Potential increases to prescription drug costs for seniors in Alberta have concerns being raised by the NDP.
Sarah Hoffman, the NDP Shadow Minister for Health, says this will add to the problems many Albertans are facing with the cost of living and health care access.
“They’ve already increased the co-pay that seniors have to pay. Before the maximum co-pay was $25 per prescription and the government is increasing it a dollar every month until the spring up to $35. That’s a 40% increase if you’re paying 25 and it goes up to 35. That’s a big hit to a budget for someone who’s on a fixed income.”
Some leaked cabinet documents from the UCP show that the provincial government is considering new deductibles and new higher co-pay caps.
Hoffman says this is happening at a time when cost of living issues are already having effects on health care.
“There’s a lot of folks in rural and remote communities who already have to fill the tank with gas to go to the nearest emergency department and it that one’s closed you have to go another hour to an hour and a half. That impacts your financial situation of course and it also impacts your health situation. Nobody shows up at the ER because they’re having a good day, it’s always during times of stress and anxiety.”
Hoffman says accessibility to public health and medications will be priorities for her when the legislature session begins later this month.
You can listen to the full interview below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
