Non-Insured Health Benefits program for First Nations and Inuit: Vision care benefits
Learn about vision care benefits available to eligible clients under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.
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About vision care benefits
The NIHB program's vision care benefits provides coverage for eye examinations and corrective eyewear, this includes:
- general eye examinations when they are not insured through provincial or territorial health insurance
- corrective eyewear, such as glasses or contact lenses, when prescribed by a licensed vision care professional
- corrective eyewear repairs or replacement
The NIHB program provides eligible clients with coverage for eligible health benefits when not available through provincial or territorial health insurance, private health insurance plans, or other publicly-funded plans or programs.
Vision care benefits are covered in accordance with program policies and established vision care fee grids. The policies are set out in the NIHB Program for First Nations and Inuit: Vision Care Benefits Guide and the NIHB Vison Care Regional Fee Grids located on the Express Scripts Canada NIHB Provider and Client Website.
How to access vision care benefits
Eligible clients can access their vision care benefits from a licensed vision care professional, such as an ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician.
Enrolled providers and clients can verify client eligibility for an eye exam, eyewear, or eyewear repairs and replacements on their NIHB provider or client web account, or by calling the NIHB Call Centre at Express Scripts Canada at 1 888 511-4666 (for providers) and 1 888 441-4777 (for clients), Monday to Friday, between 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding statutory holidays.
Vision care claims are processed by Express Scripts Canada. Information can be found on the Express Scripts Canada NIHB Provider and Client Website.
NIHB Vision care providers who are enrolled with the NIHB program can submit claims directly to Express Scripts Canada so that clients do not incur charges at the point-of-service. Vision care provides who are not enrolled with the NIHB program can find information on provider enrollment on the Express Scripts Canada NIHB Provider and Client Website.
If a provider does not bill the NIHB program directly through Express Scripts Canada, eligible clients may submit claims for reimbursement to Express Scripts Canada. See Client reimbursement for more information.