Pharmacare for Children of Low-Income Families

Thousands of low-income families will receive help with the cost of prescription medications for their children when Low Income Pharmacare for Children begins, Oct. 1.

Premier Rodney MacDonald and Community Services Minister Judy Streatch announced today, Aug. 30, that applications are now available for Low Income Pharmacare for Children. The program will help up to 35,000 children under the age of 18 whose families receive the Nova Scotia Child Benefit.

"Access to prescription medications can be critical to the health and well-being of a child," said Premier MacDonald. "Children's pharmacare will help relieve some of the emotional and financial pressures for parents of modest means who can not afford the medications their children need."

To be eligible for Low Income Pharmacare for Children, families with children under 18 years of age must be in receipt of the Nova Scotia Child Benefit and have a household income below $20,921. This program is not available to families who already receive pharmacare from the Department of Community Services or a health plan.

"People often turn to us in times of need," said Community Services Minister Judy Streatch." Children's pharmacare allows us to reach out to more families of modest means to provide the help they need to care for their children."

Through Low Income Pharmacare for Children, families will pay $5 per prescription, making medications more affordable for low-income families in need.

Announced in the 2006-07 provincial budget, government will invest an estimated $1 million in the first year of the children's pharmacare program, and $2 million the year after.

Government also plans to introduce a pharmacare program for working families in 2008.

Applications for Low Income Pharmacare for Children will be mailed next week to all families in the province currently receiving the Nova Scotia Child Benefit.

For more information, or to apply for Low Income Pharmacare for Children contact the Department of Community Services toll free at 1-866-424-1269 or see the department website at www.gov.ns.ca/coms> .