The New Brunswick Drug Plan, which will help the province’s residents avoid catastrophic drug costs and ensure that prescription drug insurance is available to everyone, was introduced in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
“There are many people living in our province today who are facing high drug costs, including 70,000 families that have no drug coverage at all and that need this coverage,” says Health Minister Hugh Flemming.
The plan, which will be administered by Medavie Blue Cross on behalf of the provincial government, will cover drugs listed on the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program formulary. There will be no deductible, and coverage will not be denied because of age, gender or pre-existing medical conditions.
The plan will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will begin on May 1, 2014, when New Brunswickers with a valid medicare card can choose to enrol in the plan.
From May 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015, some New Brunswickers who have private drug plans but still incur high drug costs or need access to a drug covered under the new plan but not through their private plan may join the New Brunswick Drug Plan.
Phase 2 will begin on April 1, 2015, when all New Brunswickers will be required to have prescription drug insurance. Those not insured by a private plan will join the New Brunswick Drug Plan.
Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) applauds the government of New Brunswick on the announcement of its new drug plan.
“We support the government’s vision and commitment to improving their provincial drug program, which will help New Brunswickers avoid catastrophic drug costs,” says Russell Williams, president of Rx&D.
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