New Brunswick Medicare Card - How to apply?

New and returning residents to New Brunswick will need a New Brunswick Medicare card to access health care in the province. Without this card, you will not be able to get the benefits that residents in New Brunswick enjoy.

Therefore, once you arrive in New Brunswick, you must apply for your New Brunswick Medicare card, driver’s license, and other things that will help you settle down.

However, to get a health card in New Brunswick, you must submit a signed original ‘Application for Registration. This will help to check if you are eligible.

In addition to the form, you must also have proof of your Canadian Citizenship. To prove your citizenship and residence status in New Brunswick, you can show any of these documents:

a copy of all Canadian Immigration identification records
entry stamp on passports

Once you complete your application and your eligibility is established, you will expect a letter showing when you will start receiving New Brunswick health care and an accompanying New Brunswick Medicare card.

How to Apply For New Brunswick Medicare Card?

You can apply for a New Brunswick Medicare card in two ways. That is, you can apply in person as well as by mail. Whichever method you choose, you will see the process below.

Apply In-Person

The first way to apply for a New Brunswick Health card is by applying in person. So, if you plan to apply in person, then you can follow the steps below:

Firstly, you must complete an Application for Registration.

Secondly, submit the completed form as well as the supporting documents in person to a Service New Brunswick office.

Thirdly, the Medicare office will assess your eligibility based on an individual basis. However, you may need to submit other documents in order to verify your eligibility.

Lastly, once a medicare office has confirmed eligibility, you will receive a letter indicating the start date of your New Brunswick Medicare coverage. In addition, you will also receive your New Brunswick Medicare card.

Apply By Mail

Another method to apply for a New Brunswick healthcare card is by mail. To apply for a New Brunswick Medicare card, you will likely follow the same process above. In addition, you will have to send the completed form directly by mail.

Upon the completion of the form, you will mail the application as well as accompanying photocopied documents to the Medicare P.O.Box below:

P.O. Box 5100 Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5G8.

Required Documents

You will need these documents to apply for a New Brunswick Medicare card. First, you will need proof of your Citizenship, identity, and residency in the province.

For Canadians:

As a Canadian citizen, you will need the documents below when applying for a New Brunswick Medicare card.

Birth Certificate
Citizenship Card
Passport
Indian Status Card
Baptismal certificate (if the place of birth is identified)

Non-Canadians – mandatory

As a non-Canadian, you must provide the following documents in order to get a New Brunswick health card.

Canadian Immigration Identification Records and Entry Stamp on their Passport
Proof of enrollment from an approved learning institution
Documents that may be accepted as proof of identity: Birth Certificate, Valid New Brunswick Driver’s License, Valid Passport, Baptismal Certificate, Valid Permanent Resident Card
Active Temporary Resident Permit issued by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
Canadian Indian Status Card (front & back)
Legal Name Change Document
Student or Employee ID Card
Previous Provincial Health Card

Documents that may be accepted as proof of residency

You may not use these documents as proof of residency for your New Brunswick medicare card. Thus, you won’t submit it for your New Brunswick health card. They include:

Mortgage Document
Rental or Lease Agreement
Utility Bill – not older than two months
Employment Confirmation
Insurance Policy
Valid NB Motor Vehicle Registration
Valid NB Driver’s License
Child Tax Benefit Statement
Property Tax Bill

New Brunswick Medicare Card For International Students

To start with, new students from another province in Canada are not eligible for New Brunswick Medicare coverage. Therefore, in order to enjoy health coverage in their province, they should consult their provincial offices.

However, international students, especially new students who meet the eligibility criteria, can receive a New Brunswick Medicare card.

Eligible Institutions

Not all institutions are eligible for New Brunswick Medicare for its international students. Therefore, international students who desire to have a New Brunswick health card must make sure that they enroll in an eligible institution.

Eligible institutions include post-secondary institutions like the university, community colleges, and private institutions. However, these institutions must be determined by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour.

Eligible International Students for New Brunswick Medicare Card

Before you can qualify for a New Brunswick Medicare card as an international student. First of all, you must be an undergraduate, graduate student, diploma, or certificate student. Secondly, you must have a valid Canada Immigration Document. Finally, an educational institution must approve your Canada Immigration Document for the full scholastic year.

In addition, spouses and dependents who live with eligible international students also qualify for New Brunswick Medicare coverage. However, this time covers only the time the international student is eligible.

International students Who are NOT eligible for New Brunswick Medicare Card

The following international students may not be eligible for the New Brunswick health care card. They include:

Exchange students
International students who enrolled in part-time studies
Online international students who study through a learning institution outside of New Brunswick.
Employed graduate students who are employed by the approved educational institution during their studies

New Brunswick Medicare Card Renewal or Replacement

New Brunswick medicare office automatically renews your health card upon expiration by mailing it to your current address. Usually, the New Brunswick medicare card lasts for five years before renewal.

However, suppose you have any changes in your address. In that case, you must call Service New Brunswick at 1-888-762-8600 or complete a Change Request, Replacement, and/or Renewal form if failure to notify New Brunswick Medicare of your address change may result in termination of your Medicare coverage.

New Brunswick Medicare Expiry/Termination

All New Brunswick Medicare cards have an expiry date. On this note, you must check the expiry date on your New Brunswick health care card. Your card is valid until the last day of the month indicated.

For instance, as f your card is showing “01/2015,”. Your New Brunswick health care card is valid until January 31, 2015.

You can receive your card one month before it expires. After that, however, you must be eligible and inform the Medicare of your current address. In addition, you will have to destroy your old card and start using the new card immediately.

On the other hand, for renewal of expired cards and terminated coverage, you can call TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600 or visit your local SNB office.

Also, you must know that New Brunswick Medicare has the right to terminate your coverage or adjust your expiry date at any benefits. In addition, you cannot renew your card online.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Cards

To begin with, you always replace your New Brunswick medicare card when it gets lost, stolen, or damaged.

But before you can renew your lost, stolen, or damaged New Brunswick health care card, you will pay a minimal fee of $10.00.

In order to arrange for your card replacement, you will first visit your local Service New Brunswick office. If you cannot do this, you can send a completed Medicare Change Request, Replacement, and/or Renewal signed and dated, to New Brunswick Medicare.

Secondly, you must send the form along with a cheque or money order, made payable to the Minister of Finance, in the amount of $10.00.

The following are exempted from the $10.00 replacement card fee:

Seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement,
Income assistance recipients, and
Residents who’ve received a damaged or misprinted card.

New Brunswick Medicare plans and benefits

As long as you are a New Brunswick resident, you can qualify for a New Brunswick Medicare card. With this card, you can qualify for New Brunswick medicare plans and their accompanying benefits. Therefore, the list below is New Brunswick medicare plans and their benefits:

New Brunswick Medicare Card For Prescription Drugs

This plan provides drug coverage with a valid New Brunswick Medicare card. But you must enroll in the drug plan. However, you will pay a premium and a 30% co-payment up to a maximum per prescription.

The benefits of the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) include providing support to:

those who have no other insurance,
those requiring assistance with specialty medication
seniors aged 65 and older

Income Supplement (GIS).

The program covers drugs listed on the New Brunswick drug formulary, including drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, HIV-positive residents, growth hormone products, organ transplant recipients, multiple sclerosis, and residents covered under Family & Community Social Services.

Ambulance

You’re covered for in-province hospital-to-hospital transfers only.

Dental benefits

With this program, you can cover some dental surgical procedures rendered in a hospital.

However, this does not include extractions or dental work.

Vision care

The Health Services Vision Program assists those who do not have vision coverage from any other plan. However, you will still pay a 30% participation fee.

This does not cover eye exams, prescription glasses, or contact lenses.

Hospital

This program covers standard accommodations and meals.

However, it does not cover paramedical services provided by

chiropractors
opticians
optometrists
orthodontists
osteopaths
physiotherapists
podiatrists
psychologists
private duty nurses.

Hearing aids

The Health Services Hearing Aid Program covers some of the costs for various hearing aids and repairs for those that qualify.

Nursing benefits and home care

The Extra-Mural Program (EMP) provides home care services to residents with valid Medicare cards as long as healthcare needs can be met at home.

Out of country

The province covers emergency hospital visits (with a daily maximum rate), emergency physician services at New Brunswick rates, and services you received prior approval for.

Also Read: Rumors Of Green Card Rule Impact Benefits For Immigrant Families

Frequently Asked Questions

How to change my address with New Brunswick Medicare?

You can change the address on your New Brunswick health care card in two ways:

Contact Service New Brunswick at 1-888-762-8600
Complete a Change Request, Replacement, and Renewal form.

What is the format for New Brunswick Medicare Card Number?

The New Brunswick Medicare card has a nine-digit health insurance number. It also includes the insured person’s name and date of birth, as well as the expiry date.

What is New Brunswick Medicare Plan?

New Brunswick Medicare is the provincial plan for all New Brunswick residents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re eligible for Medicare, the New Brunswick Medicare Card can help make getting services easier. To apply, visit the government website. Be sure to have your social insurance number and proof of your current health insurance coverage handy when you call.

New Brunswick Medicare Card – How to apply?