Eligibility for ODB
The ODB provides some coverage for the following groups:

• people age 65 and up
• residents of long-term care facilities or Homes for Special Care
• people receiving professional services in the Home Care program
• Trillium Drug Program recipients
• social assistance recipients (Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program)

Coverage by ODB
For the groups specified above, ODB will cover most of the cost of many prescription drugs, some nutritional products and some diabetic testing products. ODB-covered drugs can be obtained from approved pharmacies and doctors licensed to dispense prescription drugs.

ODB Rates
Seniors with an annual income of $16 018 or more ($24 175 combined for couples) pay a $100/person deductible each year. They then pay up to $6.11 in dispensing fees per prescription. The ‘year’ goes from August 1 to July 31.

Other ODB recipients pay up to $2.00 when they fill a prescription.

Limited Use Drugs
Drugs designated as Limited Use (LU) are available only when certain criteria or indications are met. These drugs are given LU designation because they may:

• have potential for widespread, beneficial use outside their indications
• be useful, but have predictable, severe side effects and a less toxic alternative exists
• be very expensive and a lower cost alternative exists

Most LU drugs are provided for one year at a time, after which a re-application is necessary; however, drugs for chronic illness can be given indefinite approval through a physician