Take Action: Help Remove Age Restrictions on Insulin Pump Coverage
One of the biggest challenges facing Canadians living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the significant out-of-pocket costs required to manage their disease. Government coverage of insulin pumps varies from province to province. Without coverage people with T1D must spend thousands of dollars annually.
Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Nunavut all cover the costs of insulin pumps for people of all ages.
In Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia coverage ends at 18, 19 or 25 years of age, depending on the province leaving young adults to carry this financial burden for the rest of their adult life.
Proper diabetes management is critical to long-term health for people with T1D. However, 57% of Canadians with diabetes report being unable to comply with their prescribed medical therapy due to the high out-of-pocket costs for the medications, devices and supplies they require.
The medical benefits of using insulin pumps over daily injections are significant. However, the high personal cost for pumps and pump supplies in those provinces with age restrictions on coverage effectively renders them inaccessible for many Canadians with lower incomes.
Please email your provincial representative today and ask him/her to send a letter to the Premier and the Minister of Health urging the removal of restrictions on insulin pump coverage to help people of all ages properly manage their disease.