Canada: medical cannabis reimbursed by certain health insurance plans

Canadian patients affiliated with Sun Life Financial health insurance may be reimbursed for their prescription of medical marijuana thanks to a new insurance plan introduced by the Toronto-based company.

Dean Connor, CEO of Sun Life Financial, announced his decision last week, prompted by the growing interest of Canadians in treatments based on cannabis.

Health insurance should cover a broad spectrum of disabling conditions, for which «medical cannabis has become a very important part of treatment and pain management programs» explained Dean Connor.

In Canada, over 235,000 patients were enrolled in the medical cannabis program in September 2017. Alberta and Ontario saw the biggest increases in patient numbers, from 60749 in April 2017 in Alberta to 91150 in September.

Starting March 1, 2018, Sun Life customers will have the option «to add medical cannabis coverage to their health plan, for a value of 1500 to 6000$ per covered person per year,» according to the Financial Post.

Currently, some Canadian patients treated with medical cannabis and wishing to have their medication reimbursed by Medicare can already fill out an exception request for drugs not on the list of eligible benefits, while other insurances don't cover it at all.

Manulife Financial, one of Canada's largest health insurers, also offers coverage for Canadian patients who treat themselves with cannabis, but only for spasticity and neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis.