New Brunswick provincial health plan fact sheet

Your New Brunswick Medicare Plan provides:

Prescription drugs

  • Coverage for seniors ages 65 and over who receive the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and do not have other Insurance or who qualify based on their total annual income
  • Eligible residents receiving the GIS pay a co-payment of $9.05 per prescription up to a maximum of $500 per calendar year
  • Eligible residents who qualify based on their total annual income pay a co-payment of $15 per prescription with no calendar year maximum
  • Some coverage under the Prescription Drug Program is also provided for people in certain situations when no other insurance is available. These situations include drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, people who are HIV positive, growth hormone products, organ transplant recipients, multiple sclerosis, and people covered under Family & Community Social Services. 
  • The New Brunswick Drug Plan provides drug coverage for all residents who enroll. Premiums are graduated based on income and members are required to pay a 30% co-pay at the pharmacy up to a maximum of $30 per prescription.

Ambulance

  • Coverage is only provided for hospital to hospital transfers

Dental benefits

  • No coverage for routine dental services
  • Coverage for specified surgical dental procedures provided by a dentist when the service is medically required and rendered in a hospital.  Extractions and dental work are not covered, even when performed in a hospital
  • Some coverage for children ages 19 and younger with a cleft palate 

Vision care

  • No coverage for glasses or routine eye exams

Hospital

  • Coverage for standard ward rooms only, normal hospital in-patient services and certain outpatient services

Paramedicals

  • No coverage for paramedical services provided by chiropractors, chiropodists, dentists (except as stated previously), naturopaths, opticians, optometrists, orthodontists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists or private duty nurses

Hearing aids

  • No coverage
  • Some coverage may be available under the Health Services Hearing Aid program for those that qualify. This program has a 'payer of last resort' policy

Nursing benefits and home care

  • Coverage for some home health care services to persons of all ages, if eligible, through the Extra-Mural Program

Medical supplies

  • Medical equipment available for loan by some seniors, ages 65 and older, without charge from the Canadian Red Cross Society through the Seniors’ Rehabilitative Equipment Program

Accidental death and dismemberment

  • No coverage.

Out of country

  • Coverage for emergencies only 
  • Coverage for hospital in-patient services up to $100 per day 
  • Coverage for hospital out-patient services, up to $50 per day 
  • Physician emergency services are paid at a rate equal to what a New Brunswick physician would receive for a similar service

These highlights from the New Brunswick Medicare Plan are for general reference only and are subject to change, corrections and updates. Other government programs may also be available. For more information on the latest coverage details, contact:

New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness

HSBC Place

P.O. Box 5100

Fredericton, NB E3B 5G8

Phone: 506-457-4800

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Updated: August 2019