Premier Kathleen Wynne is hoping an expansion of the free pharmacare program to seniors will be the prescription for what ails her Liberal government. In a campaign-style announcement Tuesday at Leaside Curling Club in her Don Valley West riding, Wynne said OHIP+ would be expanded to include everyone 65 and over. “We all want to do best for our parents and grandparents and I believe government needs to do more,” the 64-year-old premier told reporters after curling for the media cameras. In next week’s provincial budget, Finance Minister Charles Sousa will announce the prescription drug plan available to those 24 and under will be extended to seniors. “Everybody in the province, no matter their age, deserves the chance to lead healthy, happy lives,” said Health Minister Helena Jaczek. While seniors are already eligible for coverage through the Ontario Drug Benefit, they must pay deductibles and co-payments based on their income. The change, which would take effect on Aug. 1, 2019, will save seniors an average of $240 a year in medication costs. Wynne said boosting OHIP+ will ultimately cost $575 million per year by 2020-21. But the Liberals can implement the measure only if they are re-elected on June 7. Public opinion polls suggest Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is poised to win that election. Ford has promised billions in unspecified cuts if he becomes premier. As seniors are a reliable voting block, Wynne is banking on the change proving popular with the electorate. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has also promised a free pharmacare program for all age groups, but it only covers 125 of the most popular medications.The existing OHIP+ system covers 4,400 different drugs.
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