Maximum seniors Blue Cross prescription co-pay set to rise
By Lethbridge Herald on June 12, 2025.
Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald
The Alberta government is increasing the maximum prescription drug co-payment to $35 for Albertans who have coverage for seniors and non-group coverage.
The increase is the first since 1994 and is being made to offset the rising cost of government drug coverage.
The province estimates the cost of providing coverage will increase by about $194 million by 2026-27 from about $1.3 billion in 2023-24. To address rising costs and ensure coverage can continue, the province says it will increase the maximum co-pay for a prescription by $10 over a 10-month period.
Starting in July, the max co-pay will increase by $1 monthly until it reaches $35 on April 1 of 2026.
The government says when the maximum co-pay comes into effect, seniors in Alberta will still pay less than their counterparts in most other provinces, citing B.C. as an example. It states that an Alberta senior needing a drug that costs $900 annually will pay out of pocket $270 while a senior in B.C. would pay the entire $900.
Public drug coverage covers about 40.1 per cent of all expenditures toward prescribed drugs in Alberta, the second-highest figure in Canada, trailing only Ontario at 40.8 per cent.
Eligible low-income seniors can apply for financial help with their co-payments through the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program.
The average co-payment for prescriptions is $11.30 for Albertans with non-group coverage and $8.44 for those with coverage for seniors. The province expects those figures will rise to $14.31 and $9.87 respectively.
About 760,000 Alberta residents who are aged 65 and over have coverage for seniors, with the number of seniors in the province expected to nearly double by 2051.
About 75,000 people 65 and older have non-group coverage.
“Providing Albertans with coverage for their prescription drugs ensures they have access to necessary medications,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, in a statement. “But drug coverage costs are rising, and we need to take steps to address the cost. This change will help keep those costs in check, maintain a fair and balanced cost sharing approach, and allow the government to continue offering this important coverage.”
About five per cent of those who have coverage for seniors are charged the maximum co-pay under the present payment structure.
The Alberta NDP responded to the changes on Wednesday with a statement Sarah Hoffman, shadow minister of health, who opposed the increase.
“The UCP government increasing prescription costs on seniors is bad news for seniors struggling with the cost of living,” said Hoffman. “Increasing the cost of medications doesn’t improve health care or make things more affordable – it does the exact opposite.
“Because this increase is per prescription, more seniors will be forced into making a choice – medicine or food, or rent, or insurance, or utilities bills, all of which have increased in cost due to this incompetent and cruel UCP government,” said the MLA for Edmonton-Glenora.
“In the end, senior’s health will suffer, they will need more care because they can’t afford medication, and the added strain on the entire health-care system will impact all Albertans,” said Hoffman.
18-17
As retired seniors on fixed income we are angry as hell that this govt continues to make living here less and less affordable. The city continues to hit us with tax hikes on top of increased cost of basic necessities. Our income does not increase but expenses continue to rise making ends meet becomes more difficult every day.
The UCP doesn’t care about anyone other than themselves, and their wealthy corporate buddies.