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Does NIHB cover mental health counselling?
Yes. The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program covers mental health counselling by registered professionals for eligible First Nations people and Inuit. That includes virtual counselling on secure platforms. According to Indigenous Services Canada, the mental health counselling benefit covers up to 22 hours of counselling per calendar year. Eligibility rests on Indigenous status (for example, registered First Nations membership or Inuit recognition by an Inuit land claim organization) and not being covered under other public health benefits. Check current NIHB criteria for your situation.
This guide is written by Megan Rafuse, MSW, RSW, CEO of Shift Collab. Megan earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto in 2010. Megan’s profile lists her credentials and training.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not medical, legal, or coverage advice. NIHB rules can change. Speak with an NIHB-registered provider or Indigenous Services Canada about your own benefits. If you need urgent support, call Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 or 988.
Understanding NIHB Coverage
The Non-Insured Health Benefits program is a federal initiative. It funds health services that provincial plans do not cover for eligible First Nations people and Inuit. Data from the NIHB Mental Health Counselling Benefit Guide (effective 4 December 2024) lists 22 hours of counselling per year as the standard allotment.
The program covers a broad set of benefits. Those include mental health counselling by registered professionals and virtual sessions on secure platforms. It serves First Nations people and Inuit. Eligible people can receive funding for therapy, including internet-based virtual counselling. Verifying eligibility and the scope of coverage can make the search for support more concrete and less stressful.
The point of NIHB coverage is to connect people with care. The program is meant to help recipients reach services that support a more balanced life.
- 22 hours of mental health counselling per calendar year, according to Indigenous Services Canada
- A 2-hour initial assessment after prior approval
- 20 hours of treatment with prior approval, with extra hours reviewed case by case
Benefits of NIHB Coverage for Therapy
Starting therapy is an investment in yourself. With NIHB coverage, it is also a mix of support, resources, and licensed care, so you do not have to carry the cost alone. At Shift Collab, therapists who are NIHB-registered can offer online therapy without an out-of-pocket bill for eligible clients. Virtual counselling lets you join from wherever you are.
Shift Collab was founded in 2016 in Toronto, Ontario. We provide virtual care across Canada and have supported more than 23,000 Canadians. In this case study of NIHB billing at Shift Collab, eligible clients are not asked to pay at the session. We bill Express Scripts Canada from the therapist’s NIHB provider account. Individual sessions at Shift Collab are 50 minutes. Private-pay individual sessions start at $165 when NIHB does not apply.
NIHB coverage matches eligible people with qualified providers. Shift Collab’s clinicians build a plan around your goals.
Common Therapies Covered by NIHB
According to Indigenous Services Canada, NIHB mental health counselling may be delivered by four provider types: psychologists, registered social workers, psychiatric nurses, and registered psychotherapists. Coverage can include individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.
- Individual therapy for personal mental health care
- Family therapy for communication and relationship patterns
- Group therapy for shared support with others facing similar challenges
How to Access NIHB-Covered Therapy
You can start NIHB-covered therapy in four steps. In our analysis of how clients reach care at Shift Collab, most people finish the NIHB form in the first session. That visit is often booked as a 50-minute hour. NIHB may instead approve a 2-hour initial assessment.
- Confirm you are eligible (status card or equivalent Inuit recognition, and no other public plan that already covers this care).
- Book with an NIHB-registered therapist, such as a clinician at Shift Collab. Call 1-800-661-8681 or book a free 15-minute Meet and Greet.
- Complete the NIHB application with your therapist. We tested this path by screensharing the form in session so the client is not left to file it alone.
- Once approved, use the 22 hours per calendar year (including the 2-hour assessment and 20 treatment hours with prior approval).
Our Care Team and clinicians walk you through each step.
Eligibility Requirements for NIHB
To use NIHB coverage you must meet the program’s rules. According to Indigenous Services Canada, that means being a registered member of a First Nations group, or Inuit recognized by an Inuit land claim organization, and not eligible for other public health benefits that would pay for the same service. Status, not a diagnosis, is the main gate.
Have identification ready, such as a status card or equivalent legal document, when you start registration.
Navigating the NIHB Reimbursement Process
Using NIHB for mental health care does not have to be complex. At Shift Collab we designed the billing path so eligible Indigenous clients in Canada are not asked to pay first and wait for a cheque.
In this case study of Shift Collab NIHB claims, clients do not handle reimbursement themselves. During the first session, your therapist walks through the NIHB application, often by screenshare. After approval, your therapist confirms the hour cap — 22 hours per year, according to Indigenous Services Canada — and books the 50-minute sessions with you.
From there, billing runs in the background. Clients are not out of pocket. They do not track claims. Each session is billed through the therapist’s NIHB provider account with Express Scripts Canada. After the session, the therapist files the claim. You can stay focused on the work in the room.
We tested this direct-billing flow with our NIHB-registered clinicians so you receive the hours you are entitled to without extra paperwork.
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