private plan offerings differs from one carrier/vendor to another. The annual coverage maximum ranges from $1,000 - $6,500, and duration is mostly for a year but are subject to the carrier/vendors approval. Additional each carrier/vendor approved conditions vary drastically, approved condition coverage can be as minimal as only two conditions. Carriers/vendors also cannot decide on where the claim should be, i.e. is it should be claim under drugs, medical services or extended health.
This confusion amongst Canadian Insurers and administrators on the different positions on coverage for Cannabis has created confusions for employers regarding what the right or fair approach is. While employees are asking for expansion of coverage in the private health benefits program to include coverage for Cannabis and/
or the specific conditions when coverage is already included on the plan.
There is a robust pipeline of cannabis products such as; sublingual strips, chewing gum, capsules and pills expecting to be coming to the market in the future. Therefore, it appears to only be a matter of time before Health Canada approves/provides a Drug Identification Numbers (“ D.I.N’s”) for cannabis products. Once as DIN number is assigned it will become difficult to exclude coverage under private health programs.
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