When care isn’t available in your community
NIHB medical travel
NIHB can cover travel for care you can’t get locally — but arrange it before you go, and keep every receipt.
Bring
- Your Status card
- Your appointment details — where, when, and that the service isn’t available locally
- Receipts for everything: gas, meals, accommodation
What to say
To your health centre, before travelling
“I have a medical appointment that isn’t available here. Can NIHB cover the travel, and what do you need from me?”
If you need someone with you
“Can a medical escort be approved for this trip?”
What's yours by right
- Coverage can include gas or mileage, meals, accommodation, and sometimes a medical escort.
- It applies when the service you need isn’t available in your community.
Watch for
Arrange travel through your band health centre or the NIHB regional office before you travel, not after.
Keep all receipts — reimbursement depends on them.
Call
This card is a plain-language summary, not advice. The full guide has the detail and the caveats — read it when you have a moment that isn't this one.