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By rdnewsNOW staff

First time since 1994

Provincial government increases prescription costs for seniors

Jun 11, 2025 | 5:02 PM

The Government of Alberta has announced the maximum prescription drug co-payment for Albertans with Coverage for Seniors and Non-Group Coverage will increase for the first time in 31 years.

Officials say the change is meant to combat the rising costs of government drug coverage. As a result, the cost of providing coverage for Seniors and Non-Group Coverage to Albertans is increasing by nearly seven per cent annually.

In 2023-24, the government says the cost of these two programs was approximately $1.3 billion but officials note by 2026-27, it will increase by approximately $194 million.

To make sure the coverage is here to stay for years to come, the province says the maximum co-payment for a prescription will increase by a total of $10 over a 10-month period.

In addition, on July 1, the maximum co-payment will increase by $1 each month until it reaches $35 on April 1, 2026.

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“Providing Albertans with coverage for their prescription drugs ensures they have access to necessary medications. But drug coverage costs are rising, and we need to take steps to address the cost,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services.

“This change will help keep those costs in check, maintain a fair and balanced cost sharing approach, and allow the government to continue offering this important coverage.”

The province says despite the change, the majority of Alberta seniors will still pay less than seniors in most other provinces. According to provincial officials, an Alberta senior needing a drug that costs $900 annually will pay $270 and the government will pay the remaining cost. In B.C., the same senior would pay $900.

Meantime, Sarah Hoffman, Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister for Health, said in a statement the government increasing prescription costs on seniors is bad news for those struggling with the cost of living.

“Increasing the cost of medications doesn’t improve health care or make things more affordable – it does the exact opposite,” she said. “Because this increase is per prescription, more seniors will be forced into making a choice – medicine or food, or rent, or insurance, or utilities bills, all of which have increased in cost due to this incompetent and cruel UCP government. In the end senior’s health will suffer, they will need more care because they can’t afford medication, and the added strain on the entire health-care system will impact all Albertans.“

In addition, Friends of Medicare said the decision to increase drug costs for Alberta seniors is shameful.

“We’re just a few days out from Seniors Week, and the government has decided to show their appreciation for Alberta seniors by sneakily implementing cost hikes for their medications,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The fact that the government decided to announce this decision quietly via a memo, without any consultation or notice, shows that they are hoping to get away with this without Albertans noticing.”