Owning your health care card in Nunavut can be highly guaranteed. It provides your entry to world-level health care anywhere in the state, anytime you require it. Canadian citizens and international students in Nunavut can access health care and insurance benefits using a card. To obtain your Nunavut health care card, you must be a province resident and register in the publicly financed health insurance program.

Types of Health Insurance Schemes in Nunavut

One can purchase two health insurance schemes when living in the Nunavut province. These include:

• Private health insurance
• Nunavut Health Insurance Scheme

Private Health Insurance

Starting from when the Nunavut province health insurance began three months after enrollment, the residents of Nunavut are recommended to buy private health insurance to protect them for that quick time. Ensure you only purchase for up to three months to save funds on your unasserted insurance plans. Four private health insurance schemes exist in the Nunavut region. These include:

• Blue Cross
• Green shield
• Sun Life insurance
• Manulife Insurance

Nunavut Health Insurance Scheme

This is the administrative-supported health insurance scheme in the region, and it is compulsory for every resident. Citizens from Canada, permanent residents, and new immigrants who select Nunavut as their region are highly motivated to enroll in this health insurance scheme immediately after they relocate to the region.

After enrollment, you will obtain your special Nunavut health care card. This card provides entry to medical benefits in any publicly financed clinic in the region. If you are eligible to enroll in this insurance scheme, you should buy three months of private health insurance from the day you enroll for Nunavut health care.

This is because Nunavut health care starts three months after enrollment. Therefore, for instance, if an individual enrolled on 1st July, the person’s coverage begins on 1st October. The private health insurance protects you until your Nunavut health insurance begins.

The Nunavut Health Care Insurance Plan

The health care plan in Nunavut is obtainable to eligible residents of Nunavut. It protects the expense of their insured medical services in and out of the state. The scheme also covers the costs of your prescription medication, medical supplies, and relevant medical trips. The health care scheme in Nunavut is controlled by the Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office located in Rankin Inlet. The station ensures that every enrolled resident of Nunavut possesses quick entry to relevant medical services.

The Health Care Card in Nunavut

After applying for the Nunavut Health Care Plan, you will be mailed your Nunavut health care card. This card verifies that you are registered and entitled to acquire medical services. Using this card, you will immediately receive medical attention in a publicly financed establishment.

This card is unique to the owner, and its services can not be transferred. Every health care card in Nunavut possesses a special 9-digit code that specially recognizes the owner. You must provide your card at clinics, health centers, nursing houses, public health offices, or the doctor’s office in and out of Nunavut to protect your health fees. If you do not provide your card, it may imply making payment of the invoice up-front before any service is rendered to you. You do not have to panic as you may be refunded if you happen to pay for any invoice services while the insurance plan protects you.

Application for Refund for Insured Medical Services

The health care card holders in Nunavut who have made an upfront payment or an invoice can make an application for repayment from the Health Insurance Programs Office using the address:

Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office

Department of Health,

P.O. Box 889, Rankin Inlet, NU,

X0C 0G0.

Phone: (867) 645-8001

Fax: (867) 645-8092

Toll-free: (800) 661-0833

Email: nhip@gov.nu.ca

Qualification for Nunavut Health Insurance and Health Card

The health care scheme for Nunavut is only available to some. Certain conditions must be satisfied before applying to this health care insurance scheme.

Who Are Qualified?

For one to be qualified, you are required to:

• Have a job or student visa for a minimum period of 12 months. The work or study visa is required to possess a Nunavut address.
• Be a P.R. of Nunavut. This means that Nunavut is required to be your primary location of residence.

Who Are Not Qualified?

• National penitentiary prisoners
• Visitors or tourists to Nunavut
• Employees with an agreement of less than 12 months
• Permanent resident students with residence in a region or territory that is not Nunavut
• Nunavut Residents with study or work visas that does not have a Nunavut address
• Residents of Nunavut with work or study visas accurate for less than 12 months.

Steps to Apply for Nunavut Health Care Card and Scheme

Making an application for the Nunavut Health Care scheme is very straightforward. Firstly, you must download or obtain the needed form, complete it accurately, and send it to the correct address. For those who would prefer to pick up the forms, the forms are obtainable at:

• The Health Insurance Programs Office in Rankin Inlet
• Every community health center
• The Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit
• Every nursing branch in Nunavut

New Resident Application for Nunavut Health Care Scheme

As a new resident, you can make an application in four easy steps:

Step One: download the form, print it out, and complete the application form.

Step Two: Scan two copies of your identification documents, which may be a birth certificate, valid passport, or immigration papers that are valid, together with one secondary document such as past health care, employment identity, or driver’s license.

If you want additional information, you can contact nhip@gov.nu.ca or 1-800-661-0833.

Step Three: Scanning your evidence of residency papers. It is required to verify your plans to make Nunavut your primary location of residence for more than one year and that you are not a short-term employee. This paper can be your letter from your employer or an employment agreement demonstrating the duration.

If you require additional information, reach out to nhip@gov.nu.ca or 1-800-661-0833.

Step Four: mail your filled-out application form and precise duplicates of every applicable paper to nhip@gov.nu.ca.

If you want to make your application through mail, forward your form together with the applicable documents to:

Department of Health

Health Insurance Programs

Government of Nunavut

Attention: Health Care Registrations Department

P.O BOX 889 Rankin Inlet, Nunavut (NU) X0C 0G0

Phone: 1-800661-0833

Email: nhip@gov.nu.ca 

Application Stages for Newborn Infants to the Nunavut Health Care Scheme

You can make an application for your new infant using three easy steps:

Stage One: download the form for application for new infants

Step Two: print out the application and complete it. Check for the turn-over page.

Step Three: Forward your filled-out form to:

Nunavut Health Insurance Programs

Department of Health

P.O. BOX 889, Rankin Inlet, NU

X0C 0G0

Phone: (867) 645-8001

Fax: (867) 645-8092

Toll-free: (800) 661-0833

It can also be mailed to nhip@gov.nu.ca.

What Can Be Done Using Your Nunavut Health Card

Using your Nunavut care card, you will be immediately attended to in publicly financed hospitals within and outside of Nunavut. The holder must provide the card, as the card services can not be transferred.

How To Continue Your Nunavut Health Card

The health care card for Nunavut continues. Hence, it naturally continues every 24 months according to the holder’s birth month. Continuation is influenced by alteration in address, private details updates, missing cards, or more. If any of these take place, you should check the next topic.

If You Lose Your Nunavut Health Card

You must contact the Health Insurance Programs Office in Rankin Inlet if you need to.

• Intend to relocate out of Nunavut
• Exit Nunavut for three months
• Require to influence a modification in your private details
• Miss your card

To continue your card due to one of the reasons mentioned, you must download the Change of Information form, complete it, and send it back to the program’s office. The forms are obtainable at every health center and nursing location in Nunavut and the Health Insurance Programs Office in Rankin Inlet.

Steps Needed to Continue or Restore Your Nunavut Health Card

Step One: download the form for modification of private details.

Step Two: print out the application form and complete it. Remember to produce copies of the needed documents, which are stated at the back of the application form.

Step Three: present your application form. You can scan the papers and email them to nhip@gov.nu.ca or forward the physical copies to:

Health Care Registrations

Department of Health

P.O. BOX 889, Rankin Inlet, NU

X0C 0G0

Phone: (867) 645-8001

Fax: (867) 645-8092

Toll-free: (800) 661-0833