Ontario Program Covers Cost For Diabetes Testing Supplies
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Ontario Monitoring for Health Program
The program is designed to help people of any age who use insulin or have gestational diabetes.
Program overview
The Ontario Monitoring for Health Program helps Ontarians of any age who use insulin or have gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) pay for their diabetes testing supplies. The program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and administered by the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Who is eligible for this program?
To qualify for this program, you must:
• Be an Ontario resident with a valid Ontario health card
• Use insulin or have gestational diabetes
• Have no other coverage (e.g. group benefit plan, private insurance or government financial assistance program) for your blood glucose testing supplies
Your first claim form to the Monitoring for Health Program must be signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner to confirm that you use insulin or have gestational diabetes.
What supplies does the program cover?
• Blood glucose test strips
• Lancets (used to prick your finger)
• Blood glucose meters
• Talking blood glucose meters (letter from doctor required to confirm visual impairment)
Senior 65 years of age or older, social assistance recipients or Trillium Drug Program clients can only submit to the program for lancets and/or a blood glucose meter. Blood glucose test strips for these client groups are covered through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program.
Please note: The program does not cover pen needles or syringes.
How much does the program cover?
• Strips and lancets: 75% reimbursement up to a maximum of $820 per year. This means that you can submit up to $1093 in receipts for strips and lancets each year; the program will reimburse 75% ($820).
• Blood glucose meter: 75% reimbursement up to a maximum of $75, once every 5 years
• Talking blood glucose meter: 75% reimbursement up to a maximum of $300, once every 5 years; for visually-impaired clients only; letter from doctor required to confirm visual impairment
How does the program work?
There are two ways to submit a claim to the program:
Option A
• Complete the claim form in full. If this is your first claim to the program, you must have the form signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner to confirm that you use insulin or have gestational diabetes.
• Purchase your supplies at an Ontario pharmacy. Be sure to keep the receipts.
• Mail your completed claim form AND receipts to the program address listed at the top of the claim form. Claim forms and receipts must be originals; no photocopies please. Receipts must include pharmacy name, address, item(s) purchased, amount paid, etc.
• Once your claim is processed, you will receive a cheque for the amount reimbursed and a new claim form (for your next claim).
Option B
• Check with your pharmacist to see if the pharmacy offers Third-Party Billing for the Monitoring for Health Program. With Third-Party Billing you only pay 25% of the cost of your supplies (the 25% not covered by the Program) and the pharmacy submits to the program directly for the other 75%.
• Complete the claim form in full. If this is your first claim to the program, you must have the form signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner to confirm that you use insulin or have gestational diabetes.
• Purchase your supplies from the pharmacy and pay only the 25% not covered by the program.
• Sign the claim form to assign reimbursement over to the pharmacy.
• Pharmacist will then submit your claim form and receipts to the program and reimbursement will be made directly to the pharmacy.
If pharmacy does not offer Third-Party Billing for the Monitoring for Health Program, please see Option A above.
For more information:
Ontario Monitoring for Health Program
c/o Canadian Diabetes Association
1400 – 522 University Ave
Toronto, ON M5G 2R5
Toll-free: 1-800-361-0796
Email: mfhp@diabetes.ca