GNWT signs new Non-Insured Health Benefits agreement with Canada
Press Release
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has signed a new two-year Non-Insured Health Benefits agreement with Indigenous Services Canada covering the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.
The agreement provides short-term funding stability for the continued administration of NIHB-related services in the Northwest Territories and helps ensure eligible First Nations and Inuit residents can continue accessing the benefits they rely on.
NIHB is a federal program that provides eligible First Nations and Inuit residents with coverage for benefits not otherwise insured by provincial or territorial health care plans. In the Northwest Territories, the GNWT administers parts of the federal NIHB program on behalf of Canada, including coordinating medical travel, arranging access to dental and vision care, and assisting eligible residents with access to medical supplies and equipment.
There are no changes to eligibility, coverage, or how residents access NIHB benefits as a result of this agreement.
Funding for 2025-26 included a one-time supplemental allotment of $39.8 million to support medical travel and administration. Finalizing the agreement before the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year allowed the GNWT to secure that federal funding and recover costs already incurred.
A comparable supplemental allotment has not been confirmed for 2026-27, which is the current fiscal year. Indigenous Services Canada has indicated it is awaiting the results of the federal Northern and Arctic Health Assessment before confirming any further supplemental funding. Without comparable funding, the 2026-27 amount remains well below what is required to administer NIHB services in the Northwest Territories. The current funding agreement provides important short-term stability, although it does not quite meet the full cost of administering the program due to the realities of delivering services especially in remote and Northern communities.
The GNWT continues to seek a long-term funding approach that reflects the true cost of delivering NIHB services in the Northwest Territories. This would improve the fiscal sustainability of the GNWT and include full and timely cost recovery, improved administrative and reporting processes, and a sustainable funding model that reduces pressure on the territorial health system.
The GNWT will continue working with Indigenous governments and Indigenous Services Canada to advocate for fair, sustainable federal funding for NIHB services, greater clarity on roles related to NIHB medical travel and dental services, and federal approaches that better reflect Northern realities.
Quote
“This agreement gives us short-term stability, and that matters for residents who rely on these services. It does not solve the long-term problem. NIHB is a federal program, and the federal government needs to fund it in a way that reflects what it actually costs to deliver care in the Northwest Territories. The GNWT will continue doing its part to ensure the availability of services for residents, but we cannot continue to carry costs for a federal program that is not being fully funded by the Government of Canda. We will keep working with Indigenous governments and Indigenous Services Canada toward a long-term agreement that is fair, sustainable, and reflects the needs of residents and communities across the North.”
– Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services
Quick facts
- NIHB is a federal program administered by Indigenous Services Canada.
- The GNWT administers parts of the federal NIHB program in the Northwest Territories on behalf of Canada.
- The agreement covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.
- There are no changes to eligibility, coverage, or how eligible First Nations and Inuit residents access Non-Insured Health Benefits.
- Funding under the agreement is $67,001,320 for 2025-26 and $27,974,760 for 2026-27.
- The 2025-26 funding included a one-time supplemental allotment of $39.8 million to support medical travel and administration.
- A comparable supplemental allotment has not been confirmed for 2026-27.
Related Links
For media requests, please contact:
Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications
Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
HSSmedia@gov.nt.ca
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