About 180,000 Nova Scotians – almost 19 percent of all Nova Scotians – don't have drug coverage. The high cost of prescription drugs means some of those people, and others with high drug costs not covered by their private plans, have been forced to make difficult decisions when a family member required expensive medication.

My government's new Family Pharmacare Program is putting an end to the worry high prescription drug costs cause many Nova Scotian families. The new program, which took effect Saturday, will provide drug coverage for all Nova Scotians, especially those without private coverage. The program helps to cover the costs of certain prescribed medications, supplies and related services.

The new program arises from my government's commitment to address the issue of high drug costs and access to prescription drug coverage.

Anyone with a valid Nova Scotia Health card, who is not enrolled in another provincially-funded drug coverage program, can enroll in the Family Pharmacare Program. There are no up-front costs to join and no Family Pharmacare premiums. A pre-existing medical condition is not a barrier to the program. If you don't use the program, you don't pay anything.

Out-of-pocket costs for eligible drugs will be capped at a percentage of adjusted annual family income. The adjusted annual family income is the family's gross income minus $3,000 each for a spouse and every dependent under the age of 18. So, although the Family Pharmacare Program is available to every Nova Scotian, it will benefit those with lower incomes the most.

The Family Pharmacare Program does not impact any existing publicly-funded drug coverage or private insurance plan. Families can have private drug coverage and also be enrolled in the Family Pharmacare Program. In these cases, any portion of a claim that is unpaid by private insurance would then be sent to Family Pharmacare for coverage.

Drugs and supplies covered by the program are listed in the Nova Scotia Formulary at the Department of Health's website. A committee of experts in pharmacy and medicine develop this list and keep it up-to-date based on the latest informatioin.

For Nova Scotians who currently do not have protection against expensive prescription drug costs, the Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program provides options they did not have before. It helps Nova Scotian families avoid illness and manage disease by making drug costs more affordable.

Although the Family Pharmacare Program came into effect on March 1, it is not too late to register. Further information is available on the government website at www.nspharmacare.ca or by calling toll-free at 1-877-330-0323. The Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program will keep the cost of the drugs Nova Scotians need within their reach and help keep us all healthy.