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CALGARY — Alberta’s Opposition is accusing Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government of secretly planning to increase prescription drug costs for seniors and other Albertans.
The NDP released leaked cabinet documents Thursday that it says show the government is considering new deductibles and higher co-payments that could add hundreds of dollars a year to household drug bills.
The papers suggest the changes would eliminate existing seniors’ drug plans, introduce higher co-pay caps and increase annual costs by $18 million. A line in the document states: “Average income seniors would see increased costs.”
The leak comes after the government earlier raised co-payments on seniors’ drug plans by 40 per cent, a move that added $10 per prescription.
NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman called the changes “cruel” and said they would force some Albertans to choose between paying for medicine, food, rent or utilities.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the plan could more than double prescription bills for senior couples.
“Under Danielle Smith, health care is in chaos, costs are going up, and wait times are increasing,” Nenshi said.
Hoffman, a former health minister, said Alberta should instead expand participation in the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance to lower drug costs and work with other provinces and the federal government toward a national pharmacare program.
Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services issued a response on social media stating, “There is no “secret plan.” We have already announced and are implementing changes to the Seniors Drug Plan.”
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