Justice for NWT Extended Health Benefits

"... On June 13, 2019 the NWT Autism Society met with the Minister Responsible for Health and Social Services and Persons with Disabilities and brought forward important information regarding the Extended Health Benefit. The paper pointed out how the program, in its current format, is inherently a violation of the Charter of Rights because it limits itself to a short list of disabilities. The NWT Disabilities Council supports this as this is an issue that affects all people with disabilities whether you have current health coverage or not and throughout the Territory. We ask that you, as one of our over 700 members, take the time to read the information in the link below and to send the email, as requested to your MLA or all the MLAs. Thank you for your support

NO person should have to choose between a home, food to eat or their health! We ask that you join us in this call to action!
See this link for more information..."
https://www.nwtautismsociety.org/advocacy
and see the CBC article at
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-government-program-violates-charter-rights-freedoms-1.5176840
Denise McKee
Executive Director.
NWT Disabilities Council
5102 50th Avenue
Lower Level of the Scotia Centre
Yellowknife, NT
X1A3S8
Tel: (867) 873-8230 Toll Free: 1-800-491-8885
Fax:  (867) 873-4124
email:  ed@nwtdc.net
website: www.nwtdc.net ..."


"...Justice for Extended Health Benefits
The Extended Health Benefits for Specified Disease Conditions Program is operated by the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services. This program provides comprehensive supplementary health coverage of medical travel, medical equipment, medical devices, and prescription drugs for persons with chronic medical conditions and disabilities in the Northwest Territories. The current implementation of this program is discriminatory because benefits are only made available to residents if they have one of 50 specific diagnoses recognized by the Department of Health and Social Services. This means that some people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, such as residents living with Autism whose disabilities are not recognized, cannot access the program. This is discrimination under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms because distinctions are being made on the basis of the type of disability people have, not on their actual needs. We are seeking immediate action to eliminate discrimination and for the Department of Health and Social Services to address other important gaps in the provision of supplementary health benefits, including that fact that the NWT has no supplementary insurance for medical travel, medical equipment, medical devices, dental care, vision care, and prescription drugs available for low-income residents.
Check out our full position paper or summary paper to learn more about this issue, our recommendations and how you can take action! ..."
Full Report
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5588d6_d4b08dae77294b2391bc165cb69833be.pdf
Summary Page & Advocacy Info
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5588d6_1792a18ee4cc43a398970b3eda8fd166.pdf