Medicare Access In New Brunswick

If you're a newcomer to New Brunswick, getting health care should be at the top of your to-do list. New Brunswick Medicare is the provincial health plan that provides universal, basic, and government-funded health coverage to residents. To be eligible, you must be a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to stay in the country, and you must make New Brunswick your primary residence. The application process is easy and can be done in person or by mail. However, there is a 3-month waiting period for newcomers to access covered medical services, so it's recommended to get private health insurance to cover this time.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for Medicare in New Brunswick, you must be a Canadian citizen or be legally entitled to remain in the country. You must also make the province of New Brunswick your primary home. This means that if you have moved to New Brunswick from another Canadian province, you may be eligible for Medicare health coverage on the first day of the third month following the month you established permanent residence in New Brunswick. For example, if you moved to New Brunswick on May 18, then your Medicare coverage would start on August 1.

International students with immigrant status are eligible for Medicare benefits and must register immediately upon arrival in the province. However, it is recommended that they get basic personal insurance to cover dental insurance or pre-existing medical conditions that are not covered by Medicare.

To apply for a New Brunswick health card, you will need to show either proof of Canadian citizenship or a copy of all immigration records, including the entry stamp in your passport. You will also need to provide proof of identity and proof of residence. All documents should be photocopied if you are mailing in your application, as the return of original documents cannot be guaranteed.

Required documents

To apply for a New Brunswick Medicare card, you will need to submit an application form and provide proof of identity and residency. All documents should be photocopied if you are mailing your application, as the return of original documents cannot be guaranteed.

Proof of identity

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

Proof of residency

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

If you are a Canadian citizen, you may also need to provide:

• Proof of enrollment from an approved learning institution (for international students)
• Canadian Immigration Identification Records and Entry Stamp on your passport

If you are a newcomer, you will also need to show:

Proof of Canadian citizenship, or a copy of all immigration records plus the entry stamp in your passport.

Applying for Medicare coverage

To apply for a New Brunswick health card, you must complete an Application for Registration form. This can be done in person at a Service New Brunswick office or by mail. You can download the form online, print it, and fill it out with the required information. Remember to double-check that you have filled out the form correctly and included your contact telephone number.

For every child aged 19 or over, a separate application must be completed. If you are completing the form on behalf of another individual, you must provide a copy of Power of Attorney documents.

When applying for Medicare, you need to bring or send various documents as proof of your identity, citizenship, and residency. For Canadian citizens, these can include a baptismal certificate, a valid passport, a valid New Brunswick driver's license, a student or employee ID card, a legal name change document, a valid permanent resident card, and more. Proof of residency can include a rental or lease agreement, insurance policy, utility bill, and more. Remember not to send original documents when applying, as their return is not guaranteed.

Once your application and documentation have been received, it will take 4 to 6 weeks to process. If you have not received correspondence after 8 weeks, you can contact Service New Brunswick Teleservices.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Medicare benefits in New Brunswick, you must be a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to stay in Canada, with the province of New Brunswick as your principal home. International students must meet all Medicare eligibility criteria.

Those who are not eligible for Medicare health benefits include inmates of federal penitentiaries, regular members of the Canadian Armed Forces, students from another province, and tourists or visitors to the province.

New/returning residents

If you are new to New Brunswick or returning to the province, you can apply for health coverage by submitting a signed original Application for Registration form. You can either visit an office or send your application by email. You will be required to present proof of citizenship or immigration status for the application process. Completed forms must be delivered in person or mailed to Medicare.

Applications are assessed on an individual basis. To verify your eligibility, you may be asked to provide other documents. Once your eligibility is established, you will receive a letter indicating the exact start date of your NB Medicare health coverage, as well as a NB Medicare health card.

If you have moved to New Brunswick from another Canadian province, you may be eligible for Medicare health coverage on the first day of the third month following the month you established permanent residence in NB. For example, if you moved to NB on May 18, then your Medicare coverage would start on August 1.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Medicare benefits, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen/legally entitled to stay in Canada and a resident with a principal home in the province of New Brunswick
• An international student who meets all Medicare eligibility criteria

Ineligible Groups

The following groups are not eligible for Medicare health benefits:

• Inmates of federal penitentiaries
• Regular members of the Canadian Armed Forces (while their family members are eligible)
• Students from another province
• Tourists and visitors to the province

Documents Required for Application

When applying for Medicare, you need to bring the following documents as proof of your identity, citizenship, and residency:

For Canadian Citizens:

• Baptismal certificate (if the place of birth is identified)
• Proof of enrollment from an approved learning institution (for international students)
• Canadian Immigration Identification Records and Entry Stamp on your passport

Documents Accepted as Proof of Identity:

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

Documents Accepted as Proof of Residency:

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

Please note that the same document can be used to satisfy no more than one requirement. Remember not to send original documents when applying because their return is not guaranteed.

Renewal or replacement

Your New Brunswick Medicare card has an expiry date. Your card is valid until the last day of the month indicated. For example, a card showing the date "01/2015" is valid until January 31, 2015. Provided you are eligible for coverage and have kept Medicare informed of your current address and/or residency information, you may receive your renewed card approximately 1 month before this date. Destroy your old card and use the updated card effective immediately. The expiry date helps to prevent abuse of the health care system.

Medicare card renewals will be mailed to the address on file. Please make sure to update your address online, by calling 1-888-762-8600, or by completing a Medicare Updates and Changes Form. All household members affected by the move must be indicated on the online or mail-in renewal form. Failure to notify New Brunswick Medicare of your address change may result in termination of your Medicare coverage.

For Medicare renewal of expired cards or for coverage that has been terminated, please call TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600 or visit your local SNB office. If your card has expired or coverage was terminated due to an expired immigration document, please provide a copy of your extended permit(s) or the front and back of your permanent resident card(s) for each member of your household.

If your Medicare card is lost, stolen, or damaged, it can be replaced. Any New Brunswick resident who has a valid Medicare card may have it replaced if it is lost, stolen, or damaged, for a minimal fee of $10.00. If you report your card stolen, your privacy will be safeguarded and the stolen card will be terminated. A new Medicare number and card will be issued upon receipt of the $10.00 fee. It is your responsibility to notify your service providers of your new number.

To arrange for a replacement card, visit your local Service New Brunswick office or send a completed and signed Medicare Change Request, Replacement and/or Renewal form, along with a cheque or money order, made payable to the Minister of Finance, in the amount of $10.00 for each replacement card required (one card per person only).

Exempt from the $10.00 replacement card fee are:

• Seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Income assistance recipients
• Residents who have received a damaged or misprinted card

Frequently asked questions