New Brunswick Health Care 2026: NB Medicare Newcomer Guide

Q: How do I apply for an NB Medicare card and how long does it take?

Apply online at [myhealth.gnb.ca](https://myhealth.gnb.ca) or in person at any Service New Brunswick office. Required documents are proof of citizenship or immigration status, proof of identity, proof of New Brunswick residency, and a copy of the passport with the Canadian entry stamp. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks once Medicare receives a complete file. The approval letter arrives first; the physical NB Medicare card follows within 2 to 3 weeks. The approval letter works as proof of coverage during the gap.

Updated May 3, 2026. New Brunswick health care covers all medically necessary physician and hospital services for residents enrolled in the New Brunswick Medicare program. That includes family doctor visits, walk-in clinic visits, specialist appointments on referral, hospital admissions in standard wards, emergency department care, surgery, maternity care, diagnostic tests, and a narrow list of surgical dental procedures performed in hospital. NB Medicare does not cover prescription drugs filled outside hospital, routine dental cleanings or fillings, eye exams or glasses for adults aged 19 to 64, ambulance rides, physiotherapy outside hospital, chiropractic, massage, naturopathy, or counselling from a registered psychologist. Working-age New Brunswickers fill those gaps with employer benefits, the New Brunswick Drug Plan, the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan if income-eligible, or a private supplementary policy. This guide walks through exactly what NB Medicare includes and excludes, who qualifies in 2026, how to apply, what the wait actually looks like, what coverage costs in real dollar terms when you do not have it yet, and the supplementary plans that fill the rest of the gap.

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Quick Answer: What Does New Brunswick Health Care Cover in 2026?

Fully covered by NB Medicare: family doctor visits, walk-in clinic visits, specialist appointments on referral, emergency department care, hospital admissions in standard wards, medically necessary surgery, maternity care, diagnostic tests on a doctor’s requisition (blood work, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT), in-hospital nursing and meals, in-hospital drugs, anesthesia, operating-room facilities, physiotherapy and occupational therapy delivered in hospital, audiology in hospital, and radiotherapy.
Partially covered by NB Medicare: a narrow list of surgical dental procedures performed in an approved hospital when medically required, oral and maxillofacial surgery in hospital, and certain orthodontic procedures for diagnosed medical conditions.
Not covered by NB Medicare: prescription drugs filled outside hospital, routine dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures, eye exams and glasses for adults aged 19 to 64, ambulance rides, physiotherapy outside hospital, chiropractic, massage, naturopathy, podiatry, optometry for healthy adults, prosthetics, hearing aids, fertility treatments, cosmetic procedures, and most care received outside the province in non-emergency settings.
Eligibility: legal status to be in Canada, intent to make New Brunswick the permanent principal residence, physical presence in NB for at least 5 months in any 12-month period, and no other provincial, territorial, or country health coverage.
Waiting period: newcomers from outside Canada (permanent residents, refugees, and many eligible work or study permit holders entering NB directly from abroad) can be eligible from the date they establish residency. Movers from another Canadian province face a legislated 3-month waiting period, with coverage starting the first day of the third month after arrival, under the Medical Services Payment Act.
How to apply: complete the NB Medicare application online at myhealth.gnb.ca or submit a paper application at any Service New Brunswick office. Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks once Medicare receives a complete file.

For the broader Canadian system context, see our guide on how healthcare works in Canada. For the cross-province bridge-insurance walkthrough, see health insurance in Canada for new immigrants.

Check Out These 5 Things You Should Know Before Moving to New Brunswick

How New Brunswick Health Care Actually Works

New Brunswick health care is publicly funded, provincially administered, and free at the point of care for medically necessary services. The Department of Health funds the system through provincial revenue and the federal Canada Health Transfer, and two regional health authorities run the hospital network. NB Medicare is the public insurance plan that pays the physicians and the hospitals on the resident’s behalf; the resident presents an NB Medicare card, the doctor or hospital bills Medicare, and the patient walks out without a separate invoice for the medical service.

The two regional health authorities are worth knowing by name on day one. Horizon Health Network runs the anglophone-majority system across central and southern New Brunswick, with 12 hospitals and 28 health centres including the Saint John Regional Hospital, The Moncton Hospital, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, and the Miramichi Regional Hospital. Vitalité Health Network runs the francophone-majority system across northern New Brunswick and parts of southeastern NB, with 11 hospitals anchored at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, the Edmundston Regional Hospital, and the Campbellton Regional Hospital. Both authorities deliver services in both official languages, but the internal working language and signage tend to follow the regional language. Newcomers can use either system regardless of where they live; the practical question is which hospital is closest and which language is preferred for clinical conversations.

The other thing to understand early is the role of pharmacies, dental offices, optometrists, physiotherapy clinics, and other allied health professionals. In New Brunswick, as in every Canadian province, those are private businesses. NB Medicare only pays them for the narrow set of services it directly covers. Most of what happens at a pharmacy counter, a dental chair, an optical shop, or a physio clinic comes out of pocket unless the patient has employer benefits, a private supplementary plan, the income-tested New Brunswick Drug Plan, the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan, or coverage through Veterans Affairs, Indigenous Services Canada, or the Interim Federal Health Program for refugees.

What NB Medicare Covers: The Complete 2026 Table

The most useful single view of New Brunswick health care is the table below. It splits coverage into three categories: services NB Medicare pays in full, services NB Medicare pays partially, and services NB Medicare does not pay at all.

Category	Service	What NB Medicare Pays
Fully covered	Family doctor visits	Full fee-for-service rate
	Walk-in clinic visits	Full rate
	Specialist visits (on referral)	Full rate
	Emergency department care	Full rate
	Hospital admission, standard ward	Full cost including nursing, meals, in-hospital drugs
	Medically necessary surgery	Full cost (operating room, anesthesia, surgeon, recovery)
	Maternity care (prenatal through postpartum)	Full rate
	Diagnostic tests on requisition (blood, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT)	Full cost at a hospital or approved facility
	Psychiatrist visits with referral	Full rate
	In-hospital physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology	Full rate when medically necessary
	Radiotherapy	Full cost
	Routine surgical supplies	Full cost in hospital
	Vaccines on the NB public health schedule (childhood, COVID, flu, HPV, shingles for 65+)	Full cost through Public Health
	Newborn care	Full rate; hospital registers the new baby for Medicare
Partially covered	Specified surgical dental procedures	Covered only when medically required and performed in an approved hospital
	Oral and maxillofacial surgery in hospital	Covered when medically required (jaw fractures, congenital malformations, tumours)
	Eye care for specific medical conditions	Optometric exam covered when investigating diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, or other diagnosed eye disease
	Out-of-province emergency care in Canada	Reimbursed at NB rates through the reciprocal billing agreement (Quebec excluded)
Not covered	Routine dental (cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, dentures)	Nothing
	Adult eye exams (ages 19 to 64, no medical condition)	Nothing
	Eyeglasses and contact lenses	Nothing
	Laser eye surgery	Nothing
	Prescription drugs filled outside hospital	Nothing (unless on a public drug plan)
	Ambulance, ground transport	Nothing for the patient ride
	Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy outside hospital	Nothing
	Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, naturopathy, osteopathy	Nothing
	Optometry and podiatry for healthy adults	Nothing
	Pharmacist consultations and over-the-counter products	Nothing
	Psychologist or registered social worker counselling	Nothing
	Cosmetic procedures (tummy tuck, vasectomy reversal, etc.)	Nothing
	Private and semi-private hospital rooms (unless medically necessary)	Nothing
	Hearing aids, prosthetics, mobility devices	Nothing
	Fertility treatments and assisted reproductive technologies	Nothing
	Travel vaccines and most third-party medicals (employment, insurance forms)	Nothing
	Most care received outside Canada	Reimbursement at NB rates only (significant balance often left)

The pattern across every provincial plan in Canada repeats here. Anything a doctor or hospital does for a sick body inside the public system is covered. Anything that touches the pharmacy counter, the dental chair, the optical shop, the physio clinic, or another country, the patient mostly pays unless they have private insurance or qualify for one of the federal or provincial assistance programs.

The full official list lives on gnb.ca: Coverage and Claims Inside New Brunswick.

Who Qualifies for NB Medicare: 2026 Eligibility Rules

NB Medicare eligibility is a three-part test. The applicant must be legally entitled to be and remain in Canada, must establish New Brunswick as the permanent principal residence, and must be physically present in NB for at least 5 months in any 12-month period. The applicant also cannot claim coverage from another provincial, territorial, or country health plan at the same time. Source: gnb.ca: Applying for a Card.

Permanent Residents and Canadian Citizens

A new permanent resident is eligible to apply for NB Medicare from the date they land in the province if their entry to Canada is direct from outside the country. Returning Canadian citizens who left the province for more than 12 months are treated as new applicants. Required documents are the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) or PR card, a passport with the entry stamp, and a proof of New Brunswick residency such as a signed lease, utility bill, or employer letter.

Work Permit Holders

Temporary foreign workers qualify for NB Medicare if their work permit is valid for 12 months or more and names a New Brunswick employer (or is an open work permit). Workers entering New Brunswick directly from outside Canada are eligible from the date residency is established. Workers moving to New Brunswick from another Canadian province where they already had health coverage are subject to the legislated 3-month waiting period; their previous province’s plan continues to cover emergency care during that window under the Canada Health Act portability principle. Workers on a permit shorter than 12 months are not eligible and must rely on private insurance for the duration of the permit.

Study Permit Holders

International students qualify for NB Medicare if they hold a valid study permit, can present proof of full-time enrolment from an approved post-secondary institution (university, community college, or recognized private institution), and intend to remain in New Brunswick for the duration of the program. Coverage runs to the expiry date of the study permit and ends if the student leaves the institution or drops below full-time status. Spouses and dependent children living in NB with the student are eligible if they hold their own valid immigration documents covering the same period. Students from another Canadian province studying in NB cannot transfer to NB Medicare and must keep their home-province coverage.

The University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison, the Université de Moncton, the New Brunswick Community College, and CCNB typically guide international students through the NB Medicare paperwork during orientation week.

Refugees and Refugee Claimants

Convention refugees and resettled refugees with a Notice of Decision letter or other Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) documentation are eligible for NB Medicare once they establish New Brunswick residency. Refugee claimants whose claims have not yet been decided remain on the federal Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) until the claim is resolved. As of May 1, 2026, IFHP introduced co-payments of $4 per prescription and 30% on supplemental services like dental, vision, and mental health.

Canadian Armed Forces Dependents

The spouse or dependent child of a regular member of the Canadian Armed Forces who relocates to New Brunswick from another Canadian province is eligible for first-day Medicare coverage; the legislated 3-month wait is waived. The CAF member themselves is covered federally and does not enrol in provincial Medicare.

Newborns and Adopted Children

Newborns delivered in a New Brunswick hospital are typically registered for Medicare automatically through the hospital’s birth-registration paperwork. Babies born outside the province to NB-resident parents must be registered manually using the application form at myhealth.gnb.ca. Adopted children are added with the Final Adoption Order, the child’s birth certificate, and any IRCC documents in the case of an international adoption.

Who Is Not Eligible for NB Medicare

The categories explicitly excluded from NB Medicare include visitors and tourists, refugee claimants and failed claimants, individuals with expired immigration documents, students on a study permit who are studying remotely from outside the province, holders of a postgraduate work permit who do not establish NB residency, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (covered federally), and federal penitentiary inmates (also covered federally). The province confirms eligibility on a case-by-case basis, and applicants who are unsure should call Service New Brunswick at 1-888-762-8600 before booking medical care.

How to Apply for NB Medicare: Step-by-Step

The application is straightforward but requires originals or official copies of every document. Block off an hour in your first week, gather everything in one folder, and submit either online or at a Service New Brunswick office.

Step 1. Confirm you meet the three-part test. Legal status, New Brunswick residency intent, and the 5-month physical-presence rule. If you cannot tick all three, the application will be denied and you will need to wait until the situation changes.

Step 2. Gather four categories of documents. Per gnb.ca: Applying for a Card, you need proof of citizenship or immigration status, proof of identity, proof of New Brunswick residency, and a copy of your passport with the Canadian entry stamp.

Document Category	Acceptable Examples
Proof of citizenship or immigration status	Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Permanent Resident Card, COPR, valid work permit, valid study permit, refugee documentation with IRCC paperwork
Proof of identity	Government-issued photo ID, foreign passport, Canadian or NB driver’s licence, previous Canadian health card
Proof of New Brunswick residency	Signed lease or rental agreement, NB utility bill, bank or credit card statement showing an NB address, mortgage statement, employer letter confirming NB employment, NB driver’s licence, NB vehicle registration
Passport entry record	Passport with the Canadian entry stamp, eTA or visa stamp, or printed CBSA arrival record

International students must also include the IRCC study permit and a current letter from the New Brunswick post-secondary institution confirming full-time enrolment. Documents in any language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Step 3. Complete the NB Medicare application form. Apply online at myhealth.gnb.ca for the fastest turnaround, or download the paper form and submit it at any Service New Brunswick office. Major Service NB offices are in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Bathurst, Edmundston, Miramichi, Campbellton, Tracadie, Woodstock, Sussex, and Saint-Quentin.

Step 4. Submit the file.

Online (faster): the GNB MyHealthNB portal walks the applicant through identity, residency, and immigration uploads. The system confirms receipt by email and a Medicare officer reviews within 4 to 6 weeks.
In person at Service New Brunswick: the agent verifies originals on the spot, returns them, and forwards the file to Medicare. Processing typically completes in 4 to 6 weeks; complex files involving missing residency proof can run 8 weeks or longer.
By mail or email: download the paper application from gnb.ca, attach photocopies, and send to NB Medicare, P.O. Box 5100, Fredericton, NB E3B 5G8.

Step 5. Wait for the approval letter and the card. When Medicare approves the file, the province mails an approval letter that confirms the start date of coverage. The physical NB Medicare card follows separately, typically within 2 to 3 weeks of the approval letter. Coverage activates on the approved start date, which for international newcomers is generally the date of established residency, and for interprovincial movers is the first day of the third month after arrival. The approval letter itself works as proof of coverage during the gap between approval and the physical card.

Step 6. Register for primary care. Use NB Health Link (1-833-354-2300, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to add your name to the family-doctor and nurse-practitioner registry. NB Health Link replaced Patient Connect NB and is the current bilingual provincewide registry. The wait for a permanent family-doctor match in 2026 is several months in most communities, so register on day one and use walk-in clinics, Tele-Care 811 for free 24/7 nurse advice, or eVisitNB for after-hours virtual care while waiting.

If your application is denied, NB Medicare will send a written explanation. Most denials trace back to insufficient residency proof, expired immigration documents, or applications submitted from outside the province before the applicant has actually moved. Resubmitting with corrected paperwork resolves the majority of denials.

Waiting Period in Detail (and Why the Internet Gets It Wrong)

The most common misunderstanding about New Brunswick health care is the claim that everyone waits three months. That is not what gnb.ca and the Medical Services Payment Act actually say. The 3-month waiting period applies to people moving to New Brunswick from another Canadian province or territory. Newcomers entering New Brunswick directly from outside Canada with valid immigration documents are eligible for NB Medicare from the date residency is established, provided the application is submitted promptly.

A summary of the rule:

Where You Are Coming From	Coverage Start Date
Outside Canada (PR, refugee with IRCC documentation, eligible work permit, eligible study permit)	Date you establish New Brunswick residency, if the application is filed promptly after arrival
Another Canadian province or territory	First day of the third month after establishing NB residency, per the Medical Services Payment Act
Canadian Armed Forces dependent relocating to NB from another province	Waived (no waiting period)
Returning resident after more than 12 months out of Canada	Treated as a new applicant; same rules as international newcomer
Canadian Armed Forces member	Federal coverage; provincial Medicare not used

For interprovincial movers, the previous province’s plan typically continues to cover emergency care for the same waiting period under the Canada Health Act’s portability principle. A move from Toronto to Saint John on July 12, for example, leaves OHIP active for emergencies until October 1, when NB Medicare takes over. Confirm with the previous province before cancelling anything.

Reports of multi-month delays in receiving the physical card are common. CBC News documented a backlog of NB Medicare card applications during 2022 and 2023, with some newcomers waiting up to nine months for their card to arrive. The province has invested in additional processing capacity since, and standard timelines in 2026 are back in the 4-to-8-week range, but a contingency budget for 90 days of bridge insurance after arrival is still wise.

What Newcomers Actually Pay Out of Pocket Without NB Medicare

Reading the table below before flying is the cheapest way to understand why the application is the most important first-week task. These are 2026 averages billed at private rates in Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.

Service	With NB Medicare	Without NB Medicare (Newcomer Without Coverage)
Family doctor visit	$0	$80 to $200
Walk-in clinic visit	$0	$80 to $250
Specialist visit on referral	$0	$200 to $400
Emergency department triage	$0	$700 to $1,500
ER plus assessment, X-ray, blood work	$0	$1,500 to $4,000
Hospital admission per day	$0	$1,000 to $4,500
Day surgery (appendectomy, simple fracture)	$0	$8,000 to $25,000
Maternity, vaginal delivery	$0	$5,000 to $9,000
Maternity, C-section	$0	$10,000 to $18,000
MRI on referral	$0 (with referral)	$700 to $1,500
Ambulance, ground transport (NB resident)	$130.60 (legislated patient fee, paid out of pocket)	$650 (non-resident rate)
Adult eye exam (ages 19 to 64)	$0 not covered	$115 to $165
Prescription eyeglasses (basic progressive)	$0 not covered	$300 to $700
Generic prescription, common antibiotic	$0 not covered	$25 to $80
Brand-name prescription, monthly chronic medication	$0 not covered	$80 to $400
Dental cleaning and exam	$0 not covered	$145 to $210
Filling	$0 not covered	$180 to $350
Root canal	$0 not covered	$700 to $1,500
Physiotherapy session	$0 not covered	$90 to $150
Psychology session	$0 not covered	$180 to $250
Semi-private hospital room upgrade per night	$0 not covered (medically necessary fully covered)	$250 to $400

A newcomer who lands in Moncton without bridge insurance and breaks an ankle on day three is looking at an $8,000 to $15,000 bill before they have a SIN, a chequing account, or a job. Three months of $100/month newcomer insurance would have cost $300.

Filling the Drug Coverage Gap: NB Drug Plan and NBPDP

New Brunswick has two complementary public drug programs. Both require a valid NB Medicare card.

The New Brunswick Drug Plan (NBDP) is the income-based plan for working-age residents who do not have private drug coverage. Premiums and copayments are scaled across 18 income brackets and reset every November 1 based on Canada Revenue Agency tax data from the previous year. The 2026 figures effective November 1, 2025 (per gnb.ca: NB Drug Plan Premiums) are:

Annual Family Income	Monthly Premium	Maximum Copay per Prescription
$19,168 or less	$6.00	$5.25
$19,169 to $20,205	$12.08	$6.65
$32,451 to $42,710	$168.92	$27.20
Over $94,002	$241.33	$36.00

All adult plan members pay a monthly premium and a 30% copay capped at the maximum shown above. Children 18 and younger do not pay a premium when a parent or guardian is enrolled. The plan covers a published formulary of over 4,000 prescription drugs, including many brand-name and generic medications for common conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, depression, and infection.

The New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) is a series of more targeted plans for specific groups: seniors aged 65 and over who receive the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement, low-income seniors who do not receive GIS but fall below a specified income threshold, residents of nursing homes, residents of special-care homes, recipients of social assistance, children in the care of the Minister of Social Development, and residents with specific high-cost medical conditions like cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, or organ transplants. Eligibility and copays vary by sub-program.

Newcomers who arrive with employer benefits typically have prescription drugs reimbursed at 80% to 100% through the workplace plan. Those without employer coverage and with household income under the NBDP threshold should apply for the NB Drug Plan within the first 30 days. Newcomers who arrive with chronic medication needs and no insurance should budget the brand-name out-of-pocket rates above for the first 60 to 90 days while the application is processed.

Filling the Dental Gap: The Federal Canadian Dental Care Plan

By 2026, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is open to every eligible Canadian resident, including children under 18, adults aged 18 to 64, and seniors 65 and older. Many working-age New Brunswickers now qualify, which closes part of the largest gap in NB Medicare. Eligibility in plain terms:

Resident in Canada for tax purposes.
Filed last year’s Canadian tax return.
Adjusted family net income under $90,000.
No access to private dental insurance through an employer, parent’s plan, pension, or other source. Voluntarily dropping private coverage to qualify still disqualifies the applicant.

Households under $70,000 receive 100% of the eligible-fee schedule. Households between $70,000 and $89,999 receive 60% or 40% on a sliding scale. Sun Life administers the plan on behalf of Health Canada. Apply at canada.ca/dental once the first Canadian tax return as an NB resident has been filed and assessed by the CRA. Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) open June 2, 2026.

CDCP covers preventive services (cleanings, exams, X-rays), basic services (fillings, extractions, root canals on most teeth), major services (crowns, bridges, partial dentures) on prior approval, and orthodontic treatment for medical reasons on prior approval. The plan does not pay anything that would have been billed to a private insurer, so newcomers with employer dental benefits cannot also draw on CDCP.

Vision, Paramedical, and Mental Health Gaps

NB Medicare does not pay for adult eye exams (ages 19 to 64) without a diagnosed medical condition, eyeglasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, chiropractic, massage, naturopathy, podiatry for healthy adults, or counselling from a registered psychologist or social worker. Most New Brunswickers cover these gaps in one of four ways:

Employer extended-health benefits. The most common route. Coverage typically includes 80% reimbursement on dental, vision allowance ($150 to $400 every two years), 80% on prescriptions, and a paramedical bank ($300 to $750 annual cap split across physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, psychology).
Personal supplementary plans. Available from Medavie Blue Cross (the largest private insurer in Atlantic Canada and the historic carrier behind public NB drug programs), Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, and others. Premiums for a single adult under 50 with mid-tier coverage typically run $80 to $200 a month.
Sliding-scale and community clinics. Most NB communities have community mental health centres operated through the regional health authority that offer no-cost counselling for diagnosed conditions. Crisis services are available 24/7 through Tele-Care 811. The Canadian Mental Health Association New Brunswick branch offers low-cost programs.
Out of pocket. For one-off needs (a single eye exam, one massage, a single physiotherapy session), many residents simply pay the private rate. Atlantic Canada rates are often lower than Ontario or BC equivalents.

Newcomers who have not yet started a job should price one of the lower-tier personal plans against expected out-of-pocket costs. A family with two adults and two children typically spends $300 to $500 a month on a comprehensive private plan or $0 to $100 a month on out-of-pocket needs if the family is healthy and the kids qualify for CDCP. Run the numbers on actual usage, not assumed usage.

Tele-Care 811, NB Health Link, and eVisitNB: Free Provincial Resources

New Brunswick funds three free provincial resources that fill the gap between not having a family doctor and needing an emergency room.

Tele-Care 811 is the bilingual 24/7 nurse-advice line for every New Brunswicker. Dial 811 from any phone in the province and a registered nurse triages the call, recommends self-care, schedules a follow-up, or directs the caller to a walk-in clinic, an emergency department, or 911. The service is free, confidential, and available in English, French, and through interpreters in many additional languages. Source: gnb.ca: Tele-Care 811.

NB Health Link is the bilingual provincial registry that connects residents without a permanent family doctor to a network of NB Health Link family doctors and nurse practitioners. Registered patients can book in-person, telephone, or virtual appointments and receive medication prescriptions, lab requisitions, and specialist referrals through the network. Wait time for a permanent family-doctor match runs from a few weeks to several months depending on community demand. Register online at nbhealthlink.ca or call 1-833-354-2300 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). NB Health Link replaced Patient Connect NB in 2023.

eVisitNB is the after-hours virtual-care service the province operates with WELL Health. New Brunswick residents with an active Medicare card can connect with a Canadian-licensed physician through video or phone for non-emergency consults, prescription refills, sick notes, and clinical advice. The service covers evenings, weekends, and holidays when most clinics are closed. Visit evisitnb.ca or download the WELL EQ Virtual Visit app.

For mental health crises, the New Brunswick Crisis Services line at 1-866-771-7760 is available 24/7. The federal 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline also serves New Brunswick.

Newcomer to New Brunswick: First-Week Action Checklist

Use this list in the first 30 days after landing in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Bathurst, Edmundston, or any other New Brunswick community.

Before flying: purchase a 90-day newcomer-to-Canada private insurance policy with a $100,000 minimum coverage limit. Premiums for a healthy adult under 50 run $80 to $200 per month. Match the policy start date to your flight date.
Day 1 in NB: save 911 (emergency), 811 (Tele-Care nurse advice), 1-833-354-2300 (NB Health Link), and your insurer’s emergency number to your phone.
Week 1: sign a lease or rental agreement, or have a host sign a residency-attestation letter. NB Medicare requires proof of an NB address.
Week 1: apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) at any Service Canada office. Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Bathurst, and Miramichi all have walk-in Service Canada locations.
Week 1 or 2: apply for NB Medicare online at myhealth.gnb.ca or in person at a Service New Brunswick office. Bring originals of the four required document categories.
Week 2: register on NB Health Link for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Use Tele-Care 811 and walk-in clinics in the meantime.
Week 2: identify the closest walk-in clinic and the nearest hospital emergency department. Save the addresses to your phone. In Saint John, that is the Saint John Regional Hospital. In Moncton, it is The Moncton Hospital (Horizon) or the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (Vitalité). In Fredericton, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. In Bathurst, the Chaleur Regional Hospital.
Month 1: if starting a job, complete the employer group benefits enrolment forms in the first week of work. Most plans have a 1- to 3-month probation, so the sooner the clock starts, the sooner dental, drug, and paramedical coverage kicks in.
Month 1: if household income is under $90,000 and there is no private dental coverage, file the first Canadian tax return as soon as possible so you can apply to the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan. CDCP eligibility requires a confirmed CRA filing.
Month 1: if there are no employer benefits and household income is under the NBDP threshold, apply for the New Brunswick Drug Plan online at gnb.ca. Drug coverage starts the first day of the month after the application is approved.
Month 2 to 3: when the NB Medicare card arrives, cancel the bridge policy and request a pro-rata refund on the unused premium. Confirm in writing that no claims are open before cancelling.

For a deeper city-level look at clinics, hospitals, and neighbourhoods, see our Canadian healthcare system guide. For the broader cross-Canada immigration walkthrough, see our guides on moving to Canada from India, migrating to Canada from the Philippines, and moving to Canada from Ireland.

Updating, Renewing, and Cancelling Your NB Medicare Coverage

NB Medicare coverage stays active as long as the eligibility conditions hold. A few life events trigger an update obligation:

Change of address inside New Brunswick. Update through the NB Medicare Updates and Changes Form within 30 days.
New dependents. Add a spouse, partner, or new baby through the same update process.
Marital status change. Update with documentation.
Student leaving NB for studies elsewhere. Notify NB Medicare; coverage may be retained as a deemed resident for the duration of full-time accredited study.
Moving out of New Brunswick within Canada. NB Medicare provides coverage for three months including the month of move. A move on March 31, for example, leaves NB Medicare active until May 31. Register with the new province on arrival to avoid a coverage gap.
Permanent move outside Canada. Coverage terminates on the departure date. Notify NB Medicare in writing before leaving.
Card lost, stolen, or damaged. Replace through any Service New Brunswick office or by calling 1-888-762-8600.
Immigration document renewal or extension. Submit the renewed work or study permit to NB Medicare so the coverage end date is extended; coverage automatically expires on the entry document’s expiry date if not updated.

For temporary absences (vacations, work assignments outside NB), eligible residents can be away up to 212 days in any 12-month period without losing coverage, and a one-time extension to 12 months is available once every three years for documented work, study, or family circumstances. Submit a written request to the Director of Medicare before leaving. Source: gnb.ca: Leaving New Brunswick.

If NB Medicare cancels or denies coverage (most often for expired documents or insufficient residency proof), the appeals process is straightforward: write to NB Medicare with the reason for review and any new supporting evidence. Decisions usually return within 4 to 8 weeks.

How NB Medicare Compares to OHIP, AHCIP, MSP, and the Other Provincial Plans

Plan	Province	Newcomer Wait (from outside Canada)	Adult Eye Exams	Routine Dental	Premium
NB Medicare	New Brunswick	None for international newcomers	Not covered, ages 19-64	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
OHIP	Ontario	None (since March 2024)	Not covered, ages 20-64	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
AHCIP	Alberta	None for international newcomers	Not covered, ages 19-64	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
MSP	British Columbia	About 3 months	Not covered, ages 19-64	Not covered (surgical only)	$0 (eliminated 2020)
RAMQ	Quebec	Up to 3 months	Covered for all ages	Limited (children, surgical)	$0
MSI	Nova Scotia	None for international newcomers	Not covered, adults	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
MCP	Newfoundland and Labrador	None	Not covered, adults	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
Manitoba Health	Manitoba	Up to 3 months	Not covered, adults	Not covered (surgical only)	$0
Saskatchewan Health	Saskatchewan	First day of 3rd month	Not covered, adults	Not covered (surgical only)	$0

The headline differences for someone weighing New Brunswick against another province: no waiting period for international newcomers (Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the territories also offer this), no monthly health premium, and a similar baseline of what is and is not covered. RAMQ in Quebec is the one notable outlier because it covers adult eye exams under public insurance. New Brunswick’s main differentiator on the cost side is housing affordability, lower private-insurance premiums in Atlantic Canada, and a relatively low ambulance fee for residents ($130.60 vs. several hundred dollars in larger provinces).

For the full cross-province comparison and the bridge-insurance walkthrough, see our health insurance for new immigrants guide.

Frequently Asked Questions: NB Medicare and New Brunswick Health Care

What does New Brunswick health care cover for new residents?

New Brunswick health care covers all medically necessary physician and hospital services for residents enrolled in NB Medicare. That includes family doctor visits, walk-in clinic visits, specialist appointments on referral, hospital admissions in standard wards, emergency department care, surgery, maternity care, diagnostic tests on a doctor’s requisition, in-hospital nursing and meals, in-hospital drugs, anesthesia, radiotherapy, and a narrow list of surgical dental procedures performed in hospital. NB Medicare does not cover prescription drugs filled outside hospital, routine dental, adult eye exams (ages 19 to 64), eyeglasses, ambulance, physiotherapy outside hospital, chiropractic, massage, or services from a psychologist or social worker.

Is there a waiting period for NB Medicare?

Newcomers entering New Brunswick directly from outside Canada with valid immigration documents are typically eligible for NB Medicare from the date residency is established. Movers from another Canadian province face a legislated 3-month waiting period under the Medical Services Payment Act, with coverage starting the first day of the third month after arrival. Canadian Armed Forces dependents relocating to NB have the wait waived. Returning New Brunswickers who have been out of Canada for more than 12 months are treated as new applicants.

How do I apply for an NB Medicare card and how long does it take?

Apply online at myhealth.gnb.ca or in person at any Service New Brunswick office. Required documents are proof of citizenship or immigration status, proof of identity, proof of New Brunswick residency, and a copy of the passport with the Canadian entry stamp. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks once Medicare receives a complete file. The approval letter arrives first; the physical NB Medicare card follows within 2 to 3 weeks. The approval letter works as proof of coverage during the gap.

Does NB Medicare cover prescription drugs?

NB Medicare covers prescription drugs administered in a hospital setting. Drugs filled at a community pharmacy are not covered for most working-age adults. Coverage exists through the New Brunswick Drug Plan (income-based, working-age residents without private coverage), the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (seniors on GIS, low-income seniors, social assistance recipients, residents with specific high-cost conditions), the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program (First Nations and Inuit), the Interim Federal Health Program (refugee claimants), and most employer extended-health plans. Newcomers without employer benefits should apply for the NB Drug Plan within the first 30 days.

Does NB Medicare cover dental care?

NB Medicare does not cover routine dental services like cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, or dentures. The plan only covers a narrow list of medically necessary surgical dental procedures and oral and maxillofacial surgery performed in an approved hospital. Working-age New Brunswickers with household income under $90,000 and no private dental coverage may qualify for the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Children under 18 in low-income families and seniors on GIS may qualify for additional support through provincial programs.

Does NB Medicare cover eye exams and glasses?

NB Medicare does not cover routine eye exams or prescription eyewear for adults aged 19 to 64. Coverage exists for medically necessary optometric services investigating or managing diagnosed eye disease (diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts) at any age. Children, seniors, and residents on social assistance may qualify for additional coverage through provincial programs. Out-of-pocket cost for an adult eye exam in New Brunswick is typically $115 to $165, and a basic pair of progressive eyeglasses runs $300 to $700.

Does NB Medicare cover ambulance services?

NB Medicare does not cover ambulance services for the patient. Ambulance New Brunswick charges a legislated fee of $130.60 per trip for NB residents and $650 for non-residents (including newcomers without an active Medicare card). Seniors on the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program for seniors and certain other low-income residents are exempt. Most employer benefit plans and personal supplementary plans cover the $130.60 fee. Source: Ambulance New Brunswick billing.

Are international students eligible for NB Medicare?

Yes. International students with a valid IRCC study permit, full-time enrolment at an approved New Brunswick post-secondary institution (university, community college, or recognized private institution), and an intent to remain in NB for the duration of the program are eligible. Coverage runs to the expiry date of the study permit. Spouses and dependent children living with the student in NB are eligible if they hold their own valid immigration documents. Students from another Canadian province who study in NB cannot transfer to NB Medicare and must keep their home-province coverage.

What is NB Health Link and how do I find a family doctor in New Brunswick?

NB Health Link is the provincial bilingual registry for New Brunswickers without a permanent family doctor or nurse practitioner. Register at nbhealthlink.ca or call 1-833-354-2300 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Registered patients can access a network of family doctors and nurse practitioners through in-person, phone, or virtual appointments while waiting for a permanent match. The wait for a permanent family-doctor match in 2026 ranges from a few weeks to several months depending on the community. NB Health Link replaced Patient Connect NB in 2023.

How much does private supplementary insurance cost in New Brunswick?

Personal extended-health plans from Medavie Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, or Green Shield Canada typically run $80 to $200 per month for a single adult, depending on dental, vision, and paramedical benefit limits. Family plans run $250 to $500 per month. Newcomer-to-Canada policies for the bridge period before NB Medicare activates run $80 to $200 per month for a healthy adult under 50. Atlantic Canada rates are typically slightly lower than Ontario or BC equivalents. Pricing depends on age, family size, and benefit selection rather than postal code in most cases.

New Brunswick Health Care 2026: A Newcomer’s Guide to NB Medicare