Apply for a Yukon health care card

To register for Yukon Health Insurance Plan you'll need to bring:

• a Canadian birth certificate;
• a Canadian citizenship card, permanent resident status card; 
• Open/Yukon-specific work permit valid for a minimum of 1 year); and
• a secondary piece of ID for all people listed.
      

Proof of residency

You must prove your residency when applying for Yukon Health Care Insurance. You can use the following as proof:

• utility bills;
• pay stubs;
• offer letter from a Yukon employer;
• rental agreement or receipts in your name; or 
• Tenancy agreement for 1 minimum year.

Where to apply

You must register in person with the Government of Yukon to receive Yukon Health Care Insurance.
In Whitehorse: 4th floor, 204 Lambert Street

In rural communities, application forms are available at all territorial agents.

Applicant must be physically present in the Yukon (applicants do not have to be in the Yukon 3 months before applying).

New and returning Yukon residents must wait 3 months for coverage to start.

If you are a returning Yukon resident with active coverage from another jurisdiction, you're required to reapply for the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan.

If you are on a work visa, your wait period may vary depending on the issue date or arrival date. Phone 867-667-5209 or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5209., or email [email protected] for further information. 

If you are a new resident from another jurisdiction, you are covered by your former healthcare insurance plan during the three-month wait period.

You should apply upon your arrival in Yukon as delays can affect your eligibility date. 
 

To appeal a denial of your application for Yukon Health Care Insurance you must submit a request of appeal written by you or your doctor. It should include a detailed account of your patient history and current situation.

In response to your letter, the Government of Yukon:

• can request a review by Yukon’s medical advisor;
• can review and assess service options used nationally on the subject matter including requesting a review of medical evidence and reports through the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; and
• provide a letter of finding to you or your physician.
       

If the government findings do not support your application:

• you may appeal for reconsideration in writing to the director of Insured Health Services, as directed by Section 5 of the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan Act. Letters should be addressed to:
  • Director, Insured Health and Hearing Services (H-2)
    Department of Health and Social Services
    Box 2703
    Whitehorse, YT Y1A2C6

You can request health insurance coverage for medical services that are not covered under the territorial health care plan. 

Prepare your request

1. Work with your physician to write a detailed letter that outlines the issue and the case history.
2. Include any correspondence from or to yourself and your physician about the medical condition and the service being requested.
3. Submit your request.
   In person: 4th floor, Financial Plaza, 204 Lambert Street, Whitehorse. Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   Fax: 867-393-6486
   Mail:
   Government of Yukon
   Health Care Insurance Plan (H-2)
   Box 2703 
   Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

The manager of registration and claims will work with assessors to see what Yukon case history is applicable to the request. The manager and assessors will consult with Yukon’s medical advisor who:

• will talk with medical advisors from across Canada to see if the procedure is insured elsewhere in the country;
• will see if there is new medical evidence to support a decision to insure the service being requested; and
• may take the case to the biannual national meeting of medical advisors for deliberation.
      

Based on the information gathered, the manager of registration and claims will give you and your physician a written response to your request.

What happens if your request is declined?

You can submit an appeal if your service request is declined.

1. Request a review by the director of Insured Health Services, under Section 5 of the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan Act.
2. The director will review all materials provided.
3. The director may request that the medical advisor do more jurisdictional analysis and medical research. 
4. The director may research additional sources of information such as the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health .
5. The director will contact you and your physician to let you know the decision within 30 working days after you submitted your appeal.

Renewal

Your health care card renews yearly on your birthday. You'll receive a renewal notice in the mail.

Lost health care card or changes to information

Phone 867-667-5209 or toll-free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5209, or visit our Whitehorse office on the 4th floor 204, Lambert Street, or any of the territorial agents in the rural communities, if you:

• lose your card, and need a new card; or
• need to report changes, such as name change, a change of address, or a dependent leaving home.