Help is here for getting a Nunavut health card in Iqaluit

Published 7:56 am Friday, August 14, 2026 By William Koblensky Varela Local Journalism Initiative Northern News Service Iqalummiut wishing to apply for a new Nunavut health card, renew their card or change their address are getting a helping hand. A summer student is available at the Qikiqtani General Hospital to assist with obtaining a health card. The service began on July 14 and runs to Aug. 30 at the hospital’s patient registration desk by the main entrance Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents can also go to the Canada Post office on Astro Hill every Tuesday and Thursday. “The student also contacts residents whose healthcare cards have been returned by Canada Post, so they can arrange to pick up their cards at (Qikiqtani General Hospital),” said Charmaine Deogracias, manager of communications for the Department of Health. Because Iqaluit moved to using street addresses instead of post office boxes, the Department of Health decided to start helping Iqalummiut update their health card information last year. But many people still haven’t updated their addresses, according to Deogracias. There are currently no plans to roll out similar services in other Nunavut communities. “The department is currently focusing this initiative in Iqaluit, where the rollout of civic addresses and ongoing issues with returned healthcare cards have created a particular need for additional outreach and support,” Deogracias said. In June, two Iqaummiut told Nunavut News they had waited up to 13 years for a health card, and one of the applicants said he was listed as deceased by Nunavut’s health insurance program. One person from Cambridge Bay said they had waited two years. Nunavummiut without a valid health card may be asked to pay up front for medical services, Nunavut News reported several weeks ago, and what’s being covered by healthcare in the territory is under review. Missing or unreadable identity documents, missing signatures or a lack of valid proof of residency are all factors in delays in health card applications, according to Jennifer Anawak, the director of Nunavut health insurance programs. Between 21,000 and 23,000 health cards are processed every year by the Nunavut Health Insurance Plan, Anawak noted. But thousands of health cards are returned to the Department of Health due to inaccurate or outdated addresses.