A person with Type 1 diabetes who recently relocated to Nova Scotia expressed frustration after facing financial hurdles while attempting to access provincial programs that assist with the costs of insulin and related supplies.
Beck Marie, aged 28, made the move to Bridgewater, N.S., earlier this year from British Columbia, where they had been receiving coverage for medical devices like an insulin pump and glucose monitoring sensor.
Marie, lacking a primary care provider at the time, found it challenging to navigate the process of applying for coverage in Nova Scotia, as it required approval from specific health-care specialists based in the province. Despite having records from B.C. and Ontario documenting their long-term use of the same insulin pump, obtaining approval in Nova Scotia proved to be a tedious task.
The main hurdle for Marie was accessing a specialist, with an 18-month wait time cited for an appointment with an endocrinologist, a specialist in diabetes treatment.
According to the province, various health professionals, including pharmacists, can endorse the applications, typically leading to approval in less than two weeks. However, Marie spent four months visiting multiple pharmacies, emergency departments, and clinics in search of assistance, bearing monthly expenses of up to $800 for insulin and medical devices.
After visiting three pharmacies, Marie finally found a health professional who could assist with the application for the glucose monitoring sensor program. An emergency room doctor later referred Marie to the diabetes center at a hospital in Lunenburg. However, upon their visit, only one health professional was available, who then directed Marie to another pharmacist for application assistance.
Despite these efforts, Marie was granted coverage for only six months. Nova Scotia offers two programs to support insulin pumps and glucose monitoring sensors, each requiring separate applications. Unlike British Columbia, where such items are covered under the provincial pharmacare program, Nova Scotia lacks similar coverage.
Diabetes Canada highlighted the high costs associated with insulin pumps and sensors, emphasizing their crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for users by improving health outcomes and reducing hospitalization rates.
Although a national pharmacare plan was proposed by the federal government last year, offering potential coverage for diabetes medication, its implementation is pending. Diabetes Canada believes a national plan would enhance access to devices, benefiting Canadians with diabetes.
Marie advocates for a national plan while suggesting improvements to Nova Scotia’s existing programs, launched last year. The Department of Health and Wellness declined an interview request, stating that most applications for the programs are approved within two weeks. Marie’s application was approved a week after submission, albeit only for six months without explanation.
The eligibility requirements for the programs are waived for existing pump users. The province boasts 35 diabetes centers across Nova Scotia, where specialists can assist with applications, accessible via self-referral.
Marie encountered difficulties in reaching the program for assistance and felt the process in Nova Scotia was more complicated compared to other provinces. Expressing exhaustion from the barriers faced in accessing necessary devices, Marie stressed the need for streamlined procedures to ease the burden on individuals relying on such programs.