Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to the Minister’s last comment with the supplementary or extended health benefits, “there’s no need for a Catastrophic Drug Program.” I’m not sure if I understand what the Minister means by that. Can she explain that to me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
I meant simply by that under supp health benefits, as it exists now -- not supp health -- extended health benefits, people with chronic conditions or requirements, they get paid right now. They are covered right now under the existing policy. So the catastrophic drug coverage question came in because of the changes that were proposed, but that’s gone. We said that this morning. So there is no need. We have the most generous Health Benefits Program in the North and they are all covered under the existing policy. Thank you.
So just for clarity for the public, the status quo includes an Extended Health Benefits Program that includes coverage for seniors, coverage for catastrophic costs and coverage for Metis. But I think what my colleagues were asking is do aboriginal individuals who are currently covered by NIHB, if they have a catastrophic condition, they are covered by their insurance hopefully first, and then they’re covered by NIHB to a top-up, but their costs would still be significant. So under our existing programs, aboriginal people who have catastrophic conditions can still receive some top-up today. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That’s what happens right now. NIHB, then Supp Health. Thank you.
Okay, so following along my colleague’s line there, so what the department is proposing, and I support, is first insurance, then if you still have some costs, then our existing Supplementary Health Program, which includes costs for catastrophic costs if you have a catastrophic condition. You can still access that program today; we’re just asking you to help us help you by utilizing your insurance first. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member is going into the details of which we have to still work on. That’s what I am saying in saying that we need to look at how we implement the recommendations made in the Joint Working Group. Part of it is to review parity and equity between the three programs. We need to figure out how do we encourage people to get third-party insurance, how do we encourage employers to get third-party insurance. We want that to be the first option, but we need to work out how that can be done. The Member made those suggestions in our review process and there are other suggestions, but those are things we need to work on. I think it’s premature for us to talk about the details of that, because I don’t have a set plan in front of me. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree. I think what the Minister is doing is highlighting the fact that this still requires a significant amount of work and earlier she mentioned that it’s not an implementation plan she’s bringing forward next week. It’s a work plan, which is what we needed to hear; implementation plan/work plan are significantly different things. So I’m happy about that. The Minister has already agreed to work with us on this side of the House about that implementation plan. So I just realized I don’t have a question, so I’ll sit down.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
