Pharmacare changes will reduce drug premiums for some N.S. seniors

HALIFAX -- Changes to Nova Scotia's Pharmacare program will eliminate or reduce drug premiums for thousands of seniors, while creating a payment scale based on income.

Health Minister Leo Glavine says 12,000 seniors who previously paid a premium won't pay one beginning April 1, while another 29,000 will see their premium reduced.

Seniors will see co-payments reduced to 20 from 30 per cent to a maximum co-pay of $382 a year.

Under the changes a single senior whose income is less than $23,000 a year won't pay a premium, while those in the mid-range will pay $40 or more a month, and those earning more than $75,000 will pay $100 a month.

Couples with a combined income below $26,817 won't pay a premium, while couples with a combined income of above $100,000 will pay $200 a month.

Anne Corbin, executive director of the Community Links seniors organization, says basing premiums on income is a more equitable approach and she says reducing the co-payment should help those on fixed incomes manage costs.