Victoria expanding coverage for insulin pumps, ditching age restrictions

VICTORIA — Good news for British Columbians living with diabetes.

The provincial government has announced its expanding its insulin pump coverage. Health Minister Adrian Dix says it means all residents of B.C. will have access under PharmaCare.

"Up to now, many people over 25 years old, who rely on an insulin pump to manage their chronic disease, have been forced to make the difficult choice between purchasing this device for their health, or foregoing it due to cost," he said. "Going forward, they won't be put in this position.... The provincial government is removing the age restriction for insulin pump coverage."

The change in coverage will take effect July 3, 2018 and will make B.C. one of only three provinces to cover insulin pumps for people living with diabetes requiring one, regardless of age.

The province estimates approximately 485,000 British Columbians live with diabetes and it is expected about 830 adults over the age of 25 will benefit from the expansion in the first year.

This announcement expands the insulin pump program which, when introduced in 2008, provided coverage to children up to the age of 18. The age restriction was then expanded in 2014 to include those living with Type 1 diabetes, or other forms of diabetes requiring insulin that meet specific criteria, up to the age of 25.