News Release Archive
HEALTH--PHARMACARE 1-800 LINE OPEN THIS WEEKEND ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Department of Health announced today the 1-800 Pharmacare telephone number will be operating this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Seniors calling after hours during the week and on the weekend can leave their name and number on the answering machine. Their calls will be returned as soon as possible. "The 1-800 telephone number will be open all weekend to respond to seniors questions about Pharmacare," said Eleanor Hubbard, director of pharmaceutical services, Department of Health. "We are making every effort to answer all information requests as soon as we can." The new seniors' Pharmacare program was introduced this past April. Pharmacare has been operating under the new program since April 1. Under the new program, seniors are asked to pay a $215 insurance premium and a 20 per cent co-payment of their prescription costs to a maximum of $200 per year. Under the old program, the maximum co-payment was $400. Seniors who paid more than $200 in co-payments this year have been reimbursed accordingly. The deadline to join Pharmacare is Nov. 1. There is some flexibility in the deadline to allow seniors time to respond. A seniors' Pharmacare coverage will not be cancelled unless they are contacted. All seniors are encouraged to respond as soon as possible. The toll-free telephone number for Pharmacare is 1-800-563-8880. -30- Contact: Sue McKeage 902-424-3581 trp Oct. 26, 1995