Prescription medications can be expensive. And while more than 97 per cent of Canadians have at least some form of drug coverage, there are over one million individuals who don’t have access to essential medicines.1 For many, this can mean choosing between paying for prescription medication and meeting basic needs. Fortunately, there are programs that can help.
GreenShield is proud to expand its Essential Medicines Program to Nova Scotia, as a solution to fill the gap for individuals without coverage. Originally launched in Ontario in 2023, this first-of-its-kind program provides essential medications to individuals without public or private drug coverage.
In addition to GreenShield’s program, there are several public drug programs available to help cover the costs of vital medications. In this post, we break down what programs are available to help pay for medications in Nova Scotia, and how to find the right support for you or a loved one.
The role of a drug program
Essential medicines are integral to a person’s quality of life and support positive health outcomes. Drug programs can help ease the financial burden of certain prescription medications for those who are eligible, so cost isn’t a barrier to maintaining health.
There are several different programs available that you may be eligible for depending on a number of criteria including your age, employment status, the medical conditions you live with, and the type of medications you take.
Navigating Nova Scotia’s public drug programs
Nova Scotia’s public prescription medication programs assist residents with the cost of prescribed drugs listed as benefits on Nova Scotia’s formulary. This overview outlines the eligibility criteria of, and links to further information on, public programs for which you may be eligible.
Seniors’ Pharmacare program
The Senior’s Pharmacare Program provides coverage for prescription medications to Nova Scotian seniors (65+) with a valid health card who do not receive drug coverage through private plans. An individual’s premiums and copayment amounts are dependent on income and subject to annual maximums. The province covers the remainder of the cost.
Family Pharmacare program
The Family Pharmacare program provides families with drug coverage. This plan covers individuals in a family, which is defined as: (1) a single individual 18+, (2) an adult and spouse, (3) an adult and all dependent children, or (4) an adult, spouse and all dependent children. There is no premium or fee to enrol, and co-payment and deductible maximums are set depending on a family’s size and income.
Drug Assistance for Cancer Patients
The Drug Assistance for Cancer Patients program aims to comprehensively mitigate cancer care costs by providing coverage for ostomy supply needs, transportation, and boarding (i.e., travelling more than 50-km one way for treatment). Eligible recipients include residents with a valid Nova Scotia health card, whose household income is less than $35,000 per year, and who do not possess private insurance that would pay for transportation and accommodations costs. More information about this program may be found here.
Palliative Care Drug program
The Palliative Care Drug program provides coverage for drugs necessary for end-of-life care. Eligible recipients include Nova Scotians with a valid health card, who have been assessed by a palliative health care team to be at an end stage of a terminal illness and anticipated to be in the last six months of life, and who wish to receive end-of-life care at home or a supportive living residence. More information about this program may be found here.
Department of Community Services Pharmacare Benefits
This program provides prescription drug coverage for Income Assistance clients, Disability Support Program clients, children in the care of child welfare through either a district office of the Department of Community Services or a Children’s Aid Society/Family and Children’s Services agency, and Low-income Pharmacare for Children clients. More information about this program may be found here.
Are you eligible for the Essential Medicines program in Nova Scotia?
If you are not eligible for any of the public programs Nova Scotia offers, you may be a good fit for GreenShield’s Essential Medicines program. The Essential Medicines program uses the following eligibility criteria:
- Resident of Nova Scotia
- Currently employed
- Aged 18 to 64
- Have a household income below the program threshold
- Need or anticipate the need for prescription medications to treat a medical condition
- Not enrolled in a private or employee prescription drug plan, regardless of the level of coverage
- Not enrolled in, or eligible for, a provincial program that provides prescription drug coverage. Exception: Individuals eligible for, but not enrolled in, Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare may apply.
1The Conference Board of Canada, Understanding the Gap 2.0
