Are you a client of Social Development? Do you need help paying for medical services, supplies, or medications not covered by Medicare, private health insurance plans, or other agencies?
If so, the Department of Social Development may have programs and services to support your health.
Social Development Health Cards
If you are receiving Social Assistance, you may be eligible for a Health Card through Social Development. Eligible Health Services client groups include:
- Social Assistance recipients and their dependents
- Clients in the Child and Youth Services Program
- Long-Term Care, Disability, or Mental Health clients residing in Adult Residential Facilities
- Nursing Home clients
Health Cards provide specific coverage based on your needs and may include:
Medical Benefits:
- Prescription Drugs: For uninsured New Brunswickers or low-income seniors who need drug coverage. Premiums and maximum copayments are based on your income level.
- Dental (19 or older): Covers exams, X-rays, extractions, and fillings to a max. $1,000/year. It also covers certain emergency procedures, dentures, and minor denture repairs.
- Dental (18 or younger): Covers basic items, such as regular dental exams, X-rays and extractions, and preventative treatments such as sealants and fluoride.
- Vision (19 or older): Covers specific exams, tests, lenses, and frame.
- Vision (18 or younger): Covers basic items such as a yearly exam, lenses, and frames.
- Ambulance: Indicated on health card if covered.
Health Services (also known as supplementary benefits)
- Mobility and Adaptive Equipment Loans: Loans equipment to help with daily life and mobility (e.g., wheelchair, hospital bed, walker).
- Hearing Aids: Helps you buy and maintain basic hearing aids.
- Medical Supplies/Services: Helps cover specific medical supplies and services (e.g., footcare, compression garments, etc.).
- Therapeutic Nutrients: Covers the cost of dietary oral nutrients (e.g., the generic brand of Ensure, feeding supplies, and other formulas).
- Orthopedic: Helps pay for specific types of braces, supports and orthopedic footwear.
- Respiratory supports: Covers the cost of breathing aid services, oxygen, equipment, and supplies.
- Ostomy/Incontinence supplies: Coverage for ostomy, catheterization, and incontinence supplies.
- Prosthetic devices: Assists with buying and maintaining specific prostheses.
Visit the Health Services Programs page for more information and to learn how you can apply for these services.
Types of Health Card Coverage
Depending on your medical needs, you may qualify for one of the following:
- Full Coverage: For clients who have received social assistance for 3 months or longer. Includes prescription drugs, vision, dental, ambulance and supplementary benefits.
- Clients seeking training and/or employment may also qualify for full coverage. Visit Career Development Opportunities Program (CDO) for more information.
- When a person no longer receives Social Assistance, they may keep their Health Card for three years.
- Partial Coverage: For new clients who have NOT received social assistance for 3 months yet. The first 3 months of receiving assistance you will qualify for prescription drugs and ambulance only. After 3 months, or in the case of exceptions, you will move to full coverage.
- Student Basic: Includes vision and dental benefits.
Other Plans: Clients who have coverage under another plan but would be at a financial disadvantage because of the fees may be eligible for help with the additional costs or a Social Development Health Card. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Health Card Prescription Drug Program
The New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program provides prescription drug benefits to Social Development Clients among other groups. The New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary lists the drugs which are eligible for coverage.
Individuals in this program are required to pay a co-payment for each prescription. This amount will vary depending on your plan.
Individuals receiving support from Social Development may be eligible for a health card depending on their medical needs.
There is no standard application process for a health card through Social Development. If you receive supports through Social Development (i.e., Social Assistance, Long Term Care Program) your eligibility will be assessed by the program.
To obtain a health card through Social Development, you will need to provide basic information about your income and expenses.