Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned, this extended health policy has been reviewed. I know that there was -- in the last government, it went back out to review because of a lot of the concerns. There was recommendations to make changes. Those changes were made. How we use this -- you know, what tool we use to measure low income, you know, there is a jurisdictional scan across Canada on how other jurisdictions provide any type of support to low income, and -- you know, and some of the -- you know, and I know we provided information to committee on this. There's been many presentations. There's -- you know, like there were provided on this topic. And right now where we're at is that -- that is why there's so many different layers of this. And so there -- until you hit -- I think it is about -- and I'll take example for Yellowknife. Until you hit a net take home of $60,000 -- and that's a single person -- you don't have to pay a deductible for your pharmacy but you may have to pay up to $400 a month. And that's the maximum that you may pay over the year. So that -- you know, and that's for any prescriptions. The maximum that they might have to pay for medical supplies in that group is $500 a year for their medical supplies. Anything after that, it's covered by -- it doesn't matter what it is, it's covered by the Northwest Territories. And so the low income is set there to ensure that the low income people have access to all of those, as well as that is the line where the dental and the vision is also eligible in that group. You know, and whether that's the tool to use, I know that the Minister -- that Minister Cleveland has the same tool in income support. And so what we're trying to use is we're trying to streamline. And I know that that's a conversation that we've all had is trying to use the same tool where we're measuring all our programs that we're income testing that we're using the same tool across the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Lesa Semmler on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on June 4th, 2024. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
June 4th, 2024
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