Background

Drug coverage in New Brunswick

The majority of New Brunswickers receive drug coverage through publicly-funded drug programs (like the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program) or through private drug plans.

Up to 30% of New Brunswickers have no drug coverage and must pay for their drugs out of their own pocket.

New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program

The publicly funded New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) provides subsidized drug coverage for approximately 105,000 residents. These include:

• Low-income seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
  or who qualify for coverage based on
  annual income
• Residents of nursing homes
• Clients of the Department of Social Development
• Individuals with certain medical conditions: cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, human growth hormone deficiency, organ transplant recipients, and HIV-positive persons

The current growth of drug costs is not sustainable. In 2010-2011 the NBPDP:

• Spent almost $180 million in providing drugs
• Funded 4,500+ drugs
• Helped more than 100,000 New Brunswickers  pay for their prescription drugs
• Helped pay for more than 4 million prescriptions
• Did not increase premiums or copayments