Financial Aid for Diabetes Care + Where to Get it

When you get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D), you may be surprised by how many things you may need in your toolkit to manage your diabetes. Medications, insulin pumps, a blood glucose meter and various other supplies can quickly add up in cost. If you’re not covered by public or private insurance, you may not be able to afford some diabetes medications and supplies.

That’s why Diabetes Canada put together a diabetes resource manual. The list below is a summary of these financial assistance programs by province and territory. You can consult the websites for each of these programs for more details, including eligibility criteria, coverage and financial aid information. 

This list is useful to every Canadian living with diabetes but might be especially helpful to you if you’re on a tight budget and your insurance coverage is limited.

Nationwide

• The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program provides coverage to registered First Nations and recognized Inuit for a limited range of necessary goods and services to which these members are not entitled through other plans and programs.
• Veteran Affairs Canada provides financial support to qualified Veterans for health service or benefits, which may include related travel expenses.

Alberta

• The Alberta Adult Health Benefit program supports Albertans with low income with access to prescription drugs, dental services, optical services, emergency ambulance services and diabetes supplies essential to health and well-being.
• The Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) program helps Albertans with long-term disability maintain their independence at home with financial assistance for medical equipment and supplies.
• Alberta Health provides premium-free coverage for some health-related services not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to Albertans aged 65 and older and their dependents.
• The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) provides public insurance coverage for some medications and health services.
• The Insulin Pump Therapy (IPT) Program provides funding for insulin pumps and pump supplies to eligible Alberta residents, less any amount covered by other insurance plans.

British Columbia

• BC PharmaCare provides coverage for most medications, insulin, needles, syringes, blood glucose monitoring strips, insulin pump supplies and more.
• Lancets, blood and urine ketone strips and alcohol swabs are eligible for coverage under First Nations Health Benefits (Plan W only).
• The government of British Columbia offers income assistance if you’re in need or have no other resources. If approved, you’ll receive income assistance based on your situation and the size of your family. You may also get other expenses covered.
• The BC government also provides disability assistance, and the amount of financial support depends on the size of your family and whether another person in your family also has the Persons with Disabilities designation.

Manitoba

• Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) can give you financial aid if the total cost of your or your family’s basic needs is more than your total financial resources.
• MB Pharmacare is a drug benefit program for all Manitobans, with a deductible—the amount not covered by the program and which you need to pay—based on your income and family size.
• The MB Pediatric Insulin Pump Program (MPIP) covers the cost of insulin pumps for children up to 18 years who are medically eligible. You can call the MPIP at 204-787-3011 to find out more. 
• The Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD) loans manual and motorized wheelchairs to Manitoba residents who need a wheelchair due to long-term disability, including repair and maintenance services at your home or school. The SMD could also fund 20% of the cost of your assistive technology if you’re eligible.

New Brunswick

• The Disability Support Program could help with your unmet support needs—including home support workers, transportation support and residential facility services—if you are between the ages of 19 and 64.
• The New Brunswick Drug Plan (NBDP) is a prescription drug plan for those without private insurance and includes monthly premiums based on income.
  • There is no annual premium for seniors (over 65).
  • You can get coverage with no annual fee if you’re a nursing home resident, an adult in a licensed residential facility, a Social Development Client and a child under the care of the Ministry of Social Development or with special needs.
  • Diabetes supplies are covered if you qualify for basic assistance, are newly diagnosed, taking oral diabetes medications or have insulin-dependent diabetes.
  • Smoking cessation therapies are covered— up to 12 weeks every year—including buproprion, varenicline and nicotine replacement therapies.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• You’re automatically enrolled in the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program’s (NLPDP) 65Plus Plan once you get your Old Age Security (OAS) Benefits and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). If you’re a landed immigrant over the age of 65, you can apply to the program.
• The NLPDP Access Plan can pay a portion of the cost of your prescription medication(s) based on your income. If your income exceeds a certain amount, you can apply to the Assurance Plan instead.
• The Foundation Plan will cover 100% of the cost of your eligible medications if you receive income support from the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, are a child in the care of Child, Youth and Family Services or are in supervised care.
• All NLPDP plans will cover blood glucose test strips. You can also apply to get access to special T2D oral medications by filling out a Special Authorization Request Form.
• The Provincial Home Support Program can cover the cost of home support services offered by doctors, social workers, dietitians, specialized therapists and home support workers for diabetes-related disability.

Northwest Territories

• The NWT Health Care Plan covers basic hospital and medical treatment, and you won’t have to pay for medically necessary health services if you go to a hospital, health center or medical clinic.
• Extended health benefits not covered by Medicare are available if you have a special disease condition or if you’re over 60 years of age. This includes eligible prescription drugs, diabetes supplies, travel expenses to receive benefits and more.
• If you are living with a disability, you can get home and community care, including home support worker services and home nursing.

Nova Scotia

• The Department of Community Services Pharmacare Benefits covers some prescription drugs, devices and services if you’re receiving income assistance, disability support, care from child welfare or low income pharmacare for children.
• The Disability Support Program can offer you different financial support options based on your type of disability and financial situation.
• The Exception Status Drugs program provides special coverage for some diabetes medications, including insulin analogues and oral diabetes drugs.
• The Insulin Pump Program can help you cover the cost of insulin pumps and pump supplies if you’re aged 25 and under, based on your family income and size.
• The Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program will provide health care coverage if you’re under the age of 65 and not covered by another plan.
• The Nova Scotia Seniors Pharmacare Program can provide financial support if you’re a Nova Scotia resident aged 65 or older with no other prescription drug coverage.

Nunavut

• You’re eligible for NIHB Health coverage as a recognized Inuit Land Claim Beneficiary. This may include financial support for prescription drugs, medical supplies and equipment—insulin needles and lancets, insulin pump and pump supplies and blood glucose monitors—medical travel and dental and vision services.
• Diabetes Canada has a Community Pharmacy Outreach Program (CPOP) to provide resources and hold events—like diabetes days, screening, foot clinics and more—through your local pharmacy. This might be helpful if you live in a remote or rural area where your pharmacist is your most accessible health care professional.
• The Home and Community Care program can offer various services—including homemaking, personal care, nursing care, respite care and rehabilitation and recovery exercises—as a Nunavummiut enrolled in the Nunavut Health Care Plan.

Ontario

• The Assistive Devices Program can help cover the cost of diabetes equipment and supplies, wheelchairs and specialized supplies.
• MedicAlert can provide a medical identification bracelet.
• Old Age Security (OAS) or Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) could grant you $1,400 or more if you’re over the age of 65 and have a low income.
• The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) can provide many health- and disability-related benefits, including health, dental, vision, assistive devices and more. You may also receive support for mandatory special necessities—including income support, prescription medication coverage and test strips—through the ODSP.
• The Trillium Drug Program can provide financial assistance if you have high prescription drug costs compared to your household income and no private health insurance.

Prince Edward Island

• The Disability Support Program offers respite care, technical aids, community support and family support programs for your diabetes-related disability.
• Your insulin pump and pump supplies will be partly covered—between 60% and 90% of the cost based on your family income—if you’re aged 18 years or under.
• PEI Pharmacare may cover (with co-pay) some of your prescription medications, 100 blood glucose test strips per month, and urine ketone test strips (with prescription).
• The Social Assistance Program can help you and your family meet your basic needs when you cannot, which may include food, shelter, medications, dental services and glasses.

Quebec

• Revenu Quebec and the Canada Revenue Agency let you claim medical expenses related to managing your diabetes on your annual income tax return.
• Free prescriptions and a supplementary amount of $20 per month (link in French only) are available if you’re on social assistance.
• The Student Financial Assistance Program offers loans and bursaries to students living with diabetes enrolled in a Quebec CEGEP or university.
• You may be able to access more resources by calling the Information and Referral Center of Greater Montreal or Info-Social.

Saskatchewan

• You can get Family Health Benefits if your family has a low income and is receiving the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement or Rental Housing Supplement.
• The Insulin Pump Program can cover the cost of your insulin pump once every 5 years if you’re under the age of 25. If you qualify, insulin pump supplies become covered under the Saskatchewan Provincial Drug Plan (SPDP).
• The Senior’s Drug Plan will cover some medications and diabetes supplies if you’re aged 65 years or older and meet income requirements. You can also qualify for Guaranteed Income Supplements (GIS).
• The Special Support Program can help reduce the cost of your prescription medications if they’re high compared to your income and this may apply to your diabetes supplies.
• Supplementary Health Benefits may be covered if you’re a ward of the government, an inmate of a correctional institution, a resident of a special care facility or a low income adult student.

Yukon

• The Chronic Disease and Disability Benefits Program can give you financial assistance for your prescription medications, equipment and supplies, food supplements and prosthesis.
• Diabetes Canada has a Community Pharmacy Outreach Program (CPOP) to provide resources and hold events—like diabetes days, screening, foot clinics and more—through your local pharmacy. This might be helpful if you live in a remote or rural area where your pharmacist is your most accessible health care professional.
• Continuing Care can help you if you’re living with a disability related to your diabetes. This program can offer you long-term care, home care and regional therapy services.
• Yukon Social Assistance can provide you with financial support if you don’t have enough money to live on, after you’ve explored other possible sources of financial aid.

As someone living with T2D, you should have access to medications and supplies appropriate to your own needs, no matter what your budget is. Limited financial resources shouldn’t stop you from getting the care you deserve!

Written By Patrick Boisvert, Posted , Updated 09/21/23

Patrick holds a B.Sc. in Biology from Dalhousie University and an M.Sc. in Human Genetics from McGill University. He has been a medical writer for 10 years and is happiest when he works on projects that can have a direct impact on the well-being of patients, such as those related to diabetes awareness and education. When not working, he enjoys hiking, running, cooking and reading fantasy novels.