Medical cannabis and your Extended Health Care plan
Groups with over 100 lives can add medical cannabis to their Extended Health coverage upon request.
Currently, medical cannabis does not have a Health Canada Drug Identification Number (DIN). As a result, it’s not eligible for coverage under prescription drug plans. Instead, coverage appears as a separate provision and is payable under "All other Extended Heath Care".
Coverage details
Our medical cannabis coverage:
- Is available for plan members and dependents with:
- Chronic pain associated with identified medical conditions
- Muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Includes an annual maximum, with optional limits of $1,500, $3,000, or $4,500 per person
- Requires prior authorization, similar to high-cost specialty drugs
- Is only available when supplied by a licensed provider/producer to ensure patients are adhering to the Access to Medical Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation (ACMPR), as legal access to medical cannabis is controlled in Canada.
Government regulations provide access to cannabis for medical purposes under certain conditions. As it’s a Canada Revenue Agency allowable medical expense for income tax purposes, we will continue to consider this an eligible expense under a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), provided all necessary Health Canada Guidelines are met.
For more information on how to add medical cannabis coverage to your plan, contact the Group Client Service Centre or your Group Benefits Advisor.
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