An average Canadians Spend $926 per person per year.
The Ontario Drug Benefits program ( ODB ) is a program that covers 5000 prescription drugs for residence in Ontario only.
It also pays for allergy shots, Epipen, test strips to monitor blood glucose in diabetic patients who are eligible, some OTC drugs like ibuprofen, iron supplements, nutritional products ,palliative care drugs and smoking cessation treatment.
Who can qualify for ODB
Ontarian resident 65year and older
Or
Living in long term care home,
Home for special care
Community home
Seniors age 65yrs and older: when you are 65 you will receive a letter around 3 months before your birthday to let you know you are now eligible to join the ODB program
The benefit starts the 1st day of the month after you turn 65
The pharmacy will need a valid Ontario health card to confirm your eligibility for ODB program
Congrats you are officially a senior citizen.
How much do you pay?
As a senior you only pay a portion of the prescription cost based on your annual income after deductions and marital status.
1 Single Seniors with a yearly income of $22,200 or more
2 Senior couples combined income is $37,100
3 single senior with income of $22,200 or less
4 senior couple with combined income of $37,100 or less
Single seniors with income above $22,200
a single senior 65 yrs or older with a yearly income above $22,200 after deductions pays the 1st 100 of total prescriptions costs each year starting from August 1 to July 31 the following year.
The $ 100 deductible is paid down when you fill your prescriptions
After paying the deductible you will pay a copayment of $6.11 for each
Prescription
Single senior with income of $22,200 or less after deductions pay up to $2 for each prescription drugs filled or refilled but you do not have to pay a deductible.
If you fall in this group of seniors you have to enroll in the seniors co payment program be sending a completed application form.
Senior couple with combined income of $37,100 or less
A senior couple with a combined yrly income of $37,100 or less after deductions each seniors over 65 is eligible for benefits and pays $2 for each drugs and does not have to pay the deductible.
Again you have to complete a seniors co-payment form.
Filling out the Seniors Co-Payment program application.
If you are a single senior with an annual income of $22,200 or less or a senior couple with an annual income of $37 100 or less you must fill out and send
The application form before you start paying the $2 co pay with no annual deductible.
As soon as you receive the letter to let you know that you can join the odb program, you can apply for the co payment program
visit this site for more information:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-coverage-prescription-drugs
Updates to the Seniors Co-Payment Program
Starting August 1, 2021, eligibility thresholds for the Seniors Co-Payment Program will be updated so that more seniors have access to the program.
Single seniors will increase from $19,300 to $22,200
Senior couples with a combined annual income will increase from $32,300 to $37,100
Apply now to make sure you are enrolled before August 1.
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