On June 10, 2025, the Government of Alberta announced that they will be effectively reducing drug coverage for seniors by increasing co-payment maximums over a period of 10 months. This is being done to offset the rising cost of government drug coverage. You can read the full government statement here.
ARTA has always positioned itself as an advocate for seniors in Alberta, and this includes advocating for access to quality health care and coverage. This cost-saving measure on the part of the Government of Alberta is an attempt to offload health costs onto private insurers and ultimately, onto the seniors of Alberta.
As a non-profit organization, ARTA strives to offer health care coverage at the lowest possible cost to its members. Unfortunately, to continue providing the same level of coverage to ARTA members, these proposed changes will result in a notable increase in premiums during the next renewal period. What seems like a simple line item to the government, in reality, will put even more financial pressure on those already living with fixed incomes and struggling with the rising cost of living.
As seniors’ care becomes less affordable, it becomes all the more likely that we will see Albertan seniors trying to save money by delaying refills, skipping doses, and abandoning treatment altogether. This will, of course, lead to more costly interventions down the line, and put even more pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms that are already stretched thin.
We are disappointed in the government’s decision to cut costs at the expense of one of Alberta’s most vulnerable populations. We have already written to Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to voice our concerns; you can view our letter here. If this issue matters to you, we encourage you to write to your MLA as well, to add your voice to ours. If you would like help getting started, we have created a toolkit that you can access using the button below.
The Government of Alberta cites the rising population of seniors as a reason that they need to cut coverage, but this rising population is also a substantial voter group that they would be wise to listen to. Our collective voices are powerful; let’s use them.