Drugs to treat hepatitis C can be expensive. There is help available to cover these costs.
The information listed on this page applies to healthcare and drug coverage programs available in Ontario. For general information on other provinces, check locally or read the CATIE Web page on Federal, Provincial and Territorial Drug Access Programs.
Treatment costs in Ontario
The Ontario Drug Benefits (ODB) Plan has a special application form for you and your doctor to fill out to cover costs for peg-interferon and ribavirin. In Ontario, you can get ODB if you are on Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP; welfare or disability) or if you are on the Trillium Drug Program (for people with high drug costs). ODB is also available for people over the age of 65.
Your doctor or nurse will need to complete Section 16: Individual Clinical Review (which used to be called Section 8) so you can access the Hep C medications for your treatment.
Ontario’s Trillium Drug Program
If you have high drug costs relative to your income, you may be able to get assistance from the Trillium Drug Program. This program charges a deductible of 4% of your annual net income and is paid in four installments.
Provincial Healthcare
Your health card is from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), which covers the cost of doctor visits and blood tests related to hepatitis C (diagnosis tests, monitoring tests and treatment success tests).
Costs and Coverage for Treatment in Canada
Some national programs in Canada are available to help people with drug costs.
Peg-Care & Pegassist
The two pharmaceutical companies that make Hep C medications have programs to help people complete treatment. Schering-Plough 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, Trillium’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 |
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