A not-for-profit insurance firm based in Windsor has begun a project to help low-income residents obtain the prescriptions they need.
GreenShield Canada announced Thursday that it had launched a pilot program to help reduce the number of people who do not have some form of prescription drug coverage. The program is the first of its kind in Ontario, and the carrier has begun its efforts with two Ontario community health centres, one of them being the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre.
GreenShield said its essential medications program addresses the three per cent of Canadians who do not have public or private drug coverage. Ned Pojskic, Vice President of Pharmacy Benefits Management, said the project helps fill a glaring void.
"From single parents working multiple jobs to keep their family afloat to widowed early retirees who no longer have dependent coverage, there is a notable percentage of the population who do not qualify for the provincial or territorial prescription drug benefits plan and whose employer may not offer a private drug plan," said Pojskic in a media release. "This means that a subset of Canadians often must choose between paying for their prescription medication or meeting their basic needs, leading to an overall reduced quality of life."
The carrier's digital pharmacy platform, The Health Depot, will dispense medication at no cost to the recipient.
To qualify, patients must be OHIP-covered Ontario residents aged 25 to 64, be employed, have an income below the low-income threshold by Stats Canada, require medication to treat a diagnosed medical issue, and not be enrolled in any public or private drug plan.
Complete information can be found on the official GreenShield website.
