Free prescription drug coverage is coming to Ontario for everyone under 25 years old. All Ontario children and adults younger than 25 will have their full prescription drug costs covered by a new provincial pharmacare program – regardless of family income. The program will benefit around four million people in Ontario and cost approximately $465 million a year. Ontario will become the first province in Canada to offer pharmacare to all its young population, a move announced today in the 2017 budget. Pharmacare will be implemented January 2018.
Around 4400 drugs will fall under the plan. Anyone under 25 covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) will also be covered for prescription drugs simply by showing their health card. “One way we can be a competitive and a compassionate society is to make sure that people who need medications get medication,” said Finance Minister Charles Sousa. The plan will help students and “make life more affordable to Ontario families.”
So, somebody who earns let say $200k per year will not have to pay ANYTHING for prescription drugs for their kids under 25, whereas a senior earning only CPP and OAS will have to make a payment towards the prescription drugs.
Brilliant Kathleen, you may have gained the youth vote, but sure as hell you lost the senior vote. See you at the unemployment line in June 2018.
I think you’re missing the point. The PERSON under 25 won’t have to pay for prescriptions, not their parents. One step closer to giving young people a chance at autonomy from their parents, with stagnant wages, limited employment opportunities, rising housing costs, high inflation, and student loan debt, anything that can give them a break is much welcomed.
Seniors had their entire lives (during the best economic times) to save for their retirement and associated costs. They shouldn’t need the extra break.
Many seniors are cannot afford their medication. Many OHIP medications that seniors need are delisted. The Liberal government has been quietly doing this over the last few years.
About limited jobs, people are moving to other provinces to get jobs – both new grads and others who have lost jobs. People have had to do this in the past.
I agree with others who say that this is a bad offer. Dental and eye care should be under OHIP – that would help many, many people regardless of age.
The Liberal government is trying to buy young adult votes with this offer.
It’s shameful.
I’m with you. This is a great plan. Consider this an investment for our citizen, to grow better healthier next generation.
As per seniors, they have a lifetime to prepare. Is it surprising that you have more illness as you get old?
I’m over 40 and haven’t got any children. This plan doesn’t benefit me at all , but as a rational person, there is really no downside to this expect for the tax burden. But then the real estate is crazy now that they probably generate a lot of tax revenue that can do good for the citizens in other ways.
The Liberal government is insanely stupid. They have racked up $312 MILLION dollars in debt. Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty. They don’t have the first clue how to help young adults or senior citizens. They are clueless. Idiots!
Best thing since sliced bread!!!! We have an income higher than average but have a child with diabetes who may not be covered on our insurance if she does not get accepted into university. We cannot afford to pay full costs of meds and likely she would not find a full time job with benefits. I don’t even have that. So this would help her and us in thousands each year until she is older. We ourselves are seniors and I personally don’t think Wynne is worried about our vote and besides our kids are the future and with the housing costs our kids will probably be living with us till they are 40.
This is unfair to many. What they should have done is brought in universal Dental Care.
The Provincial Liberals days are numbered. Besides this won’t go into effect until roughly Spring 2018 ironically when the Ontario Liberals call the Election. I wouldn’t bank on this ever happening.
How about free dental services for seniors 60 years old and up?
I have a completely different idea. They should add chiropractor, massage and physiotherapist into the OHIP covered benefits. This will help reduce the number of people getting hooked on painkillers. Dr’s prescribe pain killers to people because it’s a quick fix and people can’t afford these services. This will also help increase these jobs.
Ontario has the LARGEST DEBT of any non-sovereign government in the world, so ask yourself; How can ontario afford this ? And; Should Ontario do this?
Tammy, you are WRONG!!! There are many illness, injuries and conditions where physiotherapy is useless! drugs are the only option to have a scrap of a normal life. Obviously you have never been through that. To basically walk or move without pain can be very taxing on the human body and psyche. I also know of a few people in the medical field who told me physic is a sham. I have been many times for many injuries/conditions and it only works for a few months for some things and some not at all. Doctors do not prescribe pain killers easily unless they are a bad doctor. With the opioid crisis many users are getting them illegally.
Sorry for my grammatical errors! I have not taken my pain meds yet!