What do I need to know about pharmacare in Canada?
The Issue: Canada’s prescription drug system
Canada’s prescription drug insurance system is not working. High out-of-pocket costs – including co-pays and deductibles – are a major financial burden for many, particularly older Canadians on fixed incomes. Coverage across government-administered plans in Canada is inconsistent, leading to provincial disparities.
The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) acknowledges the federal government is exploring national pharmacare in an effort to improve Canada’s drug insurance program. But CARP is concerned that the proposed solution – a single public plan – will harmfully reduce the quality of prescription drug coverage, and make it harder to access newer, more effective and in some cases, life-saving medications.
The Unacceptable Proposal: A single public plan
The proposal of a single public plan would mean everyone in Canada with a health card is eligible for national pharmacare. In other words, there would be no income cut-offs, eligibility rules, or exclusions, even for those already covered by plans. As a result of this breadth of coverage, many essential medications would not be covered, at great health and financial cost to average Canadians. Plus, wait times for new medicines, some life-saving, would increase– and Canada already ranks 18th out of 20 comparable countries for the time it takes to get new medicines approved and available.
How is CARP advocating?
CARP’s Recommendations
CARP is advocating for effective collaboration between the federal and provincial/ territorial governments in delivering a pharmacare program that:
- Funds all NACI-recommended vaccines: let’s protect seniors from the “Big 5”: pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles, COVID-19, and influenza.
- Closes current coverage gaps: let’s help ALL Canadians access a high-quality drug plan.
- Provides better and faster access to new medicines: let’s move UP THE RANKINGS for developed countries on speed and comprehensive access to treatments.
- Reduces or eliminates out-of-pocket costs for Canadians: let’s tackle the affordability challenge for many seniors at the pharmacy counter.
CARP’s advocacy extends beyond medication access to include vaccination programs. After all, vaccination is considered one of public health’s most important tools. CARP members agree: on a recent survey, over 94% of CARP members said the government should fund all NACI-recommended vaccines for Canadian seniors.
Canada’s prescription drug insurance system needs an overhaul. But let’s get it right. Your health depends on it.
How Can I Get Involved?
There are many ways to get involved. Find out more.
