"Receiving the health care services and supplies you need can also be expensive. Our government knows the importance of making it easier financially for Ontario families to stay healthy - whether it's covering needed dental care, immunizations for children or insulin pump costs for people with type 1 diabetes." Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-term care

Ontario is helping families stay healthy and save money by providing greater access to a variety of health services.

Ontario’s publicly funded immunization program is helping families save up to $790 per child while providing protection to pre-school aged children against 12 different diseases. Through their schools, kids can also receive immunizations against hepatitis B and meningococcal disease, while girls can be protected against HPV (human papillomavirus) – which means further savings of up to $610 per child.

In addition, the Healthy Smiles program is helping to ensure good dental health for low-income children and youth up to 18 years old. Launched in October of this year, the program provides access to preventative and early dental treatment services. It helps low-income families to save hundreds of dollars annually for needed dental care.

The province is also helping people with type 1 diabetes control their disease and save thousands of dollars by covering the cost of insulin pumps and providing an annual grant of $2,400 for associated supplies.

And due to a series of initiatives that cut prices and the cost of prescriptions, Ontarians are now paying less for generic drugs.

Supporting these programs and services is part of the province’s Open Ontario plan to provide more access to health care services and improve quality and accountability for patients.