Does blue cross cover diabetic supplies in Canada?

Answer 1

Alberta Blue Cross offers a plan called "Health Plus" to previously diagnosed diabetics. They recommend diabetics use this in conjunction with Alberta Health Care's optional "Non-Group Coverage for Prescription Drugs".

The Alberta Health Care "Non-Group Coverage for Prescription Drugs" is actually administered by Alberta Blue Cross and covers most insulins, with the user paying 30% or $25 per 3-month prescription fill, whichever is less. In 2009, premiums for this plan were $41 per month for individuals, and $82 per month for families.

The Alberta Blue Cross "Health Plus" plan does cover additional prescription costs including Diabetes testing supplies, but ONLY UP TO a MAXIMUM of $250/year per user. Premuims for the Alberta Blue Cross "Health Plus" plan are determined by age as well as what additional coverage you wish to include - dental/orthodontic, etc. For a 50 year old, individual 2009 premiums range between $41 for a basic plan to $66 per month for a Cadillac plan. Family plans are available.

Using these 2 plans, the costs of the plans for a 50 year old individaul FOR ONE YEAR would be:

Non-Group Coverage for Prescription Drugs:
- $492 in premiums, which would result in paying a maximum of $200 a year for insulin if you use two types of insulin and fill prescriptions 4 times per year. (CHECK FIRST whether all your insulins are covered. Lantus is not covered as of October, 2009. Also, depending on the type and dosage of insulins you use, it is possible you pay less than $41/month for insulin!)

Alberta Blue Cross "Health Plus", most basic Plan "A":
- $492 in premiums for a max of $250 in prescription coverage plus ambulance, dental up to $600/year and a few other things. (This would reimburse the $200 you pay out of pocket for your insulin under the Alberta Health Care Non-Group Coverage for Prescription Drugs above, and another $50 in diabetes supplies before you reach the $250 annual maximum. You would then pay all additional costs for diabetes supplies yourself.

Unless getting family coverage and paying a higher premium for the plans that cover orthodontics, etc., diabetics should carefully calculate to determine if there is any financial benefit to having the coverage.

However, not everyone lives in Alberta, so check with your pharmacy. They will know if Blue Cross is paying for the supplies. It might vary from province to province, or depending on your employer's coverage. It's probably best to call Blue Cross and ask. My pharmacy seems to thing Blue Cross will pay in British Columbia, but it might depend on the contract it has with my employer. I would tend to phone Blue Cross with my plan number and ask them.