The Non-Insured Health Benefits program provides medically-necessary coverage for eligible First Nations and Inuit people in Canada. It is administered by Health Canada and covers benefit claims for certain drugs, dental care, vision care, medical supplies and equipment, short-term crisis interventionmental health counselling, and medical transportation. In Canada, provinces and territories deliver health care services, which can be accessed by First Nations people and Inuit. The NIHB program provides health-related goods and services not insured by provinces and territories or other private insurance plans. Health care providers must submit cases to Health Canada for review to access all vision care, transportation, and counselling, most dental, medical supplies and equipment benefits, and for some drug benefits.
Coverage of Benefits
Benefits are considered for coverage when:
listed on an NIHB benefit list or schedule
intended for home or other ambulatory care settings
prior approval or predetermination is obtained
unavailable through other health or social programs
Non-insured health benefits are available for eligible First Nations people and Inuit in Canada, as well as infants under one year whose parent is eligible.
First Nations people must be Canadian residents and a registered Indian according to the Indian Act in order to access NIHB programs.
Controversy
Health Canada asserts the program exists to support First Nations people and Inuit in reaching an overall health status that is comparable with other Canadians. Many First Nations groups assert that health benefits are an inherent Aboriginal and treaty right and are constitutionally protected. Only Treaty 6 specifically mentions health care, which includes a clause for a medicine chest to be held at the Indian agent’s home and a clause for emergency help. Other treaty negotiations included a discussion about medical services, and doctors were often in attendance when treaty annuities were paid out. The medicine chest clause and historical documentation of treaty discussions have been interpreted by First Nations groups to signal a responsibility for the government to provide ongoing healthcare. From the government of Canada's perspective, there were no statutory or treaty obligations for providing health care to indigenous people, though health services would be provided when medically necessary. Though they recognized that medical care had been written into Treaty 6, the government provided health services on humanitarian rather than on legal grounds.
Drug Benefit List
The Drug Benefit List is a list of drugs that are covered by the NIHB program. Updates are issued quarterly and drugs are frequently added or removed from the list. The DBL also provides a tool for doctors and pharmacists to encourage the use of generic drugs.
