Nunavut Extended Health Benefits and NIHB for Seniors

Two Programs, Two Eligibility Paths

Health coverage for seniors in Nunavut runs through two parallel systems. Which one applies to your parent depends on whether they are an Inuit beneficiary under the Nunavut Agreement.

Extended Health Benefits (EHB) Seniors' Coverage — for non-Indigenous Nunavut residents aged 65 and over. Administered by the territorial Department of Health.

Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) — for registered First Nations and Inuit people, regardless of age. Administered federally by Indigenous Services Canada.

Both programs supplement the basic Nunavut Health Care Plan, but they cover different gaps. EHB covers vision care, dental care, and some medical travel; NIHB can cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, medical supplies, mental health services, and medical transportation.

Extended Health Benefits: What Is Covered

For non-Indigenous seniors aged 65 and over who hold a valid Nunavut Health Care Plan card, EHB provides coverage for:

• Vision care — eye examinations, prescription eyeglasses, and lens replacements
• Dental care — preventive and restorative dental services
• Medical travel — travel costs for specialist appointments not available locally, supplementing the territorial Medical Travel Policy

The program does not cover private home care services (none exist in the territory), private nursing, or elective procedures. Contact the Department of Health to confirm the current enrollment, claim, and coverage requirements for an eligible resident.

Non-Insured Health Benefits: Broader Coverage

NIHB provides a separate federal benefits pathway for eligible Inuit beneficiaries. If an elder is placed in a southern facility, confirm with NIHB which services and providers remain covered there.

Coverage includes:

• Prescription drugs — medications on the NIHB formulary, including those for chronic conditions common in aging populations
• Dental care — preventive, restorative, and denture services
• Vision care — eye exams, glasses, and low-vision aids
• Medical supplies and equipment — mobility aids, hearing aids, diabetic supplies, wound care materials
• Mental health counselling — sessions with approved practitioners
• Medical transportation — airfare, ground transport, and accommodation for medically necessary travel. This is separate from the territorial Medical Travel Policy and can be used for travel to specialist appointments across Canada

When a parent is placed at Embassy West Senior Living in Ottawa, confirm with NIHB how coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision, and mental health services will be administered in the new location. Do not assume that coverage or enrollment requirements change automatically with the placement.

How NIHB and Medical Travel Interact

For families managing a parent's out-of-territory placement, the overlap between NIHB medical transportation and the Government of Nunavut's Medical Travel Policy can be confusing. In general:

• The territorial Medical Travel Policy covers the initial outbound travel for the placement (the elder's flight to the southern facility) and medical escort travel when a health practitioner certifies that an escort is medically necessary.
• NIHB medical transportation covers travel for specialist medical appointments — for example, if the elder placed at Embassy West needs to see a specialist in Ottawa who is not on the facility's staff.

Neither program covers family visits to the elder. Travel by family members to maintain contact with a displaced parent is entirely out of pocket, though unreimbursed amounts may be claimable under the Medical Expense Tax Credit at tax time.

Ensuring Continuity During Care Transitions

Both EHB and NIHB depend on the elder maintaining the relevant status — territorial residency for EHB, beneficiary status for NIHB. During a care transition, report the actual address to the relevant administrators and ask how a government-arranged out-of-territory placement affects EHB eligibility.

For NIHB, eligibility is based on Inuit beneficiary status under the Nunavut Agreement. For EHB, confirm with the Department of Health how territorial residency and coverage are treated during an out-of-territory placement.

Work with a benefits counselor and the Department of Health to record the actual address and confirm how the government-arranged placement affects any continuing Nunavut eligibility.

The Nunavut Long-Term Care Costs & Subsidies Guide details the claims process for both programs, the specific steps for maintaining coverage during a southern placement, and the contact information families need for each administering agency.

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