The GNWT has announced that they have established a new Extended Health Benefits program.
The new program will come into effect on September 1st. It involves new income thresholds and cost sharing arrangements to help expand access to various healthcare benefits, while also making sure to use public funds responsibly.
Officials will asses the incomes of those applying for the benefits, and will also take into account the unique cost of living in each region by using the Northern Market Basket Measure (MBM-N) from Statistics Canada.
The low-income threshold of each area are as follows:
- Tłı̨chǫ: $30,605
- South Slave: $30,622
- Yellowknife: $31,134
- Dehcho: $32,327
- Beaufort Delta: $37,153
- Sahtu: $37,628
Those who are eligible for the program will receive a number of benefits at no cost. Those with a higher income are eligible for prescription drug and medical supplies and equipment benefits and must contribute to covering a portion of the cost. An Extended Health Benefits Calculator has been created to help residents understand their benefit coverage and to estimate out-of-pocket expenses they may need to pay.
