What's covered? What's not?

CMAJ 1998;159:120

© 1998 Canadian Medical Association

Most of the 7 provinces that provide vision care restrict it to children or those aged 65 or older. In Ontario and BC, all residents are eligible but adults who are under 65 are restricted to 1 examination every 2 years.

Dental care provided in hospitals is covered in all provinces, while out-of-hospital coverage is usually restricted to children, seniors and welfare recipients. Similarly, drugs provided to hospital patients are covered in every province but out-of-hospital drug programs tend to apply eligibility requirements. The Atlantic provinces, Ontario and BC cover only some residents, such as seniors and AIDS patients, but all residents of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec are eligible for out-of-hospital drug programs that apply variable deductibles and levels of reimbursement.

Public Supplementary Health Benefit
		Dental		Drugs
Province	Vision	In- hospital	Out-of- hospital	In- hospital	Out-of- hospital
BC	**	**	*	**	*
Alberta	*	**	*	**
Saskatchewan	*	**	*	**	**
Manitoba	*	**		**	**
Ontario	**	**		**	*
Quebec	*	**	*	**	**
NB		**		**	*
NS	*	**	*	**	*
PEI		**	*	**	*
Newfoundland		**	*	**	*
* some residents are eligible (e.g. children, seniors, welfare recipients) ** all residents are eligible

This column was written by Lynda Buske, chief, physician resources information planning, CMA. Readers may send potential research topics to Patrick Sullivan (sullip@cma.ca; 613 731-8610 or 800 663-7336 x2126; fax 613 523-0937).

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