A Guide to the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan and Yukon Health Card

How to Apply in Person

To receive Yukon Health Care Insurance, you must register in person with the Government of Yukon.

In Whitehorse: 4th floor, 204 Lambert Street.

In rural communities, Health Card application forms are available at all territorial agents

Take your completed and signed registration form along with two pieces of ID and visit the nearest services point. Depending on the service point, you’ll either have to provide a photo or will have your photo taken there for a small fee. Once your YHCIP application has been processed, you will receive a letter in which it is indicated from which date you are eligible to receive the YHCIP. In the 14 days following that date, your Health Card will be sent to you.

For any questions about your Yukon Health Care card, you can:

• Phone at 867-667-5209.
• Toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5209.
• Email yukon.healthcare@yukon.ca

Applying Online

You cannot apply online for a Yukon Health Care card.

Forms and Documentation Required

As for the documentation required to accompany your YHCIP application, you will need to bring photocopies of your:

• Canadian birth certificate
• Canadian citizenship card
• permanent resident status card
• a secondary piece of ID for all people listed

Furthermore, you must prove your proof of residence by bringing any of the following:

• pay stubs
• utility bills
• bills in your name from Yukon businesses
• plane ticket to Yukon
• a letter from your employers
• rental agreement.

Renewing or Replacing Your Yukon Health Care Card

Dental

When talking about dental benefits, the YHCIP covers certain dental procedures:

• Certain dental surgical procedures that have to be performed in an approved hospital.
• Recall exam every 2 years.
• Seniors that are 65 years of age or older receive up to $1,400 during a two-year period for rebases and dentures once every 5 years.
• The Children’s Dental Program intended for children grades K to 8/12 is designed to provide diagnostic, preventative, and restorative dental services.

Routine dental care isn’t covered, as well as dental surgery performed outside a hospital.

Prescription Drugs

Yukon has three drug plans with which it provides drug coverage to its residents. These plans are:

• The Chronic Disease and Disability Benefits Program. The program provides financial help to Yukon residents suffering from functional disabilities and/or chronic diseases considered to be serious. The program covers durable medical equipment, prescription drugs, and medical supplies.
• The Children’s Drug & Optical Program. The program provides help with eye care and prescription drug costs to children below 18 years and from low-income families.
• The Pharmacare Program

Extended Health Care

Senior residents of Yukon can apply for Extended healthcare benefits to cover for their dental, medical, and vision needs.

To be eligible for Extended Health Care benefits, you must be:

• a resident of Yukon age 65 or over
• registered with the YHCIP

You are also eligible if you are:

• between 60 and 64 years old
• a Yukon resident registered with YHCIP
• married to a resident of Yukon who is 65 or older

The Extended Health Care Benefits program covers the cost of:

• Prescription drugs
• Dental care
• Eye care
• Medical-surgical supplies and equipment

Travelling within Canada

The Interprovincial Billing Agreement has been signed by all Canadian provinces except Quebec. This means that, as a Yukon resident, you are covered for insured physician and hospital services. Your Yukon health card will be accepted in most parts of Canada as proof that they will be paid.

When travelling to other parts of Canada, you are advised to purchase extra coverage because doctors in certain areas:

• decide to extra-bill their patients and will ask you to pay the difference between the physician’s rate and the approved provincial rate.
• will bill you directly for the services provided.

Other medical travel costs that may fall on your shoulders include:

• Air ambulance charges
• Hospital transfers
• Escort charges
• The cost of return transportation

If you don’t have your Yukon Health card to present to medical services providers, the out-of-Yukon physicians and hospitals may ask you to pay for medical services or bill you directly instead of the Government of Yukon.

Travelling Out of Canada

When travelling outside of Canada, your provincial health plan doesn’t cover many medical services. If you are travelling out of Canada or moving to or from the territory, you should purchase travel health insurance.

YHCIP for Students

When studying outside of Yukon, your provincial healthcare insurance covers all fees for visits to the doctor and hospital.

In order to qualify for student healthcare coverage, you need to:

• be a full-time student at a university or any other recognized post-secondary institution
• submit the temporary absence for every year you attend school outside Yukon
•  submit a temporary absence form before you leave
• intent to return to Yukon after you finish your studies
• return to the province at least one during every school year (if not, then submit a letter explaining why you are not returning)

YHCIP Seniors Pharmacare Benefits

The Seniors Pharmacare Program is designed to help senior Yukon residents by providing them with:

• Medical surgical supplies or equipment
  • Hand inhalers
  • Respiratory equipment
  • Walking aids
  • Manual wheelchairs
  • Commodes
  • Artificial eyes and limbs

• Dental care
  • Coverage limited to $1,400 in any two-year period.
  • Paid rebases or dentures once in a five-year period.
  • The bill gets submitted directly to the healthcare plan for payment if you present your Pharmacare card to the dentist.

• Hearing aids
  • One hearing aid allowed in a four-year period.
  • Adjustment and repair of one hearing aid within a 12-month warranty.
  • Batteries are not covered.
  • No charge for adjustments.

• Prescription medications
  • The Pharmacare program covers the total cost of the lowest priced generic drugs of all prescription medications. Visit the Yukon Pharmacare Formulary for the list of drugs and costs.
  • If you don’t have your Pharmacare card with you when buying prescription drugs, you will be charged for the cost. If you submit the original receipt, the program may refund the amount.

• Non-prescription drugs and goods
  • Insulin syringes
  • Analgesics used for the symptomatic relief of arthritis conditions
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Compounds used in the control of heart disease, digoxin, preparations, nitroglycerin, and other digitalis-related products.

• Eye examinations and glasses
  • You are covered for one eye examination, new lenses, and a maximum of $100 for buying new frames once every two years.
  • The purchase of contact or tinted lenses is not covered.
  • The repair of glasses is not covered.