We have a financially manageable pharmacare here in BC that's means tested and works great. Essentially you pay 100% until a first deductible on all covered medications, then you pay 30% until you hit another deductible, then you pay 0. For example, if you make $40,000 you would pay all of the first $1,100 then you'd only pay 30% after that until you've spent a total of $1,500. If you make under $30,000 you start out paying only 30%.
https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmac...alculator.html
It's not meant to be the primary insurance, but to backstop someone going broke over drug expenses. There's biologic medication for various autoimmune diseases that can be $600-$5000 a month. There's also hepatitis meds that are $20,000 a month. Some diabetics spend over $5k a year for meds and supplies. For those without other coverage it is the backstop. The biggest advantage is that it's a single administration solution for all the disparate programs for drug coverage (specialty meds, cystic fibrosis meds, privately supplied nursing homes, low income/income assistance, etc). Alberta uses Alberta Blue Cross to administer many of the different programs but they're not a government agency so it's at arm's length and the programs have different coverage cards, rules, etc. In BC, I just send every prescription to pharmacare and they pay or don't pay. Very simple
Alberta seniors would be very, very against this though as this plan is for everyone regardless of age and we don't have a seniors plan like Alberta does. If your retirement brings lower income then your deductible lowers as well in BC. In Alberta, you're covered regardless of income and pay a maximum of $25 per prescription once your > 65yo