Renewing Your Medicare Card In New Brunswick

If you are a resident of New Brunswick, you can renew your expired Medicare card by calling TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600 or by visiting your local SNB office. You can also complete a Change Request, Replacement and/or Renewal form, which can be submitted by phone or in person. Previously, residents of New Brunswick would receive a notice of expiry in the mail and were required to complete and return a form before their health cards could be renewed. However, as of August 2014, Medicare cards in the province started to be automatically renewed and mailed out every five years instead of three. This change was implemented to improve the efficiency of the renewal process and reduce costs.

Online address changes

If you are a resident of New Brunswick and are looking to change your address on your Medicare card, you can do so online. This option is available to people moving within the province.

Firstly, you must ensure you have a valid Medicare card. You will then need to upload supporting documentation, so it is important to review the list of requirements and acceptable documentation before beginning your application.

You can include up to six household members on your online address change request. This will be processed by a Service New Brunswick agent during regular business hours. The request will be completed within five business days, but no new card will be issued.

You can also change your address by contacting Service New Brunswick at 1-888-762-8600 or by completing a Change Request, Replacement and/or Renewal form.

If you are moving to New Brunswick from another province, you may be eligible for New Brunswick Medicare coverage on the first day of the third month following your arrival. You will need to complete an Application for Registration form and submit proof of identity and residency.

Renewing an expired card

If your New Brunswick Medicare card has expired, you can renew it by calling TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600 or by visiting your local SNB office. You will not be able to renew your card online.

It is important to keep your address up to date with New Brunswick Medicare to ensure that you receive your renewed card. You can update your address by calling 1-888-762-8600, completing a Medicare Updates and Changes Form, or updating it online. All household members affected by the move must be indicated on the online or mail-in renewal form.

If your coverage has been terminated, you will need to provide additional documentation to renew your card. If your card has expired or coverage was terminated due to an expired immigration document, you must 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.

Please note that Medicare cards in New Brunswick are now automatically renewed and mailed out every five years instead of three.

Moving to New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a great place to live, with many advantages and beautiful nature. Here are some things to consider if you're thinking of moving to the province:

Pros of Living in New Brunswick

Affordable Cities to Live

Compared to other Canadian provinces, New Brunswick has relatively low housing costs. Whether you're renting or buying, accommodation prices are affordable and are said to be more so than in any other province. For example, outside of the cities, you can expect to find a one-bedroom apartment for less than $500 per month. Even in or near cities, house prices are still reasonable. As of 2019, the average house price in New Brunswick was $175,976, compared to the Canadian average of $488,600.

Friendly Residents

New Brunswick has a population of fewer than 800,000 people, creating a close-knit community that is welcoming to newcomers. The residents' friendly nature can make it easier to settle in and make friends.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nature lovers will enjoy New Brunswick, as an estimated 80% of the province is forest. There are plenty of camping spots, hiking trails, and opportunities to spot wildlife such as moose, deer, black bears, and Canadian lynx. The province also offers easy access to oceans, lakes, rivers, and trails.

Good Transport Links

The city of Moncton, for example, has good public transport and very little traffic, making commuting stress-free. It's also a great base for day trips to other parts of the province or nearby provinces such as Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island.

Cons of Living in New Brunswick

High Unemployment

New Brunswick has a relatively high unemployment rate of 8.7%, compared to the national average of 5.5%. Two of the province's main industries are fishing and agriculture, which require specialised skills and experience. Many jobs in the province are also seasonal, focusing on tourism in the summer months.

Language Barrier

New Brunswick is one of the few provinces that recognise French as one of its official languages, with around a third of the population speaking French more often than English. While English is also an official language, learning French will improve your job prospects and help you integrate into the community.

Cold Winters

Like much of Canada, New Brunswick experiences extremely cold winters, with temperatures barely above zero and occasional snow showers. However, the province does have better summers, with average temperatures in the high twenties.

Medicare Card Renewal

As a resident of New Brunswick, your Medicare card will be automatically renewed and mailed out every five years from August 2014 onwards.

Automatic renewals

As of August 2014, Medicare cards in New Brunswick were to be automatically renewed and mailed out for a five-year term instead of three years. This means that residents will no longer receive a notice of expiry in the mail and will not be required to complete and return a form before they can renew their health cards.

The change was implemented by Health Minister Hugh Flemming, who stated that the new process would be more efficient and would save the province about $218,000 annually. This change is especially beneficial considering the backlog of Medicare card applications in New Brunswick, which has caused processing delays and longer-than-usual wait times for newcomers.

Despite automatic renewals, it is still important to keep your Medicare information up-to-date. If you are moving within the province, you can now register your address change online for Medicare. This can be done by contacting Service New Brunswick at 1-888-762-8600 or by completing a Change Request, Replacement and/or Renewal form. An address change request for a Medicare card will be completed within five business days, but no new card will be issued.

It is important to note that if you don't notify New Brunswick Medicare of your change of address, your coverage may be terminated. Additionally, if you are moving out of New Brunswick temporarily, your coverage will remain valid during your absence as long as you have lived in the province for at least five months in the past year.

Waiting times

The waiting time for a Medicare card renewal in New Brunswick is approximately 4 to 6 weeks. This is the standard processing time for applications. If you have not received any correspondence or updates after 8 weeks, it is recommended that you contact Service New Brunswick Teleservices at 1-888-762-8600.

Previously, residents of New Brunswick were required to manually renew their Medicare cards by completing and returning a form after receiving a notice of expiry in the mail. However, as of August 2014, Medicare cards in the province are automatically renewed and mailed out to the residents. This change was implemented by Health Minister Hugh Flemming to improve the efficiency of the renewal process and reduce costs. The renewal period was also extended from 3 years to 5 years.

It is important to note that if you are a new resident or have not previously applied for Medicare, you should submit your application as soon as possible after arriving in the province. Do not submit multiple applications, as this may cause delays or complications in the processing of your request.

Frequently asked questions