Treatment coverage in your region

Prescription Drug Programs in the Northwest Territories

In the Northwest Territories, there are different programs that can help you pay for your prescription drugs. These programs are provided by the NWT government through a company called Alberta Blue Cross. To apply for these drug benefits, you need to have a NWT Health Care Card.

There are three programs that may be able to help you pay for your prescription drugs:

Métis Health Benefits (MHB)

• Covers the cost of prescription drugs, including hepatitis C medications, for indigenous Métis residents of the NWT.

Prescription Drugs and Dental Benefits for Seniors

• Pays for some or all of the cost of prescription drugs and dental care if you're 65 or older and live in the NWT.

Extended Health Benefits (EHB) for Specified Medical Conditions

• Pays for some or all of the cost of prescription drugs if you have certain diseases or conditions, including hepatitis C. To apply, you can fill out an EHB application form.

If you're a registered First Nations or recognized Inuit person, the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program may be able to pay for your hepatitis C medications. This program provides First Nations and Inuit people with coverage for many prescription drugs and health services.  You can contact NIHB by phone or mail at:

Non-Insured Health Benefits – Northwest Territories and Nunavut Region
First Nations and Inuit Health
Health Canada
60 Queen Street, 14th floor
Postal Locator 3914A
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9                                                                                                       Toll-free: 1-888-332-9222

Getting My Hepatitis C Medications

The amount of help you can get to pay for your hepatitis C medications depends on what drug program you have.

If you get Income Assistance, you can talk to your case worker to see about getting your medications paid for through this program. If you have a health card but you do not have prescription drug benefits, you can apply to have your hepatitis C medications paid for by filling out an Extended Health Benefits (EHB) application form. Your doctor will have to fill out part of this form. The EHB program will then send you a letter telling you if your application has been approved and your medications will be paid for. 

In the NWT, hepatitis C medications are known as Limited Use Benefits. This means that no matter what drug program you have, your doctor needs to write and send a letter to the drug program to see if they will pay for your medications. You and your doctor will receive a letter telling you whether or not your medications will be covered by the drug program. If your request is approved, you can get your medications at the pharmacy, in the same way you get other prescription drugs.

If you want more information about programs that may be able to help pay for your hepatitis C medications, call the NWT Department of Health and Social Services at 1-800-661-0830.