While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 13 million Americans will lose their healthcare coverage as a result of the recently passed tax law, Canada is moving in the opposite, more positive direction.
More than 4,400 prescription medications are now free for children and youth age 24 and under, as the province of Ontario delivers the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation for Ontario families.
OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare launched Monday, to help families and young adults in Ontario get the prescriptions they need without having to worry about the cost. All people need to do is present their Ontario health card number along with a valid prescription at an Ontario pharmacy and medicine will be provided free of charge.
Medications covered by OHIP+ include epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma inhalers, drugs to treat depression, anxiety, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antibiotics, insulin, diabetes test strips, oral contraceptives, medications to treat some childhood cancers and other rare conditions, and many others. People can search Ontario’s new medication coverage tool to see if their drugs are covered under OHIP+.
Said Dr Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care:
We believe in helping all families receive the medication they need, at no cost, to stay healthy and strong regardless of income. OHIP+ is a bold step toward our commitment and vision of bringing universal drug coverage to all Ontarians.
We at SnackSafely.com are firm believers that all people deserve quality, affordable healthcare. Families should never have to forgo access to life-saving medications nor should they have to sacrifice paying the electric bill to obtain them.
We urge our legislators to work toward a solution that ensures coverage for every American.
Sources:
- Repealing the Individual Health Insurance Mandate: An Updated Estimate – Congressional Budget Office
- Prescription Medications Now Free for Everyone 24 and Under – Ontario Goverment
