Health insurance glossary
Trillium Drug Program
Plain-English definition
The Trillium Drug Program is an Ontario government program for people with high prescription drug costs. Once a household pays a yearly deductible, usually about 4% of household income after taxes, it pays up to $2 for each prescription on the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary. It is open to Ontarians whose drug costs are high compared with their income.
By the HealthRate editorial desk
Where this applies: Ontario only. Other provinces run their own income-based or seniors' drug programs.
How it works
The deductible is based on household income, so two households with the same prescriptions can have different deductibles. After the deductible, each prescription on the formulary costs up to $2 (Government of Ontario).
Having a private plan does not rule you out. In Ontario, a private plan makes people 24 and under ineligible for OHIP+, and reaching a plan's annual maximum does not restore OHIP+ eligibility; people in that position with high out-of-pocket costs can apply to Trillium (Government of Ontario).
Trillium pays for drugs on the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary. Some unlisted drugs can be requested through the Exceptional Access Program.
Why it matters
For a household with large regular drug costs and no workplace plan, or a plan that has run out, Trillium can limit what each prescription costs once the deductible is met.
Not to be confused with
Not the Ontario Drug Benefit for seniors or OHIP+, which cover people by age. Trillium is based on drug costs compared with income.