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Which drugs do the programs pay for?

While Ontario does not pay for every drug that is available today, our drug programs cover thousands of prescribed drugs. Find out which ones are covered by each drug program:

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program

Covers most of the cost of drug products approved under the program’s rules. This includes more than 3,800 prescription drugs.

To see if your drug is available through the program, you can search the on-line ODB e-Formulary database

Exceptional Access Program (EAP)

In special cases, the EAP covers most of the cost of approximately 850 prescription drug products that are not on the approved Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program list.  This includes cases where drugs on the ODB list have been tried and do not work; or, where an alternative drug is not available through ODB.

To see if your drug may be available through the program, you can search the attached file which shows only the drugs most frequently asked for through the EAP.

New Drug Funding (NDF) Program

Provides funding to more than 80 Cancer Care Ontario partner facilities for intravenous cancer drugs. These drugs have been approved for coverage under the plan and are administered on-site.  See a list of drugs on the Cancer Care Ontario website.

Special Drugs Program (SDP)

May pay the full cost of certain outpatient drugs used to treat a number of serious conditions. For a list of covered conditions, see Section 8. (2) of the Health Insurance Act, Regulation 552.

Inherited Metabolic Diseases (IMD) Program

May pay for certain drugs, supplements and specialty foods to treat specific metabolic disorders.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) program for high-risk infants

May pay for the drug palivizumab for infants at high risk of getting RSV. Only available during active RSV season.

Visudyne (Verteporfin) program  (to slow age-related macular degeneration)

Covers the full cost of the drug verteporfin. Treatment must follow the rules set out in Section 8. (2.1) of the Health Insurance Act, Regulation 552.