Approximately 22% of Canadians have disabilities. That's more than one in five.
If you have a disability, you might need an assistive device. Fortunately, in Ontario, you may qualify for the province's Assistive Devices Program.
What Is the Assistive Devices Program?
Assistive Devices Program or ADP is the provincial health program of Ontario under the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care wherein they help Ontario residents with long-term physical disabilities to pay for customized equipment(s) like wheelchairs and hearing aids through their ADP. This program helps cover the cost of specialized supplies like those used with ostomies.
What Is Covered Under This Program?
The ADP covers medical devices. These devices improve a person's quality of life if they have a long-term illness or disability.
ADP reimburses the cost of many devices. It also bears 75% of many devices' costs. For a full list of covered devices, use the ADP's website.
Who Qualifies For the ADP?
To qualify for ADP, you must be an Ontario resident. You must have an Ontario health card. And, you must have a medical need for supplies that lasts longer than six months.
If you will be disabled for less than six months, consider short-term disability coverage. Disability coverage and health insurance will often cover medical devices.
Who Does Not Qualify?
You don't qualify if you're a veteran who already receives coverage from Veterans Affairs Canada. "Group A" veterans do not qualify.
How to Apply Using the Ontario Website
Everyone must start with an application form. The application process varies by device. These are only summaries. The different application processes are detailed on Ontario's ADP website. We link to relevant pages within each summary.
Ontario maintains a central forms repository. You can find application forms for any Ontario program there. These are the ADP application forms.
Covid-19 Note
During the Covid-19 pandemic, do not mail applications to the ADP address. Instead, email or fax applications. To email, scan the physical application. Then, send the document to: assistivedevicesprogram@one-mail.on.ca.
Mobility Aids
Ontario will cover 75% of the ADP price of mobility aids. To see ADP's mobility devices page, refer to this page.. You can get 100% of the cost covered if you have additional support through other Ontario programs.
Ontario will also replace mobility aids. But they don't replace lost mobility aids, nor aids damaged due to neglect.
To apply, meet with an occupational therapist or physiotherapist. This professional will determine which mobility aid you need. Ontario can email you a list of registered therapists.
Then, choose a mobility aid vendor from this table. You can also view the table in a printer-friendly format.
Note that ADP only works with one vendor to purchase high-technology power wheelchairs. After you choose a vendor, fill out the application form with your therapist.
Hearing Aids and Other Devices
Ontario will cover devices for hearing-impaired patients through ADP. ADP offers different degrees of coverage for different devices. Check out the ADP's page on Hearing Devices for more details.
To qualify for a hearing device, you must get a prescription from an audiologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing, a family physician, or an otolaryngologist.
Cochlear implants are surgical. As such, there is a different application process to request ADP cover cochlear implant cost.
Communication Aids
ADP covers up to 75% of the cost of most communication aids. But, the organization imposes a maximum payout. Learn more on ADP's page on Communication Aids. The page also details which types of communication aids they cover.
To apply, get examined by an occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist. The professional must be registered with ADP. They will fill out their portion of the application.
Then, choose a vendor. You might purchase equipment from a vendor, or lease it. The vendor will fill out their portion of the form. Mail the completed form to the ADP address. Your application will be approved or denied in eight weeks.
Visual Aids
The ADP covers 75% of the cost of most visual aids. You may qualify for 100% coverage through other programs. For more information, read ADP's page on Visual Aids. The page also details which aids the organization covers.
To get a visual aid, schedule an appointment with a vision specialist. Use the ADP's table to learn which specialist exam you need.
Then, fill out the application form. Select a registered vendor. You can select a non-registered vendor if there are no registered vendors near you.
You can also apply for a non-registered vendor of printers and computer monitors. To do this, you must pay up-front and fill out a different application.
Otherwise, send your application to the ADP address.
Diabetic Equipment and Supplies
ADP covers 100% of the cost of an insulin pump. It offers limited coverage of diabetes supplies. See ADP's page on Diabetic Equipment for more details.
To apply, you must meet with members of a registered Diabetes Education Program (DEP). DEP staff can help you choose the right vendor for you.
Then, fill out the application form. There is a separate application form for syringes. Mail the completed form to the ADP address. Your application will be approved or denied within eight weeks.
Respiratory Equipment and Supplies
The ADP covers 75% of the cost of most respiratory equipment. For other supplies, it provides a grant. For a full list of covered equipment, and the degree of coverage, read ADP's Respiratory Equipment and Supplies page.
That page also details how to apply for coverage. You may need to schedule an exam at a sleep clinic or with a respiratory therapist. In other cases, a general doctor's exam is fine.
This professional will tell you what equipment you need. They will also fill out their portion of the application form. Find a registered vendor. The business will fill out its part of the form. Mail the complete application to ADP's address.
Home Oxygen Therapy
Ontario covers 75% of the cost of Home Oxygen Therapy through ADP. It covers 100% of the cost for those who qualify through other programs. Learn more on ADP's Home Oxygen Therapy page.
Any doctor or nurse practitioner can test your blood oxygen level. If they determine you need home oxygen therapy, ask them to fill out the ADP application form.
Then, meet with a supplier. The supplier will fill out the second half of the form. They'll mail the completed form. Then, the supplier will bring the oxygen and equipment to your home within 24 hours.
Artificial Eyes and Facial Prosthetics
Ontario covers 75% of the cost of artificial eyes and facial prosthetics. It also covers the cost of replacement in some cases.
The ADP published a complete list of covered eye and face prosthetics and related procedures they cover on this page. That page also details the relevant exams you must schedule to qualify for different prosthetics.
Your specialist will fill out their part of the application form. If an eye specialist qualifies you for artificial eyes, meet with a registered ocularist.
An ocularist creates and tailors artificial eyes to your face. They will fill out the rest of the application. They will also submit it to ADP.
A plastic surgeon or prosthodontist develops and sets facial prosthetics. Meet with the staff of a registered prosthetics business. They will fill out and submit the ADP application.
Custom Orthotic Braces, Compression Garments, and Lymphedema Pumps
ADP covers 75% of the cost of these devices. Read ADP's page on Garments, Pumps, and Braces to see all covered devices. The page also details the application process.
A professional must examine your condition and assess your need. That professional will refer you to an authorizer. Then, find a registered device vendor. The vendor will fill out their section of the application. Send in the completed application.
Prosthetic Breasts or Limbs
The ADP covers 75% of the cost of prosthetic limbs. It reimburses breast prostheses at a flat rate. ADP doesn't cover all prosthetics.
The ADP lists all prosthetics it covers on its Breast Prostheses and Artificial Limbs page. It also notes which conditions it covers, and which it excludes.
If you want to purchase prosthetic breasts, you must purchase them upfront. Buy from a certified retailer. Then, use ADP's application process to apply for a reimbursement.
An amputee must meet with a registered amputee team. The team will assess your needs. Then, the patients and team apply for ADP coverage with a single form.
After this, find a registered vendor. Get an estimate. Do not submit your application without a vendor estimate. The amputee team will submit the final application.
Enteral-Feeding Pumps and Ostomy Supplies
The ADP provides grants to cover the cost of feeding pumps and other ostomy supplies. The ADP page Enteral Feeding Pumps and Ostomy Supplies details which supplies and conditions the organization covers.
The page also outlines the application process in detail. To apply for ADP coverage, a doctor or nurse practitioner must evaluate you. They may refer you to a specialist.
Your doctor or specialist can help you fill out the application form. They can also help you find a supplier. The supplier doesn't need to be registered with ADP.
Send your application. If your application is approved, ADP will deposit grant payments directly to your bank. You must fill out a second form to consent to direct payment.
The ADP requires a contract among patients, authorizers, and suppliers. Ontario maintains contract updates on this page. You can also read updated vendor agreements.
Does Private Insurance Help Cover the Cost of Assistive Devices?
Private health insurance and disability insurance can help cover costs. Compare coverage among insurers to see what's available.
Non-profit organizations may also cover medical device costs. You may also find other state-based coverage options based on your income or occupation.
Get Covered with Insurdinary
Ontario's Assistive Devices Program covers 75% of the costs. Want to cover the remaining 25%?
Explore private insurance options. With Insurdinary, you can compare coverage and rates from companies across the county. Get quotes now and start comparing offers today.
