One in 10 plan members already claims ADHD medication
Nearly 10 percent of Alberta Blue Cross claimants use ADHD medications, and the insurer is responding by partnering with Frida, an Alberta-based online ADHD clinic operating under the PurposeMed umbrella.
The partnership gives Alberta Blue Cross plan members access to Frida's assessment, diagnosis, and treatment services, as ADHD has become one of the fastest-growing categories of claims activity for the insurer.
An estimated 50 percent of Canadian adults with ADHD remain undiagnosed, according to Frida, with long wait times and the cost of private assessments acting as barriers to timely care.
Caley Shukalek, chief medical officer at PurposeMed, said adult ADHD is frequently mistaken for anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, complicating diagnosis further.
Women face additional barriers, according to Frida.
Despite experiencing the same level of impairment as men, they are less likely to receive a diagnosis due to differences in symptom presentation, and are more likely to:
- Internalise symptoms
- Develop anxiety or depression
- Struggle with emotional regulation
Shukalek said a diagnosis is just the start, with ongoing clinical care making the real difference.
"80 percent of Frida patients report clinically significant improvements in hopefulness and self-worth within six weeks of starting treatment," he said.
Frida provides diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for adults over 18, offering full-length clinician evaluations to determine appropriate treatment.
