The senior’s Ontario Drug Benefit deductible and prescription co-payment
Learn how you can have the Ontario Drug Benefit annual deductible waived and co-payment fees reduced to $2 by applying for the Seniors Co-Payment Program.
Overview
If you are a low-income senior with income below certain thresholds, you can have your Ontario Drug Benefit annual deductible waived and co-payment fees reduced to up to $2 by applying for the Seniors Co-Payment Program (SCP).
Who should apply
To apply
You should apply for the SCP if you have an Ontario health card number, you are aged 65 years or older, and you qualify under certain income eligibility thresholds.
Income eligibility thresholds
Individual annual net income threshold
Program year August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027: $25,480
This applies to a senior who:
- does not have a spouse
- has a married spouse with whom they no longer live in a conjugal relationship
- has a spouse living in a long-term care home or community home for opportunity
See previous program year income thresholds.
Combined annual net income requirement
Program year August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027: $42,290
This applies to a senior who has a spouse, other than a spouse described.
See previous program year income thresholds.
What is covered
The Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program helps cover most of the cost of more than 5,900 medications listed on the ODB Formulary, and almost 1,500 additional drug products that meet specific criteria through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP).
How to apply
The Seniors Co-Payment Program year is from August 1 to July 31. Make sure you apply by September 30 to be reimbursed for any eligible drug you received in the previous program year (August 1 – July 31). You can apply up to 3 months in advance of your 65th birthday.
To avoid unnecessary delays and ensure timely processing, complete the Seniors Co-Payment Program Application available on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Online Applications and Forms website.
The online form will guide you through the application process to ensure all the information required for enrolment is provided before submission.
You may also refer to the SCP Guide to help you complete the application.
If you do not have access to a computer, you can also ask for the form to be mailed to you. You can request a paper copy of the SCP form and guide by:
- phone:
416-503-4586 (in Toronto) - toll-free:
1-888-405-0405 - email: seniors@ontariodrugbenefit.ca
If you have a spouse and the combined annual net income threshold applies to you, then your spouse’s information and signature must be included on your application, regardless of their age, or if they reside outside the province of Ontario.
You and your spouse (if applicable) must consent to the disclosure of income information from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to the Ministry (“CRA consent”), regardless of whether you file an income tax return annually. This allows the Ministry to verify your household’s net income with the CRA electronically, which is the fastest way to determine your eligibility for the program.
Income requirements
If you or your spouse (if applicable) do not file an income tax return annually or a Notice of Assessment (NOA) is not available, then send us other proof of your income documentation with the application, such as:
- copies of all T4 or T5 slips with dates of earnings
- a copy of your T1 General (pages 1-8) or Special Tax Form with the disclosure section signed or electronically produced by income tax filing software
- foreign government documentation equivalent to the Canadian notice of assessment (NOA)
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) documents
- Employment Insurance (EI) documents
- Old Age Security (OAS) documents
- short- or long-term disability payment documents
- letter from employer(s) or accountant (if you are self-employed) showing your gross annual income or salary
- documentation from other income sources (Note: bank statements are not acceptable documentation)
- GST/HST Notice of Determination
- in the case of an applicant without any income, a letter declaring no income earned from any source for the applicable taxation year signed and dated by the individual making the declaration
After you are enrolled
Once you are enrolled in the SCP, you will receive a confirmation letter with your coverage start date and the member(s) who are enrolled. Note: If your spouse is under 65 years of age, they will not be eligible for the SCP until they turn 65.
You do not need to re-apply every year, if your household’s income has been verified by the CRA. However, if your spousal status changes or your spouse moves into or out of a long-term care home or community home for opportunity, then your eligibility under the SCP will be reassessed.
If you are enrolled based on another proof of income listed above, you will need to provide the updated income documentation to SCP each year to maintain your enrollment in the SCP.
What you pay
Once enrolled in the SCP, you pay no annual deductible and a reduced co-payment of up to $2 for each eligible prescription filled.
How to get a refund (reimbursement)
If you are covered by the SCP and paid for a covered drug, submit your receipts online via the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Receipt Submission Form.
You will be asked to include:
- your SCP file number or your Ontario health card number
- a copy of the official prescription receipt issued by the pharmacy and signed by a pharmacist (do not submit cash register or credit card receipts or invoices from a doctor office or clinic)
Note: if you’ve lost the official prescription receipt, you can ask the pharmacist to provide you with the Patient Medical Expense Report (PMER) as proof of your prescription receipt document. The PMER must have a pharmacy stamp and pharmacist’s signature and it must contain the same information as an official prescription receipt:
- recipient name and address
- pharmacy name and address
- prescription (Rx number)
- drug name and Drug or Product Identification Number (DIN/PIN)
- dispensing date and quantity
- total amount paid, drug cost and dispensing fee
Submit receipts by mail
If you do not have access to a computer, mail the above receipts or PMER, along with your Ontario health card number to the address below:
Ontario Drug Benefit Program
Ministry of Health
P.O. Box 384, Station D
Etobicoke ON M9A 4X3
All prescription drug receipts and supporting documents must be received by the SCP no later than 3 months following the end of the program year (by October 31).
Previous income thresholds
| Program year(s) | Individual annual net income threshold | Combined annual net income threshold |
|---|---|---|
| From August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027 | $25,480 | $42,290 |
| From August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026 | $25,000 | $41,500 |
For future program years, the income eligibility thresholds will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect inflation increases based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index.
Contact us
For more information, contact the Seniors Co-Payment Program by phone at