Next time you get a pill, you might not have to foot the bill.
What happened: The newly passed Pharmacare Act will assure 100% coverage for the costs of diabetes meds (like insulin) and contraceptive care (like pills and IUDs) for people without drug coverage. The program will also cover out-of-pocket costs for those with plans.
Why it matters: The act could bring meaningful financial aid to large swaths of the country. Around 3.7 million Canadians suffer from diabetes, spending as much as $1,700 annually. Meanwhile, studies have found cost is a common barrier to accessing effective birth control.
- However, critics of the program have pointed to its vague language and the lack of coverage of some drugs, including popular semaglutide diabetes meds like Ozempic.
Big picture: The bill also establishes a framework for any future national pharmacare program that could cover more types of meds. Currently, Canada is the only country with a universal healthcare system that doesn’t also have nationalized pharmacare. Go figure.
What’s next: The feds will have to work out individual deals to launch the program in each province and territory, a process it hopes to complete by next spring. B.C. has already signed an agreement to launch it, but Alberta and Québec have threatened to opt out.—QH