Effective May 1st, enhancements will be made to the provincial Family Health Benefit program which assists lower income families with the cost of prescription drugs.
Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem advised that three significant improvements have been made following a review of the program earlier this year. "Based on client feedback, we are making three significant changes. We are expanding eligibility. We are reducing the co-pay. And we are making it easier for families to apply to the program," said the minister.
Until now, families eligible for the program have been those families not receiving social assistance, with children under 18 years of age, and annual net incomes of less than $20,000. Today, the income ceiling of $20,000 is being increased to $22,000 for a family with one child under 18 years, and an additional $2,000 for each additional child. For example, the program is now available to families with net income of $24,000 and two children, $26,000 and 3 children, $28,000 and 4 children, and so on.
The second change is a reduction in the co-pay. In the past, families were required to pay the first $13 of the drug cost, plus the pharmacy dispensing fee. Effective today, families will no longer be required to pay any of the drug cost, but only the dispensing fee.
"What this means for families is that rather than paying $18 to $21 per prescription they will now pay $5 to $8 per prescription," said Minister Ballem. "We are pleased to invest further in this valuable program which supports working Island families to better care for their children and become more self-reliant."
Changes have also been made to make it easier to apply to the program. Application forms and information materials have been simplified and are now being made available at Island pharmacies, physician offices and health facilities.
Information on the Family Health Benefit, or application forms, may be obtained by calling the Department of Health and Social Services toll free at 1 877 577 3737.