Non-Insured Health Benefits for registered Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band Members

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Printed in 2012
HC Pub: 120087

Information Sheet

Non-Insured Health Benefits for registered Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band Members

Health Canada works closely with First Nations and Inuit organizations and communities to carry out many activities and programs aimed at helping people stay healthy, and preventing chronic and infectious diseases.

Non-Insured Health Benefits Program

Health Canada's Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program provides, to registered First Nations and recognized Inuit residents of Canada, a limited range of medically necessary health-related goods and services when these benefits are not otherwise provided by other government programs or private plans. Eligible benefit areas include:

• Drug Benefits (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs)
• Medical Supplies and Equipment Benefits
• Dental Care Benefits
• Eye and Vision Care Benefits
• Short-Term Crisis Intervention Mental Health Counselling
• Assistance with Medical Transportation to access medically necessary services

Access to Benefits

To access benefits under the NIHB Program, you must be a resident of Canada and have a registration number from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC).

It is important to note that as a registered Qalipu Band member you should maintain any private, employer-sponsored, or other public health care coverage you may have, as some of the benefits you may currently be receiving may not be eligible benefits under NIHB (e.g. physiotherapy, psychology and chiropractic treatment). Any benefit claims must first be submitted to your current plans/programs before submitting them to the NIHB Program.

Band members are advised to retain their receipts for health benefits received after the date of amendment to the Order in Council to which their name is attached (for more information, contact Health Canada's Atlantic regional office). As a registered Qalipu Band member, you may be eligible for some reimbursement of these costs and can submit the receipts to NIHB for consideration after you receive your registration number from AANDC.

To assist Qalipu Band members in the Atlantic region, Health Canada's Atlantic regional office has established an NIHB Navigator position to help registered band members access eligible NIHB benefits. The NIHB Navigator is a resource person for Qalipu Band members and is able to answer questions related to NIHB.

Payment of Benefits

Under the NIHB Program, vision care, medical transportation and short-term crisis intervention mental health counselling benefits are administered directly by the Atlantic (and other) regional NIHB office(s).

For drug, dental, and medical supplies and equipment benefits, the NIHB Program normally pays registered service providers directly for benefit claims through Express Scripts Canada claim processing services. Please note that for NIHB to pay your pharmacy, dental or medical supplies and equipment provider directly for your benefits, the provider must first be registered with Express Scripts Canada for the NIHB Program.

Service providers are encouraged to bill the NIHB Program directly so that clients are not faced with charges at the point of service. If you pay directly for goods or services, you may seek reimbursement to the maximum NIHB rate, through your regional NIHB office.

Contact Information

You can contact the Qalipu NIHB Navigator:

• to obtain contact information for Express Scripts Canada registered service providers in your area,
• if your preferred service provider is not currently registered with Express Scripts Canada, so that NIHB can contact them to provide registration information,
• to confirm if a particular benefit is covered by NIHB prior to seeing your provider.

Qalipu NIHB Navigator
phone: 1-855-675-5743 (toll-free)
email: hthistle@qalipu.ca

Health Canada, Atlantic Region
Non-Insured Health Benefits
Suite 1525 - 1505 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6

phone: 1-800-565-3294 (toll free)
or 1-902-426-2656
fax: 1-800-377-9288 (toll free)
or 1-902-426-5698

For more information about the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program and contact information for other NIHB regional offices, please visit the Health Canada website.