Home » Treatment » Treatment coverage in your region

Treatment coverage in your region

Print Page  |  Font Size + -
 
Prescription Drug Programs in Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, Pharmacare may be able to help you pay for your prescription drugs. To apply for coverage from Pharmacare, you need to have a Nova Scotia health card. If you do not have a health card, contact Nova Scotia Medical Service Insurance (MSI).

There are five main Pharmacare programs in Nova Scotia:    

Department of Community Services—Pharmacare Benefits

  • Pays for prescription drugs, including medications for hepatitis C, if you get Income Assistance or Services for Persons with Disabilities (SPD). This program also pays for prescription drugs for children in the care of child welfare.

Family Pharmacare Program

  • Helps families who have no drug coverage or whose prescription drugs are expensive, such as medications for hepatitis C. You have to pay part of the cost of your drugs, based on how much money you make.

Seniors’ Pharmacare Program

  • Helps seniors with the cost of prescription drugs and medical supplies. The amount of money you have to pay depends on how much money you have.

Drug Assistance for Cancer Patients

  • Helps pay for cancer medications.

Diabetes Assistance Program

  • Helps pay for diabetes medication if you’re under the age of 65 and you have no drug coverage.
Getting My Hepatitis C Medications

You can apply to get your hepatitis C medications paid for if you receive assistance from one of these programs:

  • Department of Community Services—Pharmacare Program
  • Family Pharmacare Program
  • Seniors’ Pharmacare Program

If you get Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) or Services for Persons with Disabilities (SPD), you may already get Pharmacare. Follow the instructions below to see if you can get your medications paid for. You can ask your case worker to help you with this.

To see if one of the drug programs listed above will cover the cost of your hepatitis C medications, you can ask your doctor to fill out a form, called the Standard Exception Drug Form. Once Pharmacare has reviewed the form sent by your doctor, they will send you and your doctor a letter telling you whether or not the program will pay for your treatment. If Pharmacare will cover the cost of your medications, you’ll be able to get treatment, for 24 to 48 weeks, paid for by the drug program. You will need to have a valid health card to get your medications from the pharmacy.

For more information about the different drug programs in Nova Scotia, you can contact the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program at 1-800-544-6191.

If you’re a registered First Nations or recognized Inuit person, the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program may be able to help cover the cost of your hepatitis C medications.  You can contact NIHB by phone or mail at:

NIHB Atlantic Region Office
First Nations and Inuit Health
Health Canada
Suite 1525, 15th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3Y6

Tel: (902) 426-2656
Toll-free 1-800-565-3294

 
Costs and Coverage for Treatment in Canada  

Some national programs in Canada are available to help people with drug costs.

Peg-Care & Pegassist

Two of the pharmaceutical companies that make Hep C medications have programs to help people complete treatment. Merck has the Peg-Care program for people taking peg-interferon alpha-2b (known as Pegetron). Hoffman-La Roche has the Pegassist program for people taking peg-interferon alpha-2a (known as Pegasys).

These programs both have 24-hour phone support for people taking Hep C treatment; part of this support is helping people access the funding necessary to cover treatment costs. They can inform you about local, provincial and federal government programs for accessing treatment. They can also help you find ways to access and use public funding or private medical insurance, including the appeals process if you have a supportive doctor. If you are eligible, they can even help cover the insurance company co-pay fee, provincial or territorial plan's deductible and other expenses, depending on your specific situation.

For more information, contact:

 Pegassist Program

 1-877-PEGASYS (1-877-734-2797)

 Peg-Care Program

 1-866-872-5773

Revised 2011.