P.E.I. removes age cap for coverage under insulin pump program

More Islanders with Type 1 diabetes will now be eligible for financial assistance to offset the cost of their insulin pump and supplies.

The age cap for the P.E.I. Insulin Pump Program will be eliminated starting Sept. 1. The cutoff was previously set at age 25.

"There's some financial obligations with managing a pump, so this will enable families to manage their diabetes as they grow older," said Health Minister Mark McLane.

The program was also expanded in 2021 to raise the cap from 18 to 25.

McLane said there are currently more than 200 people using insulin pumps to manage their diabetes on P.E.I., and this change will allow for hundreds more to become eligible for the program. In total, there are around 1,100 people living with Type 1 diabetes on the Island.

Other medical requirements must be met to be eligible for the insulin pump program. People must be able to manage their diabetes well and commit to attending follow-up appointments.

The amount of assistance will also depend on household income. Those making under $20,000 annually are covered fully, with the percentage moving down to 60 for the highest income category.

"It's almost like a car payment every month," McLane said. "So to remove that from somebody's financial burden, I think both from a health perspective it's very positive, and just about their ability to divide necessities in life."

'Crucial piece of technology'

Jakob MacEwen, an 18-year-old Cornwall resident who has Type 1 diabetes, said the expansion of the program is very exciting.

He's used a pump for over 10 years alongside a continuous glucose monitor, which work in tandem to regulate his blood-sugar level.

"It's good to have a pump and it's a crucial piece of technology that should be offered to all Islanders," MacEwen said.

"It's very versatile when playing sports and it's very important when regulating my blood sugar day to day."

P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane, left, poses for a photo with Jake MacEwen and Maria Campbell, who both say the program will help make diabetes management more affordable for Islanders. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

MacEwen said he'd already been worried about what would happen when he turned 26 and was no longer eligible for access under the program.

"It would have been tricky in a situation like that, I would have had to find a job that had a good health-care program," he said. "It's sometimes difficult at an age like that where you're trying to establish yourself."

MacEwen said his parents are also relieved about the elimination of the age cap.

"My mom was very, very excited about it," he said. "Obviously it's their job to worry about me and my future, so it's definitely great to see."

P.E.I. a 'gold star' of diabetes care

Maria Campbell, director of government affairs and advocacy with Diabetes Canada, said the out-of-pocket cost of an insulin pump for someone without health insurance can reach $6,000 a year.

Continuous glucose monitors work in tandem with insulin pumps to determine how much insulin should be injected into the blood stream. (Pond5)

"Prince Edward Island, first of all, is a gold star when it comes to diabetes," Campbell said. "They have had a framework embedded for quite some time. What this has done today is really just furthered the momentum for that standard."

To enrol in the Insulin Pump Program, Islanders must be referred to the provincial diabetes program by their family physician, a nurse practitioner, or Maple virtual health. They can also self-refer with updated bloodwork.

The province said Health P.E.I. is working to recruit more diabetes educators to support the increased demand that will come with the expanded program.

"It's quite a process to move to an instant insulin pump, and you need a lot of clinical support," McLane said. "That's the next step of this program, is to increase the clinical support."