below are examples of prescription drug programs offered by each province/territory.

Province/ Territory	Examples of Prescription Drug Program
Alberta	Alberta Adult Health Benefit: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-adult-health-benefit Alberta Drug Benefit: https://www.alberta.ca/drug-benefit-list-and-drug-review-process Coverage for Seniors Program: https://www.alberta.ca/coverage-for-seniors-program   Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped: https://www.alberta.ca/aish
British Columbia	Fair Pharmacare Plan: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/who-we-cover/fair-pharmacare-plan Plan M for Medication Review Services (prescription assistance service): https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/pharmacare-publications/pharmacare-policy-manual-2012/coverage-plans/medication-management-planm
Manitoba	Manitoba Pharmacare Program: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/index.html
New Brunswick	New Brunswick Drug Plan: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/DrugPlans/NBDrugPlan.html New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program: https://socialsupportsnb.ca/en/program/prescription-drug-plans Medavie Blue Cross Seniors’ Prescription Drug Program: https://www.medaviebc.ca/en/plans/seniors-health-program
Newfoundland and Labrador	Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Plan: https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/prescription/ Five major plans under the program: The Foundation Plan, The 65Plus Plan, The Access Plan, The Assurance Plan and The Select Needs Plan
Northwest Territories	Extended Health Benefits for Specified Disease Conditions Program: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/supplementary-health-benefits/extended-health-benefits-specified-disease-conditions Extended Health Benefits for Seniors Program: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/supplementary-health-benefits/extended-health-benefits-seniors-program
Nova Scotia	Seniors’ Pharmacare Program: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/ Family Pharmacare Program: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/family-pharmacare.asp Department of Community Services Pharmacare Benefits: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/DCS-drug-program.asp
Nunavut	Extended Health Benefits: https://www.gov.nu.ca/en/health/extended-health-benefits
Ontario	Ontario Drug Benefit Program (for people over the age of 65): https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-coverage-prescription-drugs Trillium Drug Program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-help-high-prescription-drug-costs MedsCheck (prescription assistance service): https://www.ontario.ca/page/professional-pharmacy-services#section-3 Ontario Disability Support Program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-disability-support-program-eligibility-income-support
Prince Edward Island	Catastrophic Drug Program; https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/catastrophic-drug-program Generic Drug Program (for those under the age of 65 who do not have private insurance): https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/drug-programs Seniors’ Drug Cost Assistance Program: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/seniors-drug-program
Quebec	Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan: https://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/prescription-drug-insurance
Saskatchewan	Special Support Program: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/prescription-drug-plans-and-health-coverage/extended-benefits-and-drug-plan/drug-cost-assistance Senior’s Drug Plan: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessing-health-care-services/seniors-drug-plan Emergency Assistance for Prescription Drugs: https://sk.211.ca/services/acute-and-emergency-services-branch-drug-plan-and-extended-benefits-branch-community-care-branch-sail/drug-plan-and-extended-benefits-branch-emergency-assistance-for-prescription-drugs/
Yukon	Pharmacare: https://yukon.ca/en/health-and-wellness/care-services/apply-extended-health-care-benefits-and-pharmacare-seniors#pharmacare-information