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August 19, 2004
For immediate release
Insulin Co-Pay Increase Set at $2 Per Vial
Health and Social Services
Health and Social Services Minister Chester Gillan announced today that the increase in the insulin co-pay announced in the Legislature last spring has been reduced to $2 from $3 per unit of insulin, taking the co-pay amount to $10 per unit from $8 per unit. The increase will come into effect September 1. This is only the second increase since a co-payment was introduced in 1992. The initial co-pay was $5, and was raised to $8 in 2001.
The increase in the co-pay is necessary to reduce the strain on the program resulting from an increase in the number of people using insulin and rising manufacturers' prices.
“Expenditures for the Diabetes Control Program were expected to increase by 13.2 per cent in 2004/05 from expenditures in 2003/2004. The increase in the co-pay will assist somewhat in reducing the expenditure growth,” Minister Gillan stated.
People receiving insulin will pay $10 per vial of insulin or box of 1.5 ml cartridges and $20 per box of 3.0 ml cartridges. The remainder of the cost for the insulin will be paid by the Diabetes Control Program.
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Media Contact: Sara Underwood
