Assurance Plan

People who face high prescription drug expenses are getting a treat from the province this Halloween.

Margaret Rideout might not be one of them, though.

Even with the Assurance Plan, which was unveiled Thursday and offers relief from high medication costs starting Oct. 31, the Garnish woman still isn't sure a drug that will slow her multiple sclerosis is affordable.

"Right now I'm on unemployment, so is it still going to be viable for me (to start taking the drug under the new plan)?" asked the 30-year-old who fishes crab and lobster in the spring and early summer.

Health Minister Ross Wiseman rolled out the Assurance Plan Thursday morning.
The $17.5 million initiative was first announced in April and again as part of the provincial budget in May.

An enhancement to the province's prescription drug plan, it will see the out-of-pocket medication expenses of families and individuals capped at a percentage of their net income.

For example, say a couple has a combined income of $35,000, $12,000 in drug expenses, and no children or private insurance. Their prescription costs will be capped at five per cent of their income, or $1,750, a year. The resulting savings is $10,250.
Wiseman expected 14,400 families and 30,000 individuals would benefit.

"Through this new plan, and our other plans under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program, we have significantly increased access to drug coverage for our residents," he said.

Most drugs that require a prescription will be covered and people with private health insurance may still qualify.

Applications for the program are available at doctor's offices, pharmacies and the web/link below.

Rideout said the Assurance Plan is a good start. But she called it a single policy that tries to accommodate all people. Treating different diseases, she elaborated, comes with different costs.

She considers herself and her condition a good example.

Rideout currently does without Betaseron, the injection she needs to slow the progression of her MS, because it would cost $20,000 a year.

She and her husband fall within the second income bracket of the Assurance Plan (between $40,000 and $74,999 a year).

That means government will pick up the cost of treatment after 7.5 per cent of their total pay is spent on the drug.

That percentage, Rideout estimated, would equal about $4,800. She said it's money she may not have. She wished the new plan went a step further and provided 100 per cent coverage.

"It still needs to be expanded a little bit more," she said.

She figured it is in the province's best interest to do so. She considers herself a contributing member of society and said, if she doesn't start taking the drug, there could come a day when she won't be.

"Prevention keeps people working," Rideout said. "If I'm able to work until I'm 60, well then I'm paying taxes until I'm 60. I'm paying into our economy until I'm 60."
"In two years, we're supposed to be a have province," she continued. "Hopefully in two years we'll 'have' our medication."

Rideout wasn't the only one wishing there was more to Thursday's announcement.
NDP Leader Lorraine Michael wasn't impressed at all.

She said the Assurance Plan actually refers to a change made to the province's prescription drug program six months ago.