CARP continues to have significant concerns about the federal pharmacare framework recently passed as Bill C-64. We fear that the Health Minister’s plan to fund medications solely through the public system, without a mix of public and private payers, could reduce access to essential prescriptions that seniors currently receive through existing health benefits.

There are two big reasons for our concern and neither has been adequately addressed by the federal government.

First, the new list of medicines for diabetes is just a fraction of what’s available on the best provincial drug programs today and far less than what’s provided through public plans. Older Canadians with diabetes need access to the best medicines for their condition and this is the tip of the iceberg – what happens if pharmacare is extended to other chronic and life-threatening illnesses, like heart diseases and cancer?

Second, even if the Minister has assured Canadians they could retain their private drug plans, what happens if those plans change and reduce coverage for diabetes and future conditions? This is what’s happened in other countries like New Zealand, where the single-payer crowds out other private health insurance options.

CARP will continue to advocate for seniors’ ability to access comprehensive prescription drug coverage through retiree, workplace, or other plans. We urge the government to address coverage gaps for those in need while preserving the existing benefits of over 27 million Canadians.

As details of national pharmacare are finalized, it’s unclear how it will interact with current private plans, which often cover a broader range of medications and additional services. Until more details emerge, CARP suggests maintaining your current drug coverage.

Follow CARP’s take on pharmacare here.

 

Image by Mohamed Hassan