The territories want to improve the health insurance program for Aboriginals

Tracy-Anne McPhee, from the Yukon; Julie Green, from the Northwest Territories; and John Main of Nunavut took part in a meeting of the Federal Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs on Tuesday to discuss how Canada could improve its Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for First Nations and Inuit.

The program covers certain medical expenses that are not reimbursed by territorial medical insurance or ― for those who have one ― an individual or group health insurance plan such as dental, optometry and travel expenses. outside the territory to have access to care.

To qualify, you must be:

• a First Nations person who is registered under the Indian Act (more commonly known as Indian status);
• an Inuk recognized by an Inuit land claim organization;
• a child under 18 months of age whose parent is a Registered First Nations or Recognized Inuk.

Adapt to cultural reality

I worry that what is in place is not culturally appropriateevoked Julie Green while addressing the committee.

The Uninsured Health Benefits Program reimburses certain medical travel costs such as meals and hotel accommodations for patients who cannot access care where they live.

On the other hand, according to Minister Green, the program does not reimburse costs incurred such as the price of a transport ticket for family members.

People come from small communities. They are not used to traveling even to cities the size of Yellowknife. They would like to be accompanied.

The government decides if a patient is entitled to an attendant using a list of criteria (New window) which includes the patient’s ability to travel alone and whether they are of adult age.

In some cases, the doctor must support the patient’s request for the insurance to cover the travel expenses of the person who accompanies him.

According to John Main, this policy cannot be applied when patients need more than one person to accompany them.

Politics (New window) considers the need for more than one escort as one exceptional circumstance which requires the patient to provide more private health information to substantiate their claims.

Which skills for whom?

The Nunavummiut minister gave the example on Tuesday of a child receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer and needing medical support in addition to his parents to accompany him during his medical appointments outside the territory.

Nunavut may approve these fees for compassionate reasons.

Yet, as Yukon Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee notes, it’s not always clear when the territories should absorb medical travel costs and when they are covered by the NIHBFirst Nations and Inuit Non-Insured Health Benefits.

First Nations governments and our governments are thinking, “ok, what is our place in this program, do we meet the criteria”, that type of thing.

Revising the insurance program is part of Yukon’s health strategy (New window)published in 2020. According to this document, the federal program and its territorial counterpart, which provides the same benefits to other Yukoners, are not aligned or well coordinated.

This means that family members living in the same residence could have different benefits and varying means of accessthe document reads.

With information from Anna Desmarais