Income Assessment
NOTE: The new EHB Policy does not apply to residents who access Non-Insured Health Benefits or Métis Health Benefits. Seniors will continue to receive the same benefit coverage under the new policy.
Income assessment ensures fair access to healthcare benefits by determining eligibility based on your income level. It helps strike a balance between access to important health benefits and using public funds responsibly.
We use the Northern Market Basket Measure (MBM-N) as the low-income thresholds for each region. Updated by Statistics Canada, the MBM-N considers the actual cost of necessities in your region.
Here are the current low-income thresholds for each region:
- Tłı̨chǫ: $34,794
- South Slave: $34,774
- Yellowknife: $35,147
- Dehcho: $36,741
- Beaufort Delta: $42,258
- Sahtu: $42,908
These regional thresholds are reviewed and updated annually.
If your income falls below the established low-income threshold, you may access benefits at no cost. However, if your income is higher than this threshold, you will be required to contribute to the cost.
Seniors age 60+ are not required to have their income assessed to access benefits under the new EHB Policy.
Use the Extended Health Benefits Calculator to find out which benefits you are entitled to, and to calculate your potential contribution based on your household net income.
For more information on income thresholds and cost sharing, see Income Thresholds and the Cost Sharing Arrangements.
Continuous Income Assessment for Ongoing Support
We know that your income can change over time, and we are developing a process to have your income reassessed if it changes during the year. This means that if your income decreases by 10% or more during the year, you can have your benefit levels reviewed to make sure you're still getting the support you need. We will communicate this once the process is finalized.