A new provincial pharmaceutical strategy that will cover drug costs for low-income seniors is getting mixed reviews from health-care advocates in the province.
The Alberta NDP says the government “cribbed” some of the plan from NDP policy. Under the new plan, single seniors that make less than $21,325 (and senior couples who make less than $42,650) won’t have to pay for drug coverage. The plan will also cover drug costs for Albertans suffering from extremely rare diseases.
However, the plan will increase costs for people who don’t have group health coverage. The government says it’s changing non-group prices “to reflect current market rates… comparable to those of employer and private plans.” Both the NDP and Friends of Medicare are concerned that the government is paving the way for private insurance companies to do more business in Alberta.
The non-group rates will start going up next July. Low-income seniors will stop paying for coverage in 2010. (JK)
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