Sunday, 20 March 2016

關於政府資助老年人帶狀皰疹疫苗和即將更改藥品福利計劃的資訊

最近,我們收到大量有關安省新政府資助老年人帶狀皰疹疫苗的問題。在這個月的博客里,我們將回答你關於帶狀皰疹疫苗的問題,并解釋即將到來的可能會影響到你的安省藥品福利計劃的變化。
新政府對帶狀皰疹疫苗的資助

目前安大略省藥品福利沒有支付帶狀皰疹疫苗(Zostavax II),老年人是要自費購買這種疫苗的,它的成本約為$ 200,一次性接種。安省政府的目標是提供資金以支付該疫苗,但是只有65-70歲之間的老年人將有資格受惠。根據加拿大公共衛生機構的指引,帶狀皰疹疫苗被推薦用於60歲以上的人,並且還可以用於50歲以上的老年人。這意味著,一些老年人仍然將不得不自己支付這種疫苗。要購買這種疫苗,你需要醫生處方,并由醫生注射。
** 美健藥房全年都有帶狀皰疹疫苗供應 **
65歲及以上老人符合支付$2的收入標準有更改
在我們解釋即將到來的安省藥品福利計劃的變化之前,我們將從給予您對這個方案的一些背景信息開始。
安大略省藥品福利計劃是由安大略政府提供資金為65歲及以上老年人支付部分處方藥費用。安省處方藥物表涵蓋的藥物會隨時更新。要找出這個藥物是否由安大略省藥品福利支付,你可以到以下網頁https://www.healthinfo.moh.gov.on.ca/formulary/並將藥名輸入搜索。否則,你也可以要求我們的美健藥房的藥劑師來幫你查看。
如果你的處方藥是由安省藥品福利支付,政府要求你自己支付處方藥的部分將取決於你的年度收入情況而定。
如果你的收入超過 $16,018(單人)或超過 $24,175夫婦),那麼政府要求你支付墊底費$100,每年都開始於81日。 $ 100 的抵扣完全支付後,每一個處方只需支付 $6.11直到下一年的81日。
在美健藥房,我們為高收入的老人減免 $2.11
所以你只需要支付每張處方$4
符合低收入老年人的標準將發生改變
201681日開始,單身老年人為少於$19,300 或一對夫婦的收入為少於$32,300,將有資格成為“低收入”老年人。低收入老年人在安省藥品福利的資助下將支付每張處方費$ 2,沒有年度墊底費。
在美健藥房,我們將繼續免收這$ 2 
這即將到來的變化意味著以前被認為是“高收入”,並要支付$ 100和每張處方6.11的老年人,如果他們的收入是單人少於$19,300 或一對夫婦為少於$ 32,300,現在可能有資格獲得了“低收入”的待遇。
但是,如果老年人的收入比新標準高,他們將支付年度墊底費$ 170(實施新標準之前,每年度墊底費原本$ 100)。此外,當你付滿該年度的墊底費后,自付額也從$ 6.11上升到$ 7.11,這也將在201681日起生效。
每年的墊底費不用一次性收齊,每次配藥時,根據處方的成本來收費,直到付完$ 170。在此之後,無論處方費用是多少,你只需要每張處方支付$ 7.11,。
美健藥房將繼續201681日之後,
繼續免收高收入的老年人的$ 2.11
通過社會救助提供的公共藥物福利,長期護理院,特殊護理院,家庭護理及藥物延齡計劃沒有變化。

如果您任何疑問關於政府資助老年人帶狀皰疹疫苗和即將更改藥品福利計劃如何影響您的藥物受益,請不要猶豫撥打
905-305-0111 美健藥房聯繫。我們將竭誠為您服務。

Friday, 18 March 2016

Upcoming drug benefit changes for Ontario Seniors including the Shingles Vaccine

Recently, we have been receiving lots of questions about the new government funding for the shingles vaccines for Ontario seniors. In this month’s blog, we will answer your question about the shingles vaccines and we will explain how the announcement by the government on the upcoming changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit program may affect you.

New government funding for the Shingles Vaccines

The shingles vaccine (Zostavax II) is currently not covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit. Seniors have to pay out of pocket to purchase this vaccine and it costs approximately $200 for the one-time vaccination. 

The Ontario government aims to provide funding to cover the cost of this vaccine for seniors, however, only seniors between 65-70 years old will be eligible for this coverage. According to the public health agency of Canada, the shingles vaccine is recommended for persons aged 60 and older and may also be used in adults 50 years of age or older. This means that some seniors will still have to pay out of pocket for this vaccine after the new funding is in place. To purchase this vaccine, you need a prescription from your doctor and it has to be administered at your doctor’s office. 
Custom Care Pharmacy has the shingles vaccine in stock all year round. 

Changes to the eligibility for $2 co-payment of the Ontario Drug Benefit coverage for 65 years and over

Before we explain the upcoming changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit program, we will start by giving you some background information on this program.
The Ontario Drug Benefit program is provided by the government of Ontario to pay for the cost of some prescription medications for seniors that are 65 years old and over. The medications that are covered under this program are listed in the Ontario drug formulary and medications are added or removed on an ongoing basis. 

To find out if a medication is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit, you can go to the following webpage https://www.healthinfo.moh.gov.on.ca/formulary/ and enter in the name of the medication to search the formulary. Otherwise, you can also ask our pharmacist at Custom Care Pharmacy to check for you.
If your prescription medication is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit, the amount that the government requires you to pay for the prescription medication will depend on your income that was stated in your annual income tax submission.
For example:
If your income is less than $16,018 as a single senior or less than $24,175 as a couple, then you are only required to pay $2 co-pay for each prescription. At Custom Care Pharmacy, we waive the $2 co-pay.
If you income is more than $16,018 as a single senior or more than $24,175 as a couple, then the government requires that you pay for the first $100 towards your prescription costs. This is called an annual deductible and it begins every year on August 1st. After the $100 deductible is completely paid, the government requires that you pay only $6.11 for each prescription until the next August 1st

At Custom Care Pharmacy, we waive $2.11 for high income seniors so you only need to pay $4 per prescription.

Changes to the income thresholds to qualify for the low-income seniors’ benefit

Beginning August 1, 2016, single seniors with an income up to $19,300 or $32,300 as a couple will qualify for the “low income” seniors’ benefit. Low-income seniors, under the coverage of Ontario Drug Benefit, will pay only up to $2 co-payment per prescription with no annual deductible. At Custom Care Pharmacy, we will continue to waive the $2 co-pay.
This upcoming change means that seniors that were previously considered “high income” and has to pay an annual deductible of $100 and $6.11 per prescription afterwards, may now be eligible for the “low-income” seniors’ benefit if their income is less than $19,300 for single or $32,300 as a couple.
However, if the seniors’ income is higher than the new thresholds, they will have to pay $170 for the annual deductible beginning on August 1st, 2016, compared to the $100 annual deductible previously. Furthermore, the co-payment portion that comes after the annual deductible is fulfilled, has increased from $6.11 to $7.11. This will also take effect on August 1st, 2016. 
The annual deductible will not be collected all at once. Each time you fill a prescription, the cost of the prescription is added towards the deductible until $170 is fulfilled. After that, you will only need to pay $7.11 for each prescription that is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit, regardless of how much the prescription cost.
Custom Care Pharmacy will continue to waive $2.11 for high income seniors after August 1st 2016
No changes are proposed to public drug benefits through Social Assistance, Long-Term Care Homes, Homes for Special Care, Home Care and the Trillium Drug Program.
If you still have any questions on how the upcoming changes may affect your drug benefit coverage, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 905-305-0111. We will be happy to help you.