Medical Travel for Nunavut Inuit
The Non Insured Health Benefits program offers insurance coverage for medical travel to Land Claim Beneficiaries in the following areas:
- Airfare
- Ground Travel
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Authorized Escorts
Click here to see if you are eligible for NIHB.
Airfare
Benefits: NIHB will pay the full cost of the $250 co-payment fee not covered by the Nunavut Health Care Plan.
Making a Claim: NIHB will pay the $250 directly to the Nunavut Health Care Plan. You do not have to pay any money or make a claim.
Ground Travel
Benefits: NIHB pays for local ground travel outside your home community.
Airports in Coral Harbour, Arctic Bay and Whale Cove are far from the communities. If you live in Coral Harbour, Arctic Bay or Whale Cove, NIHB will pay for your taxi ride to and from the airport while on approved medical travel.
NIHB will pay for ambulance costs from your home to a health centre, a health centre to the airport, or between health care facilities, if needed.
Making a Claim: You may have to pay for ground travel up front.
Save your original taxi and bus receipts and send them along with an NIHB Claim Form to the following address:
Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office
Department of Health
Bag 3
Rankin Inlet, NU
X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-8001
Toll Free: (800) 661-0833
Email
Accomodation
Benefits:
Staying in a boarding home: NIHB will pay for your stay for up to 90 days at an approved boarding home in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Ottawa, Churchill or Iqaluit.
You will not have to pay any costs for meals, accommodations and ground transportation if you stay at the boarding home.
Staying at a hotel: If the Department of Health decides that a hotel is the best place for you to recover from your medical treatment, NIHB will pay the full cost of your hotel for up to 90 days. NIHB will pay these costs directly so there is no cost to you.
If you choose to stay at a hotel rather than the boarding home, you must pay the costs up front and make a claim. You may be covered up to the boarding home rates, which will include accommodations, meals and ground transportation.
Click here to see the nightly boarding home rates.
Staying with family or friends: NIHB will pay the homeowner $50 a day for both the client and escort during your stay.
Making a Claim: If you have to pay for your accommodations up front, send your original hotel receipts along with an NIHB Claim Form to the following address:
Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office
Department of Health
Bag 3
Rankin Inlet, NU
X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-8001
Toll Free: (800) 661-0833
Email
Meal
Benefits:
Staying in a boarding home: You do not have to pay for your meals at a boarding home.
Staying at a hotel: If the Department of Health decides that a hotel is the best place for you to recover from your medical treatment, NIHB will pay up to $50 per day for you, and $50 per day for your escort.
Self-catering units where you can make your own meals are used for long-term stays at a hotel. NIHB will pay $50 a day for up to 44 days for you and your escort. From 45 to 90 days, NIHB will pay $35 a day for you and your escort.
If you choose to stay at a hotel, you must keep your meal receipts. You may be covered up to the current boarding home rate, which will include accommodations, meals and ground transportation.
Click here to see the boarding home rates.
Staying with family or friends: The cost of meals is included in the accommodation rates paid to the homeowner. NIHB will pay the homeowner $50 a day for both the client and escort during your stay.
You do not have to pay for your meals at a boarding home.
Making a Claim: If you have to pay for your accommodations up front, send your original hotel receipts along with an NIHB Claim Form to the following address:
Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office
Department of Health
Bag 3
Rankin Inlet, NU
X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-8001
Toll Free: (800) 661-0833
Email
Authorized Escorts
Benefits: Authorized escorts are covered for the same travel, housing, and food costs as the patient. A second non-medical escort may be approved by the Department of Health. Only airfare is covered.
NIHB does not cover accommodations or meals for second escorts unless there is prior approval.
Making a Claim: Escort claims are made along with the patient’s claims for each of the above benefits.