Evidence of meeting #123 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was insulin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:35 a.m.
As an Individual
I'm lucky because I live in Ontario. I get funding through the assistive devices program, but it doesn't cover everything.
I can't use that same Inset that Karen showed you. That's a little bit cheaper than what I have to use. I do pay more. I do not track it, because just like tracking my time, that's taking more away from me, and it would really make me [Inaudible—Editor] fast.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Did anyone give you an idea of what that cost would be for someone who had no coverage at all?
9:40 a.m.
Diabetes Advocate, Diabetes Canada
Well, no. You have to qualify for an insulin pump through the government, and then the assistive devices program. A pump is $7,000.
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
It wasn't an option until that program became available in Ontario. In 1997, my doctor told me I really needed to be on an insulin pump, but I had no coverage. That was when I was with my ex-husband, and I had no access. It was unattainable.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
You said that it's an employer plan through your husband that is paying, but you're paying a 20% co-pay, is that right?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Is that new? Has that gone up or has it always been that way since you've been on that plan?
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
He's just switched jobs, so he's only been where he is for a year. The job he has now has a much better plan and coverage.
That's the thing. Employers don't necessarily know what their employees need. Plans are tailored not knowing the needs of the plan members. That's an issue in itself. It's a pick and choose kind of menu plan.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I'll ask everybody this question.
Have you ever applied for any private insurance or through an employer? Have there ever been difficulties due to the pre-existing conditions clauses?
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I tried right out of college and was denied right off the bat. Even with my husband's insurance, I actually was denied for life insurance despite my below average A1C. I am doing everything in my power—
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I meant an insurance plan for covering medications. Were you excluded from those?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Were you excluded from everything?
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
Pretty much. Anything you wanted to get, “Oh, no, you have type 1 diabetes. No, sorry, we're not going to touch that.”
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Are you saying people should apply for work insurance at the age of five just in case they're diagnosed with diabetes after that?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Ms. Lavergne, would you say you've had similar experiences with the private insurance industry?
9:40 a.m.
Diabetes Advocate, Diabetes Canada
Currently, my husband has insurance with Great-West Life. We've been asking GWL, because the government insurance has coverage for CGM, if it would cover CGM, and it is just not answering. We keep trying by sending letters and it is not going to cover it.
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I don't think insurance companies understand a lot of the technology either.
I heard of people who made a request for coverage, and they were told that the CGM would be covered. Then, when they put that in, they were denied because they lived in Ontario and the company confused this part, with this, and said, “Oh, no, you have coverage already, and we're not paying for it.” They're two totally separate things that do totally different functions, but we need them both equally.
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
You have to remember that I take more insulin than they do. I take three times more insulin than they do, and I get nothing. Nothing is covered for me. I don't exist.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I think that's my time. Thank you very much.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Indeed, thank you, Chair.
One of the Conservative members, Tom Kmiec, has brought forward a private member's bill, Bill C-399, the fairness for persons with disabilities act. It tries to make sure that everyone who has diabetes and is, as you say, worrying and calculating and taking all these actions 24-7 has access to the disability tax credit, which then also gives them access to the pension that's related to it to try to help when they turn 65 to pay for all of these medications and things going forward. I think that's a good idea, but my concern is that today, even with the disability tax credit, 40% of the people who should qualify aren't able to get it.
Ms. Kemp, you weren't here when we had this discussion. Do you get the disability tax credit?
