Who qualifies

To qualify, you must:

  • be an Ontario resident
  • have a valid Ontario health card
  • have a disability requiring respiratory equipment and supplies for six months or longer
  • not be a resident of a long-term care home (exception: long-term care home residents can receive funding for Positive Airway Pressure Systems)

Who does not qualify

You do not qualify, if you:

  • already qualify for or are receiving support from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for the same respiratory equipment and supplies
  • are a Group “A” veteran and already qualify for or are receiving support from Veterans Affairs Canada for the same respiratory equipment and supplies
  • are a patient of an acute or chronic care hospital

What is covered

Through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP), we help you cover the cost of:

  • cardiorespiratory monitors
  • suction devices (stationary and portable) and the supply items used with the device
  • medication compressors (stationary and portable)
  • high output air compressors
  • airway clearance devices (percussors and postural drainage boards only)
  • Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) systems, including
    • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) systems
    • Auto-Titrating Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) systems
    • Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (BPAP) systems
  • tracheostomy equipment and supplies, including
    • tracheostomy tubes
    • speaking valves
    • supply items used with the tracheostomy

Replacements

You can apply to replace respiratory equipment if:

  • your medical condition has changed and the equipment no longer meets your needs
  • the equipment is worn out, no longer covered by warranty and repairs cannot be made at a reasonable cost

We do not cover costs to replace lost equipment or supplies, nor for repairs to equipment damaged through misuse or neglect.

How much is covered

We cover 75% of the ADP price for respiratory equipment, including cardiorespiratory monitors, suction devices, medication compressors, high output air compressors, airway clearance devices, and PAP systems.

You must pay 25% of the ADP price.

We cover 100% of the ADP price for the above respiratory equipment, if you receive financial assistance from one of these programs

  • Ontario Works
  • Ontario Disability Support Program
  • Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities

Tracheostomy equipment and supplies, and suction device supplies

For these supply items, you can apply to receive an annual grant. It is paid out in four installments, as follows:

  • $180 per year ($45 paid every three months) for portable/stationary suction machine supplies
  • $900 per year ($225 paid every three months) for tracheostomy tubes
  • $420 per year ($105 paid every three months) speaking valves
  • $1,500 per year ($375 every three months) for other tracheostomy supplies

You must pay any costs over these amounts.

Getting additional coverage

We provide additional coverage for these supply items, if you receive financial support from one of these programs:

  • Ontario Works
  • Ontario Disability Support Program
  • Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities

If you are in one of these programs, we pay:

  • $240 per year ($60 paid every three months) for suction device supplies
  • $1,200 per year ($300 paid every three months) for tracheostomy tubes
  • $560 per year ($140 paid every three months) for speaking valves
  • $2,000 per year ($500 paid every three months) other tracheostomy supplies

You must pay any costs over these amounts.

Find a vendor and apply

Follow these three steps to apply:

Step 1 – Get examined

You must be examined before you can apply to the ADP. The examination is to confirm that you need the equipment and supplies, and you meet any additional medical eligibility criteria.

The person examining you will complete their section of the application form.

See your doctor or a nurse practitioner for an examination if you need:

  • cardiorespiratory monitor
  • portable or stationary medication compressor
  • high output air compressor
  • airway clearance devices
  • suction devices and supplies
  • tracheostomy equipment and supplies

See a doctor at a sleep clinic registered with the ADP if you need a:

  • continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system
  • auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP) system
  • bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) system

We can help you find a registered sleep clinic. Email us for a list of clinics near you.

Step 2 – Find a business that sells respiratory equipment and supplies

Though the business must be registered with the ADP to sell respiratory equipment, including cardiorespiratory monitors, suction devices, medication compressors, high output air compressors, airway clearance devices or PAP systems, you can buy your supply items (tracheostomy equipment and supplies, or the supply items used with the suction device) from any retailer.

The doctor or nurse practitioner can help you find one using the table below. The business will fill out their part of the form.

 

Step 3 – Mail the completed application

The business will submit the completed application for you to the address below:

Assistive Devices Program
5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor 
Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

They will also give you the equipment when you sign the Proof of Delivery section of the application. At that time you must pay the business your 25% of the ADP price.

What happens next

We aim to review your application within eight weeks of receiving it.

If you order or buy the equipment and supplies before we have completed our review, and your application is denied, you are responsible for the full cost.

If your application is denied, we will send you a letter telling you the reason and how you can follow up, including appealing the decision.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, we will notify the vendor by mail. They will let you know.

For tracheostomy equipment and supplies or the supply items used with your suction device, we’ll send you the first payment within 30 days of the date your application was approved.

For supplies, you pay the full cost to the retailer of your choice from the set amount you receive from the ADP.

How to renew

For your tracheostomy equipment and supplies, or the supply items used with your suction device, once you are approved the first time, you have to renew with the ADP every two years to continue receiving this financial help for your supplies.

We will send you a renewal form three months before the renewal date.

Complete and mail the form to the enclosed address as soon as possible.

Receiving payments

You can have payments directly deposited into your bank account. Fill out and submit this form to us to set up direct deposit.

Otherwise payments will be made by cheque in the mail.