Multiple Sclerosis Medications

[HajarAgag]

Hello all!

I received an ITA before my diagnosis with RRMS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) of a minor grade. I went through all requested medical examinations and provided all scans and medical documents and thankfully they did not comment anything negative until now. They asked me to pay the PR fees (490 CDN) which means that they might be okay with my condition.

My question is regarding the insurance and medications. I know that MS medications are expensive and that the public health insurance doesn't cover any medications. What are the steps and what are the finances for something like this? At least for a period of three months or something until one can find a job (of course all this in the case that I receive my PR for sure). Also do private health insurance plans become expensive in such case?
If you have any links or websites to these topics please let me know them.

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[canuck78]

Just to clarify you informed the doctor about your MS during your medical. If not you are supposed to inform CIC about changes in your family, health, etc.

The answer really depend on what province you plan on moving to.

 

[scylla]

Hello all!

I received an ITA before my diagnosis with RRMS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) of a minor grade. I went through all requested medical examinations and provided all scans and medical documents and thankfully they did not comment anything negative until now. They asked me to pay the PR fees (490 CDN) which means that they might be okay with my condition.

My question is regarding the insurance and medications. I know that MS medications are expensive and that the public health insurance doesn't cover any medications. What are the steps and what are the finances for something like this? At least for a period of three months or something until one can find a job (of course all this in the case that I receive my PR for sure). Also do private health insurance plans become expensive in such case?
If you have any links or websites to these topics please let me know them.

Thanks a lot for your help.

If you have to wait three months before you have provincial health insurance coverage, you should expect that you will have to pay for the costs of the medication out of your own pocket. Private insurance won't cover the costs since it's a pre-existing condition.

Once you have provincial health care coverage, if there are costs not covered through the program - you may have to pay for these yourself (i.e. out of your own pocket). It's also possible that once you have a job - that employer may have a benefits package that could cover some or all of these costs. However not all employers offer benefits packages like this and not all medication costs are covered when there is a benefits package offered. So it's difficult to answer your question since there are so many variables.

My recommendation to you is to find out if and how much of your treatment costs are covered by the provincial health care system - and then assume you will have to pay for the rest out of pocket.

 

[steaky]

Hello all!

I received an ITA before my diagnosis with RRMS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) of a minor grade. I went through all requested medical examinations and provided all scans and medical documents and thankfully they did not comment anything negative until now. They asked me to pay the PR fees (490 CDN) which means that they might be okay with my condition.

My question is regarding the insurance and medications. I know that MS medications are expensive and that the public health insurance doesn't cover any medications. What are the steps and what are the finances for something like this? At least for a period of three months or something until one can find a job (of course all this in the case that I receive my PR for sure). Also do private health insurance plans become expensive in such case?
If you have any links or websites to these topics please let me know them.

Thanks a lot for your help.

No, you are wrong.

In BC, if you are eligible, provincial health insurance does cover medications.

 

[canuck78]

Also wanted to point out that you will have to see a Canadian doctor and most likely a neurologist to get medication. The wait to see a neurologist take a few months minimum. Not sure if you are coming to Canada alone but there is not a ton of support if you are unable to do things on your own. Sometime new Canadians (or Canadians who have never been sick) are unaware of the large gaps in care that exist.

 

[HajarAgag]

No, you are wrong.

In BC, if you are eligible, provincial health insurance does cover medications.

Just to clarify you informed the doctor about your MS during your medical. If not you are supposed to inform CIC about changes in your family, health, etc.

The answer really depend on what province you plan on moving to.

I informed the doctor about my condition and CIC asked for further tests and I did them and nothing happened until they requested the PR fees (490 CAD). I needed to know on average how it might cost for me to get medications (considering Ontario as a first choice).

 

[HajarAgag]

If you have to wait three months before you have provincial health insurance coverage, you should expect that you will have to pay for the costs of the medication out of your own pocket. Private insurance won't cover the costs since it's a pre-existing condition.

Once you have provincial health care coverage, if there are costs not covered through the program - you may have to pay for these yourself (i.e. out of your own pocket). It's also possible that once you have a job - that employer may have a benefits package that could cover some or all of these costs. However not all employers offer benefits packages like this and not all medication costs are covered when there is a benefits package offered. So it's difficult to answer your question since there are so many variables.

My recommendation to you is to find out if and how much of your treatment costs are covered by the provincial health care system - and then assume you will have to pay for the rest out of pocket.

what do you mean with pre-existing condition?

 

[HajarAgag]

No, you are wrong.

In BC, if you are eligible, provincial health insurance does cover medications.

Eligible meaning? to come to BC??

 

[HajarAgag]

I'm

Also wanted to point out that you will have to see a Canadian doctor and most likely a neurologist to get medication. The wait to see a neurologist take a few months minimum. Not sure if you are coming to Canada alone but there is not a ton of support if you are unable to do things on your own. Sometime new Canadians (or Canadians who have never been sick) are unaware of the large gaps in care that exist.

I'm coming alone or with my friend in case she's accepted. My condition is not that bad for now. Private insurance won't cover my medication? unless it is through a job?

 

[canuck78]

In Ontario there is a program called Trillium drug program if your drug costs are a large percentage of your salary especially if you don't have medical coverage. Not all medications are covered and you still pay a large deductible. Also not sure you would be covered until you get OHIP. Many jobs are contract jobs and don't offer medical coverage. Used to be standard but there is chance that your job will Not offer extended health benefits. Not sure where you are coming from but MS without friends will be quite difficult. The health system isn't great when you deal with chronic illness. A lot of costs and responsibilities end up in the individuals. Just want to know what you are up against. People's expectations of the Canadian health care system often don't coincide with reality.

 

[steaky]

Eligible meaning? to come to BC??

.

In BC, there's a program called Fair Pharmacare.


Coverage is based on the resident family and personal net income.

 

[canuck78]

Fyi you need OHIP for Trillium. You'd also have to see if your medication is covered.

 

[steaky]

You need MSP too for Fair Pharmacare.

 

[HajarAgag]

It is too much for me to understand!
My medication is not covered in Trillium
another question: is buying private insurance expensive?
sorry guys for asking too much but i'm trying to figure out how it's going to work for me

 

[scylla]

It is too much for me to understand!
My medication is not covered in Trillium
another question: is buying private insurance expensive?
sorry guys for asking too much but i'm trying to figure out how it's going to work for me

Private insurance won't help you. Private insurance won't cover preexisitng conditions or any treatment / medication required for preexisting conditions. Insurance companies are in the business of making money - so they aren't going to sell you a policy that's going to cost them more than you pay in insurance premiums.