Applying For A New Brunswick Health Card

If you're a new immigrant to New Brunswick, one of your first tasks should be to apply for a New Brunswick health card, also known as a Medicare card. This card is proof of your eligibility for free healthcare under the New Brunswick Medicare scheme. You will need to provide your health card whenever you need to access healthcare services in the province, including registering with a family doctor.

To apply for a New Brunswick health card, you must prove your identity, your right to be in Canada, and your residency in New Brunswick. You can apply for the card by completing an online application form or submitting an application form and supporting documents by mail or in person at a service office.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a New Brunswick Health Card, you must be legally entitled to live in Canada and make New Brunswick your permanent principal home. This also applies to many people in Canada on temporary work permits and study permits. If you are moving to New Brunswick from overseas, there is no waiting period for coverage, and you should apply for your health card as soon as possible after your arrival.

If you are moving to New Brunswick from another province, there is a 2-3 month wait time for your coverage to start. Your coverage will begin on the first day of the third month following the date you became a resident. For example, if you become a permanent resident on July 12th, your coverage will start on October 1st. In the interim period, you will continue to receive basic coverage from your previous province or territory.

If you are an international student, the waiting period may be different. You can find further details on the Government of New Brunswick website.

If you are a student from another province or territory and plan to return to your home province after your studies, you won't qualify for NB health coverage. However, you will still receive coverage from your home province while in New Brunswick.

Required documents

To apply for a New Brunswick Health Card, you will need to provide proof of identity, your right to be in Canada, and your residency in New Brunswick. You will need to provide documents for each family member. Here is a list of documents that are accepted as proof:

Acceptable Proof of Identity:

• Valid New Brunswick Driver's License
• Valid Passport (Canadian or foreign)
• Baptismal Certificate (if the place and date of birth are indicated)
• Valid Permanent Resident Card (front and back) or Record of Landing Document (e.g., Form # IMM 1000)
• Active Temporary Resident Permit issued by Citizenship
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Indian Status Card (front and back)
• Legal Name Change Document
• Student or Employee ID Card
• Previous Provincial Health Card

Acceptable Proof of Right to Reside in Canada:

• Canadian Birth Certificate
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Baptismal Certificate (if the place of birth is identified)
• Canadian Immigration Identification Records and Entry Stamp on Passport
• Proof of enrollment from an approved learning institution

Acceptable Proof of Residency in New Brunswick:

• Rental or Lease Agreement (must be signed by the landlord and tenant)
• Utility Bill (not older than 2 months) – phone, energy, cable/satellite, water/sewer
• Employment Confirmation (current pay stub or letter from the employer on company letterhead)
• Insurance Policy (home, tenant, auto)
• Valid NB Motor Vehicle Registration
• Valid NB Driver's License
• Child Tax Benefit Statement
• Property Tax Bill (current year)

It is important to note that you cannot use the same piece of documentation for more than one of the sections above. Additionally, if you are mailing in your application, make sure to submit photocopies of your documents, as the Service New Brunswick offices cannot guarantee the return of your original documents.

Application methods

To apply for a New Brunswick Health Card, you must be a Canadian citizen or be legally entitled to live in Canada, and you must plan to make New Brunswick your permanent principal home. The application process involves the following steps:

Gather the required documentation

You will need to prove your identity, your right to be in Canada, and your residency in New Brunswick. You must provide documents for each family member.

Acceptable proof of identity includes:

• Valid New Brunswick Driver's License
• Valid Passport (Canadian or foreign)
• Baptismal Certificate (if place and date of birth indicated)
• Valid Permanent Resident Card (front and back) or Record of Landing Document (e.g., Form # IMM 1000)
• Active Temporary Resident Permit issued by Citizenship
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Indian Status Card (front and back)
• Legal Name Change Document
• Student or Employee ID Card
• Previous Provincial Health Card

Acceptable proof of the right to reside in Canada includes:

• Canadian Birth Certificate
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Baptismal certificate (if the place of birth is identified)
• Canadian Immigration Identification Records and Entry Stamp on Passport
• Proof of enrollment from an approved learning institution

Acceptable proof of residency in New Brunswick includes:

• Rental or Lease Agreement (signed by landlord and tenant)
• Utility Bill (no older than 2 months)
• Employment Confirmation (current pay stub or letter from the employer on company letterhead)
• Insurance Policy (home, tenant, auto)
• Valid NB Motor Vehicle Registration
• Valid NB Driver's License
• Child Tax Benefit Statement
• Property Tax Bill (current year)

Complete the application form

There is one application form per family. You can complete the application form online, or you can download the PDF form and submit it via email, mail, or in person at a Service New Brunswick Office.

Submit the application form and documentation

You can submit your application form and documentation by mail or in person at a Service New Brunswick Office.

Receive your health card

After your application has been processed, you will receive your Personal Health Card by mail. Processing times can vary, with some sources stating 4-6 weeks, and others stating up to 10 weeks. If you have not received a response after 8 weeks, you can contact Service New Brunswick Teleservices at 1-888-762-8600.

Processing times

It is important to note that you cannot apply for a New Brunswick health card until you have physically arrived in the province. Additionally, there is a 2-3 month waiting period for coverage to begin if you are moving to New Brunswick from another province. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for your health card as soon as possible after your arrival.

During the processing time, it is a good idea to have private health insurance to cover any medical expenses that may arise. This is especially important if you are a newcomer, as you will be liable for all medical costs without insurance.

What's covered

The New Brunswick Health Card, also known as the Medicare card, provides access to New Brunswick Medicare, which covers most medically necessary healthcare services. This includes:

• Visits to general practitioners, surgeons, and other doctors
• Medically required diagnostic tests, such as X-rays
• Laboratory services (e.g. blood tests)
• Some medically required dental and optometry services
• Most hospital services, such as nursing, drugs administered while in hospital, radiotherapy, and anesthesia
• Ambulance services
• In-province hospital-to-hospital transfers
• Standard accommodations and meals during hospital stays
• Medical equipment loans for seniors aged 65 and older
• Hearing aids and repairs for those who qualify through the Health Services Hearing Aid Program

The New Brunswick Drug Plan provides drug coverage for those enrolled in the plan and with a valid Medicare card. You pay a premium based on your income and a 30% copayment up to a maximum per prescription.

The New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) supports those who may not have insurance available elsewhere, those requiring assistance with specialty medications, and seniors aged 65 and older who receive the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

The Health Services Dental Program may provide some coverage for those without dental insurance, and the Health Services Vision Program assists those without vision coverage from any other plan and who qualify for assisted healthcare. There is a 30% participation fee for dispensing and diagnostic services, and frames.

It's important to note that not all medical services are covered by the New Brunswick Health Card. The following are some of the services that are not included:

• Routine eye exams, prescription glasses, or contact lenses (unless medically necessary)
• Dental care and fillings (unless medically necessary or specific dental surgeries performed in a hospital setting)
• Prescriptions (unless during a hospital stay)
• Circumcision of newborns
• Acupuncture
• Paramedical services provided by chiropractors, naturopaths, opticians, optometrists, orthodontists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, or private duty nurses

Frequently asked questions