The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) manages dental, vision, medical supplies, and some drug benefits through the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program. FNHA partnered with Pacific Blue Cross to administer these benefits. In 2019, FNHA and Pacific Blue Cross signed a Declaration of Commitment to make cultural safety and humility central to health care in BC, aiming to improve services and build trust for First Nations communities.
The system is easy for FNHA clients and their health care providers, with simple approval steps and fast payments. Coverage doesn’t get reduced, and many preventive and special health services get better coverage.
If you have, any questions, please contact the Health Centre at 250-632-3600
- To Learn More about your health benefits, visit the FNHA website.
- Fact Sheet about the FNHA Benefits Plan with Blue Cross [.pdf]
Your PBC benefits membership number is your status card number.
You can print your own PBC Member ID card or continue to use your status card
There are lots of health care helpers who work with PBC. Many of them can bill PBC directly, so you don’t have to pay as much money upfront for things PBC covers.
If you get approved for something, that approval stays with you even if you see a different health care provider.
FNHA clients can go online at www.pac.bluecross.ca or use the PBC app on their phone. Using your status number, you can make your own Member Profile to do things easily by yourself. For example, you can:
- Look up detailed coverage information
- Get reimbursed via direct deposit in as little as 48 hours
- Check your balance for your benefit
- Search for vision care providers who are registered with PBC
If you need help or have questions, you can keep calling Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454 or send an email to benefits@fnha.ca.
More Information
Download a full list of First Nations Health Benefits (Plan W) Over the Counter Drug Benefits as provided by Pharmacare and the Ministry of Health.
Contact the Haisla health department if you would like a printed copy of the list.
Nutritional Supplementation is not a covered benefit. However, exceptional requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis where there is a medical necessity and justification from a healthcare provider (physician or nurse practitioner) who is prescribing the supplement.
Requests for review must be submitted using the following form: FNHA Exceptional Request Form for Nutritional Products
The client’s prescriber must submit the completed form to FNHA Health Benefits for review. Please note that these requests are reviewed on an exceptional, case-to-case basis.
The following document lists available nutritional supplements that can be requested for review : PBC - List of Nutritional Supplements
Questions outside the information provided above on nutritional supplements can be directed to the Health Benefits (toll-free) line at 1-855-550-5454.
Virtual access to Primary Care Physician allows patients the convenience to choose a date and time for an appointment and to receive the consultation from their own home. This avoids travel or wait time in the Emergency Department, and is also a benefit to people who have no Family Doctor (unattached patients).
A reminder that Virtual Health Care can provide prescription and outpatient diagnostics requests.
The following three links are for free services:
1) Northern Health Virtual Clinic information
2) FNHA Virtual Doctor of the Day
3) Telus Health MYCare
HealthLink BC Hub
