Ontario diabetes patient initially denied Ozempic coverage
CTV
A 61-year-old man with diabetes is speaking out after he was initially denied coverage for Ozempic due to what he later learned was a clerical error.
A 61-year-old man with diabetes is speaking out after he was initially denied coverage for Ozempic due to what he later learned was a clerical error.
Brampton resident Richard Hall was prescribed the drug by his doctor in February, but after filling his prescription – and paying out of pocket – he learned that his insurance provider, Manulife, wouldn’t reimburse him.
It was only after he pushed back that the insurance provider discovered a clerical error and reversed the decision, potentially saving him $4,500 a year.
“Without that, I was prepared and talking to my financial advisor about, in retirement, is this something I should spend the money on?” Hall told CTV News Toronto. “I was down that road.”
Hall was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2011. He started exercising for one to two hours every morning, taking his dog on a long walk in the afternoon and playing golf several times a week in warmer months just to manage his glucose levels, in addition to taking an escalating series of medications.
Despite his best efforts, Hall’s illness progressed and his doctor prescribed Ozempic in conjunction with Metformin, a medication that controls high blood sugar levels.
However, on March 11, he was denied insurance coverage of Ozempic in a letter from Manulife.
