New Brunswick
New/Returning Residents
If you are new or returning to New Brunswick, you may
apply to obtain Medicare coverage. A
signed original ‘Application for Registration’ form (see Forms section) must be
submitted for eligibility consideration upon completing your permanent move to
New Brunswick. Completed forms must be
mailed to Medicare directly (refer to Contacts) or delivered in person to a
Service New Brunswick office.
A separate application for registration must be completed
by all individuals nineteen years of age or older.
Once a completed application form is received and
eligibility is established, a letter indicating the actual start date of your
New Brunswick Medicare coverage is issued and followed by a New Brunswick
Medicare card.
If you have moved to New Brunswick from within Canada,
you may be eligible for New Brunswick Medicare coverage on the first day of the third month following the
month you have established permanent residence in New Brunswick. For
example, if you moved to New Brunswick on July 20, the month of July will count
as the first month, with August and September as the following two. In this
case, coverage would begin October 1.
The three month waiting period is legislated under New
Brunswick's Medical Services Payment Act.
Eligibility
To be eligible for New Brunswick Medicare coverage you
must be:
· a Canadian citizen or be legally entitled to
remain in Canada and a resident who makes his/her permanent and principle home
in New Brunswick; or
A “resident” means a person
lawfully entitled to be or to remain in Canada, who makes his home and is
ordinarily present in New Brunswick, but does not include a tourist, transient
or visitor to the Province; as legislated under New Brunswick's Medical
Services Payment Act
Maintaining a dwelling, owning
property in the province of New Brunswick or paying New Brunswick property or
income tax does not mean you are eligible for insured services under New
Brunswick Medicare.
New Brunswickers are reminded that they must inform New
Brunswick Medicare by calling Service
New Brunswick (SNB) at 1-888-762-8600
or visiting their local SNB office if they are leaving the province as a result
of any of the following:
Vacation / Visit Temporarily Absent
Permanent New Brunswick
residents who plan to be temporarily absent from New Brunswick for a vacation
or visit remain insured during their absence, provided they have lived in New Brunswick for
at least five months (153 days – consecutive or not) during a 12 month period. If this criteria has been met, then
residents may be temporarily absent from New Brunswick for up to 212 days for vacation or visits.
New Brunswick Medicare can also offer up to 12 months coverage once
every three years from the time of return.
This involves a written request submitted to the Director of
Medicare. If the leave exceeds 12
months, residents must reapply for Medicare coverage upon their return.
It is recommended that in all instances of temporary
leave (one month or more), residents notify New Brunswick Medicare in order to
maintain Medicare eligibility and ensure there is no delay in payment should
they require and receive physician and/or hospital services during their
absence.
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