Pharmaceutical access and use

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Release date: November 2, 2022 Correction date: July 29, 2024

Correction notice

Corrections were made to this product on July 29, 2024. The following changes were made:

In the section on out-of-pocket spending, the proportions for “Spending $500 or more out of pocket” were changed from 27% and 16% to 23% and 10%.

In the section on prescription insurance coverage of immigrants and non-immigrants, all estimates related to insurance being affected by the pandemic were removed due to interpretability concerns.

Infographic: Pharmaceutical access and use — Description: Pharmaceutical access and use

Pharmaceutical access and use

In 2021, about **1 in 5** Canadians reported not having insurance to cover the cost of prescription medication in the previous 12 months.

The share of Canadians who reported having **no prescription insurance** varied across the provinces.^{Note 1}

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), No insurance (appearing as column headers).
Geography No insurance

Canada 21%

British Columbia 26%

Alberta 17%

Saskatchewan 19%

Manitoba 21%

Ontario 22%

Quebec 18%

New Brunswick 17%

Nova Scotia 14%

Prince Edward Island 25%

Newfoundland and Labrador 17%

A higher proportion of immigrants than non-immigrants reported not having prescription insurance coverage.

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Immigrant status (appearing as row headers), No prescription insurance coverage and Coverage affected by the pandemic (appearing as column headers).
Immigrant status No prescription insurance coverage Coverage affected by the pandemic

Recent immigrants (less than 10 years since landing) 31% 30%

Established immigrants (10 years or more since landing) 28% 27%

Non-immigrants 17% 15%

Having no prescription insurance coverage was associated with higher out-of-pocket spending and higher non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost.

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 Spending $500 or more out of pocket and Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost (appearing as column headers).
Spending $500 or more out of pocket Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost

No prescription insurance coverage 23% 10%

Prescription insurance coverage 16% 7%

**Note:** An analysis of prescription insurance coverage for the Indigenous population is forthcoming.

**Source:** Cortes, K. and L. Smith. 2022. “Pharmaceutical access and use during the pandemic.” *Insights on Canadian Society*. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-006-X.

Notes

Footnote 1.

Data were not collected in the territories.

Return to note 1 referrer

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), No insurance (appearing as column headers).
Geography	No insurance
Canada	21%
British Columbia	26%
Alberta	17%
Saskatchewan	19%
Manitoba	21%
Ontario	22%
Quebec	18%
New Brunswick	17%
Nova Scotia	14%
Prince Edward Island	25%
Newfoundland and Labrador	17%

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Immigrant status (appearing as row headers), No prescription insurance coverage and Coverage affected by the pandemic (appearing as column headers).
Immigrant status	No prescription insurance coverage	Coverage affected by the pandemic
Recent immigrants (less than 10 years since landing)	31%	30%
Established immigrants (10 years or more since landing)	28%	27%
Non-immigrants	17%	15%

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 Spending $500 or more out of pocket and Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost (appearing as column headers).
	Spending $500 or more out of pocket	Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost
No prescription insurance coverage	23%	10%
Prescription insurance coverage	16%	7%

Date modified:: 2024-08-02

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Pharmaceutical access and use

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Correction notice