ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT DEDUCTIBLE NOT RISING AFTER ALL
Apr 04, 2016
By Bob Komsic
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The Wynne government is backtracking on changes announced in its recent budget that would have increased drug costs for most seniors.
The Liberals had proposed to raise the Ontario Drug Benefit low-income threshold for single seniors from $16,018 to $19,300 and for senior couples from $24,175 to $32,300.
Older Zoomers below the threshold would no longer have to pay any deductible, but those above it would have their deductible increased from $100 to $170.
But following an outcry from the opposition parties and groups like CARP, the premier said the government would reconsider the threshold.
Then Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced today the threshold will be indexed to inflation, but the deductible will now not be increased for those above the threshold.
CARP is pleased the government listened to its members and has reiterated its commitment to work with other provinces and Ottawa toward a national pharmacare plan.