Many people in Ontario living on a low income struggle to afford prescription medicines, eye care, and dental services because these generally are not covered by Canada’s public health care system.
Although there are some publicly funded programs that offer each of these supplementary benefits, they are a confusing patchwork of federal, provincial and municipal programs that can be difficult to navigate.
This new Guide to Health Benefits in Ontario developed by ISAC staff aims to connect people living on a low income to publicly funded programs that cover or subsidize the cost of these aspects of health care.
The Guide includes definitions of key terms, examples of how each benefit program works, tips for navigating different programs, and links to online resources. It also includes quick reference tables with key information on many health benefit programs.