In New Brunswick, primary health services are covered by the provincial government. Eligible individuals can access these services through Medicare, a tax-funded health insurance plan. The provincial government determines which services are covered by Medicare.
Services that aren’t included, such as prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care, may be covered by private insurance, which can be purchased individually or offered by an employer as part of a benefits package.
In New Brunswick, health care is provided by 2 regional health authorities:
These authorities manage hospitals, clinics, and other public health services in different geographic regions. Who your service provider is will depend on where you live.
Although these regional health authorities offer services in both official languages, Horizon primarily serves the English-speaking population, while Vitalité focuses on French-speaking areas.
The Medicare card allows eligible individuals who are living in New Brunswick to receive health services covered by the provincial health insurance plan. As a newcomer, one of your first tasks is to get a Medicare card.
As part of your plan to move to New Brunswick, getting private health insurance coverage is generally recommended, as you may not be eligible for Medicare right away. Additionally, make sure you bring your medical records with you so you can share them with your doctor and other health care professionals in New Brunswick.
As a newcomer to New Brunswick, you have several options for accessing health care, depending on your situation.
In New Brunswick, as in the rest of Canada, hospitals are generally not the first point of contact for receiving health care, except in emergencies.
In Canada, some medications are readily available over the counter while some require a prescription from a licensed health care professional. This may differ from the rules in your country of origin. To access medications as a newcomer in New Brunswick:
Private insurance with medication coverage may already be included as part of the benefits package offered by your employer or your spouse’s or partner’s employer.
Dental care is covered by:
Private dental insurance may be included as part of the benefits package offered by your employer or your spouse’s or partner’s employer.
To find a dentist in New Brunswick, you can:
For more information about health and wellness in New Brunswick, visit the official page below:
Let us know your questions and we’ll get back to you with answers.