This is a guide to help you provide your patients with the best information regarding the cost of managing their diabetes, and details what is covered on a province-by-province basis.
The information detailed here is for public (provincial and federal) coverage programs. If your patient’s health coverage is through a private insurance plan, some costs related to diabetes may be eligible for reimbursement.
Select Province/Territory
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Health Plan | Test strips, lancets, syringes, needles: - Up to $2,400 for users treated with insulin - Up to $320 for users treated with diabetes medications with high risk of hypoglycemia - Up to $160 for users treated with diabetes medications with low risk of hypoglycemia - Up to $160 for users treated via diet and/or exercise | Coverage for Seniors (Group 66), Non-Group Coverage (Group 1) and Palliative Coverage (Group 20514) | For assistance with benefit or claim inquiries, please contact an Alberta Blue Cross Pharmacy Services Provider Relations contact centre representative at: - 780-498-8370 (Edmonton and area) - 403-294-4041 (Calgary and area) - 1-800-361-9632 (toll free) - FAX 780-498-8406 (Edmonton and area) - FAX 1-877-305-9911 (toll free) |
| Alberta Health Plan (For Low Income Users) | Test strips, lancets, syringes, needles: - Up to $3,000 for users treated with insulin - Up to $400 for users treated with diabetes medications with high risk of hypoglycemia - Up to $200 for users treated with diabetes medications with low risk of hypoglycemia - Up to $200 for users treated via diet and/or exercise | Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-adult-health-benefit.aspx for more info | For assistance with benefit or claim inquiries, please contact an Alberta Blue Cross - 780-498-8370 (Edmonton and area) - 403-294-4041 (Calgary and area) - 1-800-361-9632 (toll free) - FAX 780-498-8406 (Edmonton and area) - FAX 1-877-305-9911 (toll free) |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| PharmaCare (Ministry of Health) | Test strips - 400/yr for patients managing diabetes with anti-diabetes medications with a high risk of causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) - 200/yr for patients managing diabetes with anti-diabetes medications with a low risk of causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) - 200/yr for people managing diabetes through diet/lifestyle | - Must be covered under either Fair PharmaCare, Plan C (B.C. Income Assistance) or Plan F (At Home Program) - For test strips, must have a Certificate of Training from a provincially approved diabetes education centre | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Visit the BC PharmaCare website Call Health Insurance BC: |
Important: If you fit in more than one of the categories above, the higher limit always applies.
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba Pharmacare (Manitoba Health) | Test strips - 400/yr for people with diabetes using Oral Meds-High risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for people with diabetes using Oral Meds with low risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for people managing diabetes through diet/lifestyle therapy Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be eligible for Manitoba Health coverage | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Manitoba Pharmacare: 1 (800) 297-8099 - For information about diabetes in children 18 and under, call the Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents: (204) 787-3011 |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick Department of Social Development | Test strips - 50 test strips every six months for those on oral anti-diabetes medication or newly diagnosed Supplies | - Must be eligible for Basic Assistance from Department of Social Development | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Service New Brunswick: 1 (888) 762-8600 |
| New Brunswick Prescription Drug Plan (Department of Health) | Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication - Most kinds | - Must be 65 or older OR - Must be enrolled in provincial social assistance program | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call New Brunswick Prescription Drug Plan: 1 (855) 540-7325 |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (Department of Health and Community Services) | Test strips - 700/yr for those patients on long-acting insulin therapy - 100/yr for those patients on oral anti-diabetes medications - 50/yr for those patients newly diagnosed not on any anti-diabetes medications Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 65 or older OR - Must be enrolled in provincial social assistance program | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Learn more about Chronic Disease and Community Relations: - Call Pharmaceutical Services: |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Benefits Program for Specified Disease Conditions (Health and Social Services) | Test strips Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be non-Native or Métis - Must be permanent resident of Northwest Territories - Must be registered with NWT Health Care Plan | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Alberta Blue Cross (which administers the program): |
| Extended Health Benefits Program for Seniors (Health and Social Services) | Test strips Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 60 or older - Must be non-Native or Métis | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Extended Health Benefits Program for Seniors: |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program (Department of Health and Wellness) | Test strips Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be permanent resident of Nova Scotia with valid Nova Scotia Health Card - Must agree to family income verification through Canada Revenue Agency each year - Must agree to provide family size information each year | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Visit: Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia or call: Call Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program: |
| Nova Scotia Seniors Pharmacare Program (Department of Health and Wellness) | Test strips Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 65 or older - Must be permanent Nova Scotia resident - Must have valid Nova Scotia Health Card - Must not have other coverage | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Nova Scotia Seniors Pharmacare Program: |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Health Benefits Full Coverage Plan for Chronic Health Conditions (Department of Health) | Test strips Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be enrolled in Nunavut Health Care Plan - Must be non-Native or Métis - Must have chronic disease or illness - Must not have other coverage | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office: |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB), Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care | Test strips - 400/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication with high risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication with low risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those not on medication Most types of insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 25 years or younger OR 65 years or older | - Talk to your pharmacist - Visit Stand Up to Diabetes: www.ontario.ca/diabetes - Call Service Ontario: |
| Trillium Drug Program (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) | Test strips Oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must qualify as having high drug cost relative to income | - Call Trillium Drug Program: 1 (800) 575-5386 |
| Ontario Monitoring for Health Program | Strips and lancets Blood glucose meter Talking blood glucose meter | - Must use insulin or have gestational diabetes - Must have no other coverage for blood glucose testing supplies - Seniors 65 years of age or older, social assistance recipients, or Trillium Drug Program clients can only submit to the program for lancets and/or a blood glucose meter | Call Ontario Monitoring for Health Program: 1 (800) 361-0796 https://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/local-programs---events/ontario-monitoring-for-health-program |
| Assistive Devices Program (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) | Syringes - $170 per year | - Must be 65 or older | - Call Assistive Devices Program: 1 (800) 268-6021 |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI Pharmacare Program (Health PEI) | Test strips Insulin Oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be registered with Provincial Diabetes Program - Must be eligible for PEI Medicare | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call the PEI Pharmacare Program: 1 (877) 577-3737 - Call Access PEI: 1 (800) 670-4357 |
| Social Assistance Program (Department of Community Services and Seniors) | Supplies - Syringes, needles, lancets | - Must be enrolled in Social Assistance Program | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Access PEI: 1 (800) 670-4357 - Visit Provincial Diabetes Program |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan (RAMQ) (Ministry of Health and Social Services) | Test strips - 400/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication with high risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication with low risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those not on medication Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 65 or over - Must be a child of a person covered by public plan | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Service Quebec: 1(877) 644-4545 - Call RAMQ: 1 (800) 561-9749 |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan Drug Plan (Ministry of Health) | Test strips - 400/yr for patients managing diabetes with medication with a higher risk of causing low blood sugar - 200/yr for patients managing diabetes with medication with a lower risk of causing low blood sugar - 200/yr for people managing diabetes through diet/lifestyle therapy | - Must have valid Saskatchewan Drug Plan coverage | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Visit the Saskatchewan Drug Plan website - Call Drug Plan and Extended Benefits Branch: 1 (800) 667-7581 or 306-787-3317 in Regina |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic Disease Program (Health and Social Services) | Test strips Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be Yukon resident with chronic disease - Must be non-Native or Métis | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Chronic Disease Program: 1 (800) 661-0408 |
| Pharmacare Program (Health and Social Services) | Test strips Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be 65 or over - Must be Yukon resident - Must be non-Native or Métis | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call Pharmacare Program: 1 (800) 661-0408 |
| Provider | Coverage includes | Eligibility (general requirements) | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit | Test strips limits apply to the following regions: Atlantic, Northern, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan - 8 per day for those who manage their diabetes with insulin - 400/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication and at high risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those on oral anti-diabetes medication with low risk of hypoglycemia - 200/yr for those not on medication If you live in British Columbia, speak to your healthcare professional Supplies Insulin and oral anti-diabetes medication | - Must be First Nations or Inuit | - Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider - Call N.I.H.B: 1-800-580-0950 - For information regarding assistance with coverage of BC health care premiums, call 1-800-663-7100 |
Disclaimer: The information in this resource is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for provincial resources that may exist. Consult your healthcare professional if you have further questions about coverage related to your blood glucose testing and medication.