Public Information
Ministry Programs
Ontario Drug Benefit Program
Trillium Drug Program
The Trillium Drug Program (TDP) is intended for Ontario residents who have high prescription drug costs in relation to their net household income. In the same manner as the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, the TDP provides coverage for prescription drug products listed on the Formulary.
Drug products not listed on the Formulary are also considered for coverage for TDP recipients through the ministry's Exceptional Access program.
Please note that deductibles and co-payments will apply to this income-based program.
Eligibilty
You can register in the Trillium Drug Program if you :
- Comply with all requirements set out in the regulations under the ODBA
- Do not have private insurance coverage or your private insurance does not cover 100% of your prescription drug costs; and you
- Have valid Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) and are a resident of Ontario; and you
- Are not eligible for drug coverage as another category of recipient under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program (i.e., not a senior over 65 years of age, not a social assistance recipient, not receiving professional Home Care services, or not a resident of a Long-Term Care Home or Home for Special Care).
Deductibles and Co-Payments
The program runs from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. Before you receive coverage for eligible prescription drug products through the TDP, your household must pay for a set amount of your prescription drug purchases, otherwise known as the "deductible", each year starting August 1.
The deductible is paid in four installments over the program year and is calculated based on net household income and household size. For example, a household with an annual deductible of $500 will pay for the first $125 of prescriptions purchased at the start of each quarter on August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1. After the deductible is paid in each quarter, the household will be eligible to receive drug benefits for that quarter, and will be asked to pay up to $2 per prescription each time they purchase an eligible drug product. Any unpaid deductible in a quarter will be added to the next quarter's deductible.
New applicants to the TDP can choose the date within the program year on which they wish to be enrolled. The deductible will be prorated, that is, the deductible will be based on the number of days left in the program year. Please note that proration of the deductible will apply only for the first year that a household/member is enrolled in the program.
Drug Costs
Not all drug costs count towards your Trillium Drug Program deductible or are covered as program benefits. To ensure coverage under the program, check with your pharmacist or health care provider to make sure your prescriptions fit into one of the following categories :
- Listed in the Formulary; or
- Listed on the Facilitated Access List of HIV/AIDS drugs; or
- Approved for coverage through the ministry's Exceptional Access program
Trillium Drug Program Application Forms and Guides are available at local pharmacies, online, or by calling 416-642-3038 or 1-800-575-5386 (toll free):
For more information contact us.
