First Nations Health Benefits (Health Benefits) covers specific health-related items and services to meet medical or dental needs not covered by third-party health insurance or the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP).
First Nations Health Benefits provides coverage for:
• BC Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums;
• Ambulance invoices; and
• Items and services that fall under six health benefit areas:
o Dental;
o Vision Care;
o Medical Supplies and Equipment (MS&E);
o Pharmacy;
o Medical Transportation (MT); and
o Mental Health.
The goal of Health Benefits is to provide First Nations people in BC with coverage for items and services that:
• Are appropriate to their unique health needs;
• Reflect the cultures and perspectives of First Nations in BC;
• Promote a sustainable program;
• Contribute to the achievement of an overall health status comparable to the Canadian population;
• Shift the focus of health service delivery from a sickness model to a wellness and prevention model; and
• Are provided based on professional medical or dental judgment, the best practices of health services delivery, and evidence-based standards of care.
First Nations Health Benefits Guide
The
First Nations Health Benefits Guide has essential information about the First Nations Health Benefits program including principles, eligibility, coverage, reimbursements, appeals, frequently asked questions, contact information, and more. This guide intends to assist FNHA clients in navigating the benefit system in an easy and convenient way. The outlined information covers the BC Medical Services Plan, as well as the First Nations Health Benefits areas of dental, vision care, medical supplies and equipment, pharmacy, medical transportation, and mental health.
Read, download, and share the First Nations Health Benefits Guide.
Improving First Nations Health Benefits
The FNHA is committed to continually improving the First Nations Health Benefits program. We will continue to seek guidance from First Nations in BC and health care providers about how best to improve health service delivery, including an increased focus on wellness and prevention.
We want to hear from you about your experience with Health Benefits. If you are a Health Benefits client of the FNHA, please take 5-10 minutes to fill out our survey here:
Feedback Survey
This client satisfaction survey will help us understand the experiences of BC First Nations people in accessing Health Benefits. We will use this information to improve the quality of our services.
