B.C. eliminates prescription deductibles for people earning under $30,000

VICTORIA – British Columbia has announced plans to eliminate or reduce prescription-drug deductibles for low-income earners.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says single people and families with a net household income under $45,000 will benefit from changes to the Fair PharmaCare plan starting Jan. 1, 2019.

People earning up to $30,000 annually will no longer pay any deductibles for medication.

Dix says people with an income of $15,000 have paid deductibles of $300 a year, and those earnings up to $30,000 have had to shell out $600 a year.

The Health Ministry says those registered for Fair PharmaCare pay their full prescription costs until they reach the deductible limit, at which point the plan kicks in to pay 70 per cent of the money.

The plan will pay 75 per cent of the cost for people aged 79 and over.

"This helps low-income working people and seniors get the help they need," Dix says.

The minister says some people have not filled prescriptions because of high deductibles in order to pay for other essentials such as groceries.

Green party spokeswoman Sonia Furstenau says the $105-million investment will improve the health of families facing an affordability crisis.