ALBERTA SENIORS’ DRUG PLAN – Version 2, Compared to the
Current Plan and Ontario
This ideologically motivated plan introduces “Monthly Premiums”. This will further burden middle-income seniors on fixed income who received no benefit from the Alberta 10% flat tax.
Low-income seniors will have free drug coverage. Wonderful, but it should have been done years ago and financed out of general, or oil, revenue. Instead, it is entirely out of the pockets of other seniors!
The plans co-payment rate, “20% of each prescriptions cost up to $15”, equates to 17% of total yearly prescription costs. (The current “30% up to $25” equates to 22% of yearly prescription costs).
The problem is the new “Premiums” will
negate the 5% yearly co-payment reduction and substantially increase overall
costs for middle-income seniors. Monthly premium for singles above $24,000 income are
$31.75, $47.62, and $63.50 depending on income. For couples above $48,000
income, monthly income based premiums are $59, 88.50, and $118 a month.
Alberta should set the standard, but we are far behind Ontario where the cost to seniors, with incomes over $24,175, is $100 deductible per year plus up to only $6.11 per prescription.
See the table below! Based on income, will you have to pay a“Premium”? Will your yearly cost increase? How does your cost compare to Ontario? How much will the Govt. double tax you if you withdraw “fully taxable funds” from your RRSP or RIF for an emergency, unexpected costs, or to go on a well-earned vacation, and this moves you into a higher income range?
|
Family Taxable Income |
Total Yearly Cost of Prescriptions |
New plan Co-Payment = 17% of total cost |
New Plan Yearly Premium (Monthly times 12) |
New Plan Total Yearly Cost |
Current
Plan Cost (Co-Payment = 22% of Total Yearly Cost) |
Ontario Plan ($100 Ded. plus up to $6.11
per prescription) |
|
$24,000 |
$1,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$220 |
$0 |
|
$24,001 to $48,000 |
$1,000 |
$170 |
$0 |
$170 |
$220 |
$192 |
|
$48,001 to $72,000 |
$1,000 |
$170 |
$708 |
$878 |
$220 |
$192 |
|
$72,001 to $96,000 |
$1,000 |
$170 |
$1,062 |
$1,232 |
$220 |
$192 |
|
$96,001 and up |
$1,000 |
$170 |
$1,416 |
$1,586 |
$220 |
$192 |
|
$24,000 |
$3,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$660 |
$0 |
|
$24,001 to $48,000 |
$3,000 |
$510 |
$0 |
$510 |
$660 |
$375 |
|
$48,001 to $72,000 |
$3,000 |
$510 |
$708 |
$1,218 |
$660 |
$375 |
|
$72,001 to $96,000 |
$3,000 |
$510 |
$1,062 |
$1,572 |
$660 |
$375 |
|
$96,001 and up |
$3,000 |
$510 |
$1,416 |
$1,926 |
$660 |
$375 |
|
$24,000 |
$7,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,540 |
$0 |
|
$24,001 to $48,000 |
$7,000 |
$1,190 |
$0 |
$1,190 |
$1,540 |
$741 |
|
$48,001 to $72,000 |
$7,000 |
$1,190 |
$708 |
$1,898 |
$1,540 |
$741 |
|
$72,001 to $96,000 |
$7,000 |
$1,190 |
$1,062 |
$2,252 |
$1,540 |
$741 |
|
$96,001 and up |
$7,000 |
$1,190 |
$1,416 |
$2,606 |
$1,540 |
$741 |
SINGLE INCOME
TABLE
Note: The number of prescriptions in the
“Ontario” column is calculated using an estimate of 15 per $1000 yearly
prescription cost.
|
Single Taxable Income |
Total Yearly Cost of Prescriptions |
New plan Co-Payment = 17% of total
cost |
New Plan Yearly Premium (Monthly times
12) |
New Plan Total Yearly Cost |
Current Plan Cost (Co-Payment
= 22% of Total Yearly Cost) |
Ontario Plan ($100 Ded.
Plus up to $6.11 per Prescription) |
|
$12,000 |
$500 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$110 |
$0 |
|
$12,001 to $24,000 |
$500 |
$85 |
$0 |
$85 |
$110 |
(Over $16,018) = $137 |
|
$24,001 to $36,000 |
$500 |
$85 |
$381 |
$466 |
$110 |
$137 |
|
$36,001 to $48,000 |
$500 |
$85 |
$572 |
$657 |
$110 |
$137 |
|
$48,001 and up |
$500 |
$85 |
$762 |
$847 |
$110 |
$137 |
|
$12,000 |
$1,500 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$330 |
$0 |
|
$12,001 to $24,000 |
$1,500 |
$255 |
$0 |
$255 |
$330 |
(Over $16,018) = $234 |
|
$24,001 to $36,000 |
$1,500 |
$255 |
$381 |
$636 |
$330 |
$234 |
|
$36,001 to $48,000 |
$1,500 |
$255 |
$572 |
$827 |
$330 |
$234 |
|
$48,001 and up |
$1,500 |
$255 |
$762 |
$1,017 |
$330 |
$234 |
|
$12,000 |
$3,500 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$770 |
$0 |
|
$12,001 to $24,000 |
$3,500 |
$595 |
$0 |
$595 |
$770 |
(Over $16,018) = $417 |
|
$24,001 to $36,000 |
$3,500 |
$595 |
$381 |
$976 |
$770 |
$417 |
|
$36,001 to $48,000 |
$3,500 |
$595 |
$572 |
$1,167 |
$777 |
$417 |
|
$48,001 and up |
$3,500 |
$595 |
$762 |
$1,357 |
$777 |
$417 |
PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE KNOWN AND HELP STOP THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED, PLAN!
Phone Premier
Stelmach (780) 427-2251, Health Minister Liepert (780) 427-3665, your MLA and
other MLA’s. Tell them what you think of the proposed “Seniors’
Drug Plan”! Ask them why Alberta seniors are paying far more than Ontario
seniors. (MLA e-mails are on the Alberta Govt. web site).
Inform your
family, neighbors, and friends. Phone talk shows. Write letters to the Editor.