provincial · Ontario

Trillium Drug Program

The Trillium Drug Program (TDP) helps Ontario households whose prescription-drug costs are high compared with their income. You pay an annual deductible (an amount you pay first, before help starts) of about 4% of your household income after taxes. After that, you pay only up to $2 per prescription for the rest of the program year.

Check if I qualify

Verified Aug 22, 2026
provincial program · Ontario

Health costs

At a glance

Worth:: ~4% income deductible → $2 co-pays
Who:: You live in Ontario and have a valid Ontario health card number.
Apply:: Official program page

What it could be worth

Amount

~4% income deductible → $2 co-pays

Deductible: about 4% of your household income after taxes. That is line 23600 of your tax return (your net income), minus RDSP withdrawals (money taken out of a Registered Disability Savings Plan, line 12500). It is divided into four quarterly amounts.
After the deductible: up to $2 per filled or refilled prescription for the rest of the program year.
The program year runs August 1 to July 31.
Example: with a net household income of $30,000, the deductible is about $1,200 a year ($300 per quarter).

Example: A household with $30,000 net income spends $1,200 at the pharmacy to clear the deductible (four amounts of $300). Every covered prescription after that costs at most $2. If you need a $150-a-month drug all year, TDP turns about $1,800 of drug costs into about $1,200 plus about $48 in co-payments.

How it benefits you

It caps very high drug costs. Once you meet your deductible of about 4% of your income, covered drugs cost up to $2 per prescription for the rest of the program year.
It covers more than 5,900 Ontario Drug Benefit medications, plus almost 1,500 more through the Exceptional Access Program (a program that funds drugs not normally covered).
It is open to anyone with a valid Ontario health card who is not already covered by the ODB (Ontario Drug Benefit). That includes people with jobs and private insurance that does not pay 100%.
It renews automatically each year when you file your taxes. You can ask for a reassessment during the year if your household income drops by 10% or more.

What you need to qualify or apply

Eligibility

You live in Ontario and have a valid Ontario health card number.
You do not already qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit (for example, you are not on ODSP or Ontario Works).
You do not have an insurance plan that pays for 100% of your drugs.
You spend about 4% or more of your after-tax household income on prescription drugs.
You apply as a household. Your spouse and supported relatives (including supported adults under 25) are included.

How to apply

Apply online or by paper as a household (include your spouse and any supported dependants).
Once you are registered, pay your deductible at the pharmacy in four quarterly amounts. Your claims track automatically.
Submit receipts or a Patient Medical Expense Report (with pharmacy stamp and pharmacist's signature) online or by mail to: Trillium Drug Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 337, Station D, Etobicoke ON M9A 4X3.
All receipts and supporting documents must reach the TDP by October 31. That is three months after the July 31 program-year end.
File your taxes each year so your coverage renews automatically. Ask for a reassessment if your household income drops by 10% or more.

Documents you may need

Ontario health card number (or TDP file number once registered).
Prescription receipts or Patient Medical Expense Reports. Reports need a pharmacy stamp and pharmacist signature, plus Rx number, DIN/PIN, dates, and amounts.
Your filed income tax return (used to set the income-based deductible).