How to Apply for the Trillium Drug Program in Ontario When Prescription Costs Are High
Apply for Ontario's Trillium Drug Program when prescription costs are high compared with household income. Check eligibility, deductible rules, documents and online application steps.
CA Canada
Benefits & Support ~ 9 min read
8 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-10
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Ontario residents with a valid Ontario health card may apply for the Trillium Drug Program if they do not already qualify for Ontario Drug Benefit coverage, do not have insurance paying 100% of their prescription costs, and spend about 4% or more of after-tax household income on prescription drugs. Applications can be completed online through the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Online Applications and Forms service. The deductible is generally about 4% of household after-tax income and is divided into four quarterly amounts. After the quarterly deductible is paid, you may pay up to $2 for each eligible prescription until the end of that quarter.
What you need
- A valid Ontario health card number for household members who must be included.
- Details for all people who form your Trillium household, including an eligible spouse and dependent household members under the program's household rules.
- Social Insurance Numbers for household members age 18 or older, as required for the application and income verification process.
- Consent from required adult household members allowing the Ministry of Health to obtain income information from the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Income information for the household. The program generally uses net income reported to the CRA for the previous tax year, including the amount reported on line 23600 of the Notice of Assessment, with the program's applicable adjustments.
- Information about any private prescription drug insurance, including how much of your medication costs the plan pays.
- Supporting proof of income if the Ministry cannot verify household income with the CRA.
- Any required legal authority documents if someone other than a household member signs on an applicant's behalf.
Eligibility
You should consider applying if you live in Ontario, have a valid Ontario health card, do not already qualify for Ontario Drug Benefit coverage, do not have an insurance plan paying 100% of your prescription drug costs, and spend about 4% or more of your after-tax household income on prescription drugs. The program is assessed by household rather than only by the person taking the medication. People already eligible for Ontario Drug Benefit coverage through another qualifying category generally do not need Trillium for that same coverage.
How to do it
- Check whether Trillium is the right Ontario drug program for you. Confirm that you have a valid Ontario health card, are not already entitled to Ontario Drug Benefit coverage through another category, and still have significant prescription costs after any private insurance.
- Identify everyone who belongs in your Trillium household. The application may need to include a spouse and certain dependent family members who live with you under the program's household rules.
- Gather health, income and insurance information. Have Ontario health card numbers, required Social Insurance Numbers, CRA income information and details of any private medical or drug insurance available.
- Complete the Trillium Drug Program application online. Use the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Online Applications and Forms service. The Ministry states that the online application guides you through the required enrolment information before submission.
- Use a paper application if you cannot apply online. You can request a paper form and guide from the Trillium Drug Program by telephone or email and submit it according to the instructions supplied with the application.
- Provide any missing evidence promptly. The Ministry may need proof of income, insurance information, signatures, health card details or legal authorization before enrolment can be confirmed.
- Review your confirmation letter. Once enrolled, the Ministry sends a letter showing your annual deductible and the household members covered.
- Pay the quarterly deductible through eligible prescription purchases. Once your household reaches the deductible for that quarter, Trillium coverage applies for the rest of the quarter and you may pay up to $2 for each eligible prescription.
Who should apply for the Trillium Drug Program?
The Trillium Drug Program is designed for Ontario households whose prescription drug costs are high compared with household income. Ontario recommends applying if you:
- live in Ontario;
- have a valid Ontario health card number;
- do not already qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program through another category;
- do not have an insurance plan that pays 100% of your prescription drug costs; and
- spend about 4% or more of your after-tax household income on prescription drugs.
You can still apply if you have private insurance but it leaves you with significant out-of-pocket prescription costs. The portion paid by an insurer, employer, drug company or other third party does not count toward your Trillium deductible.
Who must be included in your Trillium household?
Trillium enrolment is based on a household unit, not simply the individual who needs an expensive prescription. If you live alone, you can generally apply for yourself. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to include your spouse and certain relatives or dependants living with you.
Ontario's household rules include a spouse who is married to you or, in specified circumstances, a common-law partner. They can also include another person living with you where one person is the parent, grandparent or legal guardian of the other and one depends on the other for support.
Because household composition affects both income and the deductible, list household members accurately instead of applying only for the person with the highest drug costs.
How much is the Trillium deductible?
For most households, the annual deductible is approximately 4% of after-tax household income. Ontario generally uses the net income reported to the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year, based on line 23600 of the Notice of Assessment, with an adjustment for applicable Registered Disability Savings Plan withdrawals.
The program year runs from August 1 to July 31. Instead of requiring the entire annual deductible at once, Ontario divides it into four quarterly amounts:
- August, September and October;
- November, December and January;
- February, March and April; and
- May, June and July.
At the start of each quarter, your household pays for eligible prescriptions until that quarter's deductible is reached. Coverage then applies for eligible drugs for the rest of the quarter.
What do you pay after meeting the deductible?
After the applicable quarterly deductible is paid, household members may be charged up to $2 per eligible prescription filled or refilled for the rest of that quarter.
If you do not completely pay a quarterly deductible, the unpaid amount is generally added to the deductible for the next quarter. An unpaid deductible at the end of the benefit year does not carry over into the next benefit year; the household is reassessed for the new year.
What medications does the Trillium Drug Program cover?
Trillium gives eligible households access to drugs funded through the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Ontario states that this includes thousands of medications listed for ODB coverage, as well as additional drug products that can qualify through the Exceptional Access Program when specific criteria are met.
Not every prescription drug sold in Canada is automatically covered. If you are taking an expensive medication, ask your pharmacist or prescriber whether it is an ODB benefit or whether Exceptional Access Program approval may be required.
What information do you need before applying?
Prepare the information for your entire household before starting the application. Important items can include:
- Ontario health card numbers;
- names, dates of birth and household relationships;
- Social Insurance Numbers for household members age 18 and older where required;
- authorization for the Ministry to verify income with the CRA;
- household income information;
- private medical and prescription drug insurance information; and
- legal authorization if someone signs for a household member as a substitute decision-maker.
The official Trillium guide warns that missing signatures, SINs, Ontario health numbers, income information or insurance details are common causes of delayed enrolment.
How to apply online
The Ontario Ministry of Health provides a Trillium Drug Program online application through the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Online Applications and Forms service. The Ministry recommends the online application because it guides applicants through the required information before submission and can reduce delays caused by incomplete forms.
You do not need to visit a ServiceOntario centre to submit the standard online Trillium application.
Can you apply with a paper form?
Yes. If you cannot use the online application, Ontario says you can request a paper application and guide from the Trillium Drug Program. The current contact numbers are 416-642-3038 in Toronto or 1-800-575-5386 toll-free. The Ministry also lists trillium@ontariodrugbenefit.ca for program inquiries.
Follow the submission instructions supplied with the current form rather than relying on an old downloaded application, because forms and administrative routes can change.
Is there a deadline to apply?
You can apply during the Trillium program year, which runs from August 1 through July 31. However, Ontario states that you should apply by September 30 if you want to be reimbursed for eligible prescription drug costs from the previous program year.
For enrolled Trillium households submitting prescription receipts and supporting documents, Ontario states that they must be received no later than October 31, three months after the end of the program year.
New applicants can choose an enrolment date within the program year. Ontario's Drug Benefit Formulary explains that the deductible for the first year is prorated according to the number of days remaining in that program year.
What if you already have private drug insurance?
Having private insurance does not automatically prevent you from qualifying. You can apply if your plan does not cover 100% of your prescription drug costs and your remaining costs are high relative to household income.
Only the portion that your household actually pays toward an eligible medication counts toward the deductible. Amounts paid by an insurance company, employer, manufacturer assistance program or other third party do not count.
The official Trillium guide also provides a limited deductible credit for private medical insurance premiums paid by household members. The credit can be up to $100 for a single-person household or $200 for a household of two or more people, subject to the program's documentation requirements.
What happens after you are enrolled?
The Ministry sends a confirmation letter stating your annual deductible and identifying the household members enrolled in Trillium. At the pharmacy, eligible out-of-pocket prescription costs are applied toward your quarterly deductible.
Once the quarterly deductible is reached, Trillium coverage applies until the end of that quarter. Bring or provide your valid Ontario health card information when filling prescriptions so the pharmacy can process eligible Ontario Drug Benefit claims correctly.
Households are generally renewed automatically each year when required income information is available and household members have provided the necessary CRA consent. Ontario sends an annual confirmation letter with the deductible for the new program year.
When might you need to provide information again?
Automatic renewal can be interrupted in circumstances identified by Ontario, including missing consent to access CRA income information, a household member reaching an age that requires new consent information, prolonged non-use of Trillium coverage or changes affecting household eligibility.
Keep the program informed about changes to household members, address, marital status, income circumstances or private insurance when the applicable Trillium forms require an update.
Common application mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out a household member who must be included under Trillium household rules.
- Missing signatures or CRA income-consent information for adult household members.
- Leaving out a required SIN or Ontario health card number.
- Not providing proof of income when the Ministry cannot verify income with the CRA.
- Failing to report private drug insurance or the amount it pays.
- Assuming all prescription drugs are covered without checking Ontario Drug Benefit or Exceptional Access Program eligibility.
- Waiting beyond the September 30 deadline when seeking reimbursement for eligible drugs from the previous program year.
Trillium is separate from other health and family benefits
Trillium is specifically for eligible prescription drug costs. It is separate from dental coverage and federal family benefits. If your household needs dental coverage rather than prescription assistance, see how to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
If you recently had a child and need federal family benefit support, see how to apply for the Canada Child Benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How much income can I have and still qualify for the Trillium Drug Program?
Ontario does not use one universal income ceiling. Eligibility and the deductible depend on household income, household size and eligible out-of-pocket prescription costs. The deductible is generally about 4% of after-tax household income.
Can I apply for Trillium if I have private drug insurance?
Yes. You may apply if your private plan does not pay 100% of your prescription drug costs and your remaining household prescription expenses are high relative to income.
How much do I pay for prescriptions after my Trillium deductible?
After your household pays the applicable deductible for a quarter, you may be charged up to $2 for each eligible prescription filled or refilled until the end of that quarter.
What is the Trillium Drug Program year?
The Trillium benefit year runs from August 1 through July 31. The annual deductible is divided into four quarterly deductible amounts.
Can I apply for the Trillium Drug Program online?
Yes. Ontario provides an online Trillium Drug Program application through the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Online Applications and Forms service.
What is the September 30 Trillium deadline?
Ontario says to apply by September 30 if you want reimbursement for eligible prescription drugs received during the previous Trillium program year, which ended July 31.
Do private insurance payments count toward my Trillium deductible?
No. Only eligible prescription costs actually paid out-of-pocket by household members count. Amounts paid by an insurer, employer, drug company or other third party do not count toward the deductible.
Does Trillium renew automatically every year?
Usually, once enrolled, a household is automatically renewed when required tax information and CRA consent are available. Certain circumstances, such as missing consent or household changes, can prevent automatic renewal.
Official sources
Ontario Ministry of Health - Get help with high prescription drug costsOntario Ministry of Health - Trillium Drug Program ApplicationOntario Ministry of Health - A Guide to Understanding the Trillium Drug ProgramOntario Ministry of Health - Get coverage for prescription drugsOntario Ministry of Health - Check medication coverageOntario Ministry of Health - Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary Edition 43Ontario Laws - Ontario Regulation 201/96 under the Ontario Drug Benefit ActRelated procedures
Useful next steps and closely related guides for Canada.
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