Starting Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, eligible Burlington residents with Type 1 diabetes will no longer have to spend a year injecting insulin before Ontario will pay for an insulin pump. The change applies across the province.
The funding comes through Ontario's Assistive Devices Program, which helps people pay for medical equipment. Eligible Ontarians with Type 1 diabetes get full funding for an approved pump, a small device worn on the body that delivers insulin through the day, plus $2,400 a year for supplies. Currently, applicants must use insulin by injection for a full year first. From Feb. 1, they can apply without that wait.
The province says nearly 4,000 Ontarians apply for pump funding each year. In 2025-26, the program spent about $95 million on pumps and supplies for nearly 24,000 people. Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the changes will increase access to treatment and cut paperwork.
People who already have a funded pump will also find it easier to keep their funding: from Feb. 1, the grant is renewed every two years instead of every year.
