Current as of October 2026. Government programs, tax rules and prices change. Check the official sources listed at the end of this page before making a decision, and confirm details with a licensed advisor.
What the Trillium Drug Program is
The Trillium Drug Program (often shortened to TDP) is an Ontario government program for households that spend a large share of their income on prescription medication. Think of a family managing an expensive ongoing prescription, where the pharmacy bill keeps arriving month after month and a workplace plan only covers part of it.
Trillium does not replace a drug plan. It sits underneath one, picking up eligible drug costs once a household has paid an income-based deductible. It uses the same drug list as the Ontario Drug Benefit program, and people enrolled in Trillium are one of the groups the province lists as able to receive ODB coverage before age 65.
Who can qualify
As of October 2026, the Government of Ontario lists these general conditions for the program. Rules can change, so check the official Ontario page before applying.
- You live in Ontario and have a valid Ontario health card.
- You do not already qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program another way (for example, through Ontario Works).
- You do not have insurance that covers 100% of your prescription drug costs.
- Your household spends about 4% or more of its after-tax income on prescription drugs.
How the income-based deductible works
This is the part most people search for. As of October 2026, Ontario sets the Trillium deductible at about 4% of household income after taxes. Household income means the net income reported to the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year (line 23600 of the Notice of Assessment), minus any withdrawals from a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
You apply as a household. As of October 2026, Ontario says that generally includes a spouse (married, or in a conjugal relationship that meets the program's definition) and another person you live with where one of you is a parent, grandparent or legal guardian of the other and one depends on the other for support, which can include someone under 25. The official page explains exactly who must be included.
Rather than asking you to pay the whole deductible up front, the province divides it into four equal quarterly amounts. The program year runs from August 1 to July 31, with quarters of August to October, November to January, February to April, and May to July. At the start of each quarter you pay for eligible prescriptions out of pocket until that quarter's deductible is met. After that, coverage kicks in for the rest of the quarter and you pay up to $2 for each eligible prescription filled or refilled, as of October 2026.
Because the deductible is tied to income, two households with the same prescriptions can have very different deductibles. There is no single dollar figure that applies to everyone.
What it covers and how to apply
According to the Government of Ontario, Trillium covers the medications listed on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary, plus additional products that can be approved case by case through the Exceptional Access Program. Coverage is for eligible drugs on those lists, so not every product a pharmacy sells will count.
As of October 2026, households can apply online through the Ontario Drug Benefit online applications and forms site, or request a paper form from the program by phone or email (contact details are on the official Ontario page). Ontario says that to be reimbursed for drugs bought during the previous program year, you need to apply by September 30. Enrolment renews automatically each year if household members file their income taxes on time.
Enrolled households can submit receipts for reimbursement. As of October 2026, the province says receipts need to arrive no later than three months after the end of the program year (by October 31).
How Trillium coordinates with a private or workplace drug plan
Having a group benefits plan does not automatically rule someone out. Ontario's OHIP+ guidance specifically says that people with a private plan who still face significant out-of-pocket drug costs can apply to Trillium. The key condition is that your insurance does not cover 100% of your drug costs.
The important detail is what counts toward the deductible. As of October 2026, Ontario says only money household members spend out of pocket on eligible drugs counts as deductible payments. Any portion paid by someone else, such as a private insurer, does not count. In everyday terms, your workplace prescription drug benefits pay their share, and only the part you actually pay yourself moves you toward your Trillium deductible.
If you have more than one plan (for example, your own workplace plan and a spouse's), the private plans also have their own order for who pays first. The guide to coordination of benefits explains how that usually works. A pharmacist or the Trillium program can explain how claims are handled for your specific situation.
Trillium, OHIP+ and the Ontario Drug Benefit: who goes where
Ontario has several drug programs, and they overlap with private coverage in different ways. As of October 2026:
- Under 25 without a private plan: prescriptions may be covered through OHIP+. People 24 and under who are covered by a private plan are not eligible for OHIP+, but their household can still apply to Trillium if costs are significant.
- Age 65 and older: people may qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program, which has its own deductible and copayment rules for seniors.
- Everyone else with high costs relative to income: Trillium is the program designed for this gap, with or without a private plan.
What this means for employers
For small and mid-sized employers, Trillium is a useful reminder that a drug plan's design shapes what employees still pay at the pharmacy counter. Coinsurance, annual maximums and drug lists all affect how much a family with a high-cost medication ends up carrying, and whether they need to look to a government program to fill the gap.
Employers cannot enrol employees in Trillium, and it is not a substitute for a group plan. But understanding it helps when an employee asks for help with a large prescription, or when you are reviewing how your plan handles high-cost drugs. A licensed benefits advisor can explain options such as drug plan design, pooling for large claims and how a health spending account might cover some out-of-pocket amounts.
If you want to review your drug coverage or set up a plan for the first time, you can get matched with a licensed benefits advisor through GroupBenefitPlans.ca. We do not sell insurance or give advice ourselves; we introduce Ontario employers to advisors who do.
Common questions
How much is the Trillium Drug Program deductible?
As of October 2026, Ontario sets it at about 4% of household after-tax income, based on net income (line 23600) from the previous year's Notice of Assessment, minus any Registered Disability Savings Plan withdrawals. It is split into four quarterly amounts across the August 1 to July 31 program year.
Can I use Trillium if I have drug coverage through work?
Yes, if your insurance does not cover 100% of your drug costs and your household's out-of-pocket costs are significant. Only what your household pays out of pocket counts toward the deductible; amounts your private plan pays do not.
What do I pay once I meet the deductible?
As of October 2026, after the quarterly deductible is met you pay up to $2 for each eligible prescription filled or refilled for the rest of that quarter.
Do I need to reapply every year?
As of October 2026, Ontario says enrolment renews automatically each year if household members file their income taxes on time, and you receive an annual confirmation letter.
Can my employer sign me up for Trillium?
No. Trillium is a provincial program that households apply to directly through the Government of Ontario. Your employer's group plan and Trillium are separate, although they can work alongside each other.
Sources and further reading
GroupBenefitPlans.ca is a referral and information service. Advice and coverage are provided by the licensed professional and relevant providers. An enquiry does not activate insurance.