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Treatment coverage in your region

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Prescription Drug Programs in Prince Edward Island

In Prince Edward Island, there are many programs that can help you pay for your prescription drugs. If you have hepatitis C, the Hepatitis Program may interest you because it covers the cost of hepatitis C medications.

Getting My Hepatitis C Medications

If you live in Prince Edward Island and you're thinking about treatment for hepatitis C, you may be able to get your treatment medications (peg-interferon and ribavirin) for free through the Hepatitis Program.

To apply to the Hepatitis Program, your doctor has to fill out a request form and send it to the Department of Health and Wellness. If the request is approved, you will be able to get your medications through the Provincial Pharmacy. The pharmacist will talk to you about how to take your medications so you can get the best results possible. You can talk to your doctor about applying for this program.

If you get Social Assistance and you're not part of the Hepatitis Program, you may be able to get help with paying for your medications from the Financial Assistance Drug Program. This program helps people on Social Assistance pay for their prescription and non-prescription drugs. You can talk to your case worker to find out more.

If you want more information about the Hepatitis Program or other drug programs in PEI, you can talk to your doctor or call Pharmacy Services at (902) 368-4947 or 1-877-577-3737.

If you qualify for one of the programs listed below, you can also get coverage for prescription drugs, such as hepatitis C medications. If you are co-infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C and need medications for both, you will need to apply to get your meds through both the AIDS/HIV Program and the Hepatitis Program.

·  AIDS/HIV Program

·  Children in Care Program

·  Community Mental Health Program

·  Cystic Fibrosis Program

·  Diabetes Program

·  Erythropoietin Program

·  Family Health Benefit Program

·  Financial Assistance Program

·  Government Nursing Home Program

·  Growth Hormone Program

·  Hepatitis Program

·  High Cost Cancer Program

·  High Cost Diabetes Program

·  High Cost Multiple Sclerosis Program

·  High Cost Pulmonary Hypertension Program

·  Home Oxygen Program

·  Intron A-Interferon Program

·  Meningitis Program

·  Nutrition Program

·  PKU Program

·  Private Nursing Home Program

·  Quit Smoking Program

·  Rabies Program

·  Rheumatic Fever Program

·  Seniors' Drug Cost Assistance Plan

·  Sexually Transmitted Disease Program

·  Transplant Program

·  Tuberculosis Program

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

Non-Insured Health Benefits – Atlantic Region
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.