Albertans are responsible for the cost of prescription drugs provided to them outside hospitals, auxiliary hospitals and nursing homes.

Alberta Health and Wellness strongly recommends that all Albertans obtain and maintain insurance coverage for prescription drugs.

Many Albertans have insurance coverage for prescription drugs provided through supplemental health plans sponsored by their employers. Others have coverage through publicly-funded plans offered by the provincial or federal governments. A small number of Albertans are covered by individual plans offered by the health insurance industry, while a significant number of Albertans have no insurance coverage and pay for prescription drugs themselves. All Albertans have access to prescription drug benefits through the Alberta government sponsored drug program.

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Publicly-funded drug programs

Alberta Health and Wellness contracts with Alberta Blue Cross to offer three supplementary health plans, for the following client groups:

• Non-Group Coverage, available to all Albertans under the age of 65 years, and their dependants.
• Coverage for Seniors, for all Albertans 65 years of age and older and their dependants, and for recipients of the Alberta Widows' Pension and their dependants.
• Palliative Care Drug Coverage, for people diagnosed as being palliative* and receiving their treatments at home.

* palliative – medical care provided for the terminally ill, aimed at relieving symptoms.

Alberta Human Resources and Employment contracts with Alberta Blue Cross to offer health benefits, including prescription drugs for the following client groups:

• Income Support, for Albertans who don't have the resources to meet their basic needs.
• Alberta Adult Health Benefit, for Albertans who leave income support.
• Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, for adults who have a permanent disability which severely affects their ability to earn a livelihood.
• Alberta Child Health Benefit, for children of low-income families.

Other mechanisms employed by Alberta Health and Wellness to provide coverage for prescription drugs include:

• Alberta's regional health authorities provide all medically-required drugs used in hospitals, auxiliary hospitals and nursing homes, at no direct cost to the patient.
• Province Wide Services provides funding to regional health authorities in Edmonton and Calgary for select high cost drugs.
• The Alberta Cancer Board may provide medically required cancer drugs as specified in the Alberta Cancer Board Outpatient Cancer Drug Benefit Program, at no charge, to eligible residents for the treatment of cancer. 
• Disease Control and Prevention provides prescription drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease, at no direct cost to the patient.

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Drug program rules

Alberta Health and Wellness has implemented a number of drug program rules that maximize the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of drug therapy.

• Drug review procedure
• Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List
• Pharmacy reimbursements
• Prescription quantities