Medical travel benefits for eligible NWT residents are now administered through the Extended Health Benefits (EHB) Program. This means that residents with a valid NWT health care card, who do not have other medical travel coverage must apply for Extended Health Benefits to receive medical travel coverage.

This change does not affect the level of support these residents receive. It streamlines how medical travel is coordinated by bringing benefits under a single policy framework. The goal is to make the process clearer and easier to navigate for residents.

This update does not apply to residents who access medical travel through Non-Insured Health Benefits and Métis Health Benefits, or those who have health coverage through an employer-sponsored benefits plan.

If you applied for Extended Health Benefits earlier this summer, no further action is required at this time. If you have not yet applied, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible to help avoid delays if medical travel is needed on short notice. Coverage is renewed annually, so residents who receive benefits this year will need to apply again every year to keep their coverage active. Seniors 60 and older do not need to reapply annually for EHB.

Quote:

“Medical travel plays a vital role in ensuring NWT residents can access the care they need, when it is not available in their home community. This update brings medical travel support under the Extended Health Benefits Program, creating a simpler and more streamlined process for eligible residents. Importantly, there are no changes to medical travel eligibility, referrals, approvals, or the supports available today. Our focus remains on ensuring residents can access the care they need, when they need it.”

 - Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick facts

• Medical travel modernization is part of ongoing efforts to improve how residents access and navigate medical travel services, while also streamlining the administration of benefits.
• The update brings these benefits under a single policy framework.
• The previous Medical Travel Policy was developed in 2015 and required modernization to align with other Department of Health and Social Services benefit programs.
• The update supports clearer communication for residents about which coverage applies to them and where to get help.
• Most Indigenous residents access medical travel through Non-Insured Health Benefits or the Métis Health Benefits program, neither of which is affected by this change.

Related Links

• Help with GNWT medical travel: what’s covered and how to appeal or request an exception
• Applying or Renewing Extended Health Benefits
• Extended Health Benefits Policy

For media requests, please contact:
Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications
Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
HSSmedia@gov.nt.ca