Key Takeaways
- The Guaranteed Issue Classic plan from PolicyMe offers the best mix of robust coverage and healthcare savings for residents of New Brunswick.
- New Brunswick Medicare and the New Brunswick Drug plan cover essential physician and hospital services, but dental, vision, and extended healthcare aren’t covered.
- Other personal health insurance plans that may be good options in New Brunswick include Manulife’s DentalPlus Basic plan and GreenShield’s ZONE 3 (Basic) coverage.
Health insurance in New Brunswick 101
New Brunswick Medicare provides basic coverage for medically-required services performed by physicians or in approved hospitals in the province, along with minimal coverage for specified dental services performed in a hospital.
In addition, the New Brunswick Drug Plans cover medication costs for eligible residents for prescriptions on the New Brunswick Drugs Plans Formulary.
But for most New Brunswick residents, that leaves major coverage gaps in areas like dental care, vision, home care, medical equipment and more. These common medical expenses aren’t covered by Medicare or are covered only for certain groups with lots of exclusions.
A group health benefits plan through your employer can fill these gaps. So can private health insurance, which isn’t tied to your job and lets you choose the coverage that best fits your actual healthcare needs.
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What is the best health insurance in New Brunswick?
Our team sat down to answer that question by evaluating 65 products from 9 insurers in 3 categories:
- Customer service averages the scores given in real customer reviews on Google, the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Insureye.
- Financial stability reports the grade given by reputable credit rating agencies A.M. Best, Morningstar DBRS, and S&P Global.
- Value for money measures how much coverage you can claim in return for every dollar paid in co-payments, premiums, and deductibles.
Here’s what we found: Three of the best New Brunswick health insurance plans for private coverage. Because eligible New Brunswick residents with a valid Medicare card can enroll in public prescription drug coverage, we focused on plans with robust coverage for dental care that won’t mean paying extra for coverage they already have.
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Plan
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Guaranteed Issue Classic
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DentalPlus Basic
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ZONE 3 (Basic)
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Type of plan
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Mid
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Basic
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Mid
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Monthly premiums*
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$131 for ages 21-44
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$105 for ages 21-44
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$84 for ages 21-44
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Drug coverage
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70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600/year)
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Not covered
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Not covered
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Dental coverage
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80% of basic preventative and restorative services, plus 50% of major services in Year 3+ (up to $750 combined in Year 1 and $900 combined in Year 2+)
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Year 1: 50% of first $1,150 for basic preventative services (up to $575/year)
Year 2+: 80% of first $400 and 50% of next $860 (up to $750/year)
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80% of basic preventative and restorative services (up to $600 in Year 1, $800 in Year 2, and $1,000 in Year 3+), plus 50% of major services in Year 3+
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Vision coverage (every 2 years)
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$60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription eyewear and laser surgery
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$70 for eye exams and $250 for prescription eyewear and laser surgery
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$65 for eye exams and $150 for prescription eyewear and laser surgery
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Paramedical coverage
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80% of visits to 9 professionals (up to $750/year combined)
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100% of visits to 8 professionals (up to $25/visit, $500/profession, and $4,000/year)
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100% of visits to 8 professions (up to $20/visit and $400/profession)
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Mental health coverage
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$100 per visit to a mental health professional (up to $800/year)
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$80/first visit and $65/subsequent visits x 10
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$400 per year, plus 4 hours/year of virtual counseling
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Emergency coverage
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000/year), plus 100% of ground and air ambulance transportation
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000/year), plus 100% of ground and air ambulance transportation
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $5,000/year), plus 100% of ground and air ambulance transportation
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* Prices reflect the approximate costs for residents in the relevant age group in New Brunswick.
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1. Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe
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Plan
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Guaranteed Issue Classic
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Value for Money
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★★★★★ (4.6/5)
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Financial Stability
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A+ (A.M. Best)
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Next best plans
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Guaranteed Issue Economic, Guaranteed Issue Advanced
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Why is it the best? PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic health insurance policy hits the right balance between value, simplicity, and robust, reliable coverage. Despite being one of the most affordable policies on the market, it offers a particularly high level of dental insurance coverage for everything from routine cleanings to major work — up to 80% reimbursement for all services, with annual maximums from $750 to $900.
- Guaranteed approval means no medical exams or questionnaires
- Coverage won’t be denied for pre-existing medical conditions
- $10,000 of emergency dental coverage (2x more than most plans)
- Includes access to online health forums
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Only covers generic prescription drugs
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Orthodontics aren’t covered
See how affordable health insurance can be with PolicyMe
2. DentalPlus Basic from Manulife
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Plan
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DentalPlus Basic
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Value for Money
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★★★★★ (4.8/5)
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Financial Stability
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A+
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Next best plans
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DentalPlus Enhanced, ComboPlus Enhanced
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Why we chose it: Manulife’s policies aren’t the cheapest, but they do offer robust coverage — even at the level of the DentalPlus Basic plan. This plan doesn’t have any coverage for prescription drugs, but it includes 50% coverage for routine preventative dental care as well as coverage for vision, paramedical services, mental health services, emergency dental care, and medical equipment.
- No medical exam or questionnaire
- Extensive add-ons available
- Generous coverage for mental health and paramedical services
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No prescription drug coverage
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Higher premiums
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Excludes major dental work
3. ZONE 3 (Basic) from GreenShield
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Plan
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ZONE 3 (Basic)
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Value for Money
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★★★★☆ (3.5/5)
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Financial Stability
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N/A
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|
Next best plans
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ZONE 2 (Primary), ZONE Fundamental
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Why we chose it: Like Manulife’s DentalPlus plans, GreenShield’s ZONE 3 (Basic) health insurance is a good fit for New Brunswick residents who already have coverage for prescription drugs. The plan offers moderate coverage for preventative and restorative dental care, with major care covered at 50% from Year 3 onward.
- No medical exams or questionnaires
- 4 virtual telemedicine visits per family
- 4 hours of virtual counseling per person every year
- Includes $5M/person travel insurance
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Orthodontics not covered
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No coverage for prescription drugs
Want a budget-friendly option?
In addition to the Guaranteed Issue Economic plan, PolicyMe offers two affordable health insurance plans for those seeking minimal coverage at the best price. Our Dental Care plan starts at $93.14/month in New Brunswick, while the Guaranteed Issue Economic Plan starts at $101.46/month.
What’s the best health insurance for seniors in New Brunswick?
Seniors in New Brunswick have access to three specialized health insurance plans administered through Medavie Blue Cross in cooperation with the New Brunswick Department of Health. These programs include:
- Seniors’ Prescription Drug Program: Covers prescription drugs on the New Brunswick Drugs Formulary ($140/month)
- Basic Health Benefits: Covers vision care, medical supplies (including diabetic supplies and hearing aids), and paramedical services ($20/month)
- Enhanced Health Benefits: Covers the same things as the Basic Health Benefits plan at higher reimbursement rates ($30/month)
Seniors can enrol in two optional benefit packages to their coverage:
- Dental Coverage: Covers preventative dental care at 70% reimbursement with a six-month waiting period after application ($57.26/month)
- Hospital Benefits: Covers 80% up to $50 per day up to a maximum of 90 days per year towards a semi-private or private hospital room with a three-month waiting period ($31.50/month)
The total cost of prescription drug coverage, health benefits, dental coverage, and hospital benefits for seniors through Medavie Blue Cross comes to $248.76/month for Basic Health Benefits plans and $258.76/month for Enhanced Health Benefits.
Two affordable alternatives for seniors
If the full cost of drug, dental, and health coverage through MBC seems higher than you’d like to pay, consider PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan, which offers many of the same benefits without any of the waiting periods that apply to MBC coverage. For seniors 65 and older, this plan averages $197.45/month in New Brunswick — more than $50 less than the Medavie plans.
Methodology
There are many points to consider when choosing a health plan and provider, which we boiled down to three essentials:
- Customer Service averages real customer review scores from Google, the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and Insureye to give each company a score out of 5.
- Financial Stability shows each company's most recent grade from reputable credit rating agencies A.M. Best, Morningstar DBRS, and S&P Global.
- Value for Money measures how much drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health and emergency coverage each product provides in exchange for a year's worth of premiums and deductibles. The plan with the highest returns in each category receives "5", while the plan with the lowest returns receives "0."
Because the Canadian insurance industry is so highly regulated, we take each company's Financial Stability score as a given. Our rankings are based on each company's Customer Service score plus the Value for Money score of its highest-rated plan in the relevant category.
How much does health insurance in New Brunswick cost?
In 2023, households in New Brunswick spent an average of $3,030 on out-of-pocket healthcare costs, according to Statistics Canada. That’s slightly less than the national average of $3,087.
In other words, New Brunswick spent roughly $253/month on services that Medicare doesn’t cover — from chiropractic visits and contact lenses to dental work and mental health services. But private health insurance, which can cover all of those expenses and more, frequently costs far less than that.
For example, PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan — our top pick for health insurance in New Brunswick — costs residents aged 21 to 44 just $119.17/month. By opting to purchase private health insurance coverage, the average New Brunswick resident could save nearly $1,500 per year while still meeting all of their healthcare needs. Actual savings vary with age, coverage level, and usage.
As a reference point, the table below compares average monthly premiums for our top three health insurance plans in New Brunswick:
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Plan
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Guaranteed Issue Classic
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DentalPlus Basic
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ZONE 3 (Basic)
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Plan Type
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Mid
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Basic
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Mid
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Kids (0-4)
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$48.02
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$32.30
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$93.00
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Kids and youth (5-20)
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$64.12
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$56.00
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$93.00
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Adults (21-44)
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$119.17
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$111.10
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$102.00
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Adults (45-54)
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$143.60
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$116.30
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$105.00
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Adults (55-59)
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$157.19
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$117.40
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$105.00
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Adults (60-64)
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$171.97
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$120.70
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$106.00
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Seniors (65+)
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$158.21+
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$121.00+
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$115.00+
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What does Medicare cover in New Brunswick?
The basic health care coverage offered under Medicare in New Brunswick includes:
- Most medically-necessary physician services for you and your dependents
- Insured hospital services, including laboratory, x-ray, and diagnostic services
- Certain medically-necessary dental services if performed in an approved hospital, although these cases are rare
- Three levels of coverage for seniors through Medavie Blue Cross (premiums apply for a maximum of $227.26/month)
Ambulance services aren’t covered by New Brunswick Medicare, but subsidies mean the cost to residents is just $131.
If you’re outside of the country, Medicare only covers emergency physician and hospital services and services for which you’ve received prior approval. In order to get prior approval for out-of-country medical services, you’ll need a medical specialist to submit a letter to New Brunswick Medicare stating that you have a medical need for specific services only available outside of Canada.
In the table below, we’ve outlined key areas of coverage included in New Brunswick’s Medicare coverage, along with the residents eligible for those plans.
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Prescription Drugs
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* EVERYONE (without private drug coverage): Income-based premiums + 30% co-pay up to a per-prescription cap; drugs must be on the NB Drug Plans Formulary.
* EVERYONE with private coverage, but whose prescriptions are not covered by private insurance and are covered by the NBPDPF: the NBPDBP will act as a payor of last resort to an unspecified amount of coverage (NB Drug Plan)
* SENIORS (65+) paying for the Medavie Blue Cross coverage ($140/month): 70% of prescription drugs on the NBPDPF (with a max. co-pay of $15/prescription) (Medavie Blue Cross Seniors' Prescription Drug Program) |
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Dental
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|
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Vision
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* CHILDREN (4 years old): 1 major eye exam (up to $87.71), 1 set of corrective glasses (up to approx. $297.10 for single vision lenses and $313.10 for bifocal lenses; if parents have private coverage which covers less than the maximum program benefit, the remnant will be covered) (Healthy Smiles, Clear Vision)
* CHILDREN (0-18): 100% of yearly exams, glasses, and frames for low-income families with no other public or private vision coverage (Healthy Smiles, Clear Vision)
* SENIORS (65+) paying for Medavie Blue Cross Basic Health Benefits ($20/month): $64/2 years for vision care
* SENIORS (65+) paying for MBC Enhanced Health Benefits ($30/month): $100/2 years for vision care |
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Paramedic
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* SENIORS (65+) paying for the MBC BHB ($20/month): 80% (up to $12/visit) to a chiropractor (up to $100 combined with X-ray) and 80% (up to $16/visit) to a podiatrist (up to 5 visits/year)
* SENIORS (65+) paying for the MBC EHB ($30/month): 80% of visits to 6 professionals (up to $200/year per profession and $400/year combined with mental health coverage) |
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Mental health
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* SENIORS (65+) paying for the MBC EHB ($30/month): 80% of visits to a psychologist (up to $200/year per profession and $400/year combined with paramedic coverage) |
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Extended health
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* SENIORS (65+) paying for MBC BHB ($20/month): diabetic supplies (up to $500 combined/year), hearing aids (up to $320/5 years), orthotics (up to $200/year), prosthetic limbs, ostomy supplies, etc.
* SENIORS (65+) paying for MBC EHB ($30/month): diabetic supplies (up to $500 combined/year), hearing aids ($320/5 years), orthotics ($400/year), prosthetic limbs, ostomy supplies, respiratory devices ($400/3 years), nursing ($250/year), oxygen equipment ($1,600/3 years), orthopaedic shoes ($100/year), accidental dental services ($7,000/lifetime), ambulance services ($400/year) and more
* SENIORS (65+) paying for MBC Hospital Benefits ($31.50/month): 80% of semi-private/private accommodations (up to $50/day and 90 days/year) (3-month waiting period) |
New Brunswick extends special income-based coverage to three groups: (1) children aged 0–18 in low-income families, (2) adults and dependents receiving support from Social Development, and (3) seniors receiving Guaranteed Income Supplements.
- Dental and vision care for low-income children: The Healthy Smiles, Clear Vision program covers routine preventative dental care, eye exams, and prescription glasses for children aged 18 and younger. Eligibility is based on family size and income.
- Dental care for adult Social Development clients: The Health Services Dental Program will cover exams, x-rays, dentures, repairs, and certain fillings, up to $1,000. Adults participating in Career Development Options programming are eligible for additional coverage under the Enhanced Dental Program for a maximum of three years.
- Vision care for adult Social Development clients: The Health Services Vision Program covers comprehensive, follow-up, and emergency eye exams as well as corrective lenses, cases, and select frames. Exams are every two years for most and one a year for those diagnosed with diabetes.
- Prescription drug plan for adult Social Development clients: Plan F covers 100% of prescription drugs on the NBDPF (plus a $2 co-payment/prescription for children and a $4 co-payment/prescription for adults, up to $250/year).
- Prescription drug plan for Seniors: The NBPDP Seniors Drug Plan (Plan A) covers 100% of prescription drugs on the NBDPF (with a $9.05 co-payment/prescription, up to $500/calendar year) for seniors receiving Guaranteed Income Supplements.
How to find the best health insurance for you
We’ve recommended a few plans that may meet the needs of most New Brunswick residents, but personal health insurance is just that — personal. Every Canadian citizen has different healthcare needs, and finding the right insurance can look different for everyone.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple checklist:
- Review your current medical coverage: Do you know what’s covered by your provincial Medicare plan — and are you taking full advantage of any programs you’re eligible for? If you have access to a group plan through your work, are you maximizing your coverage there?
- Take stock of your routine out-of-pocket medical costs. For most people in New Brunswick, this total will come close to $250/month, but you may find you’re spending more or less than that average figure on things like dental care, medical equipment, or paramedical services.
- Measure your coverage gap: How much have you spent in the last year on uninsured medical services that could have been covered by a private health insurance plan?
- Request health insurance quotes: Now that you know how much of your budget goes to out-of-pocket medical costs, compare some actual health insurance quotes to the size of your coverage gap. If the cost of private health insurance is significantly less than your out-of-pocket expenses, it’s likely a smart investment.
- Don’t forget to do your research: Savings are important, but take the time to research health insurance companies before settling on the cheapest policy. Each plan offers a slightly different set of benefits, so it’s worth it to find the one with the closest match to your actual healthcare spending.
FAQ: Best health insurance in New Brunswick
Yes, New Brunswick residents have access to free public healthcare through Medicare. Certain low-income residents aged 18 and younger, as well as adults receiving Social Development support and seniors receiving Guaranteed Income Supplements, are eligible for additional free healthcare.
Yes — even if you’re covered by a provincial health insurance plan like Medicare, all Canadian citizens can buy their own private health insurance policy. It’s often a smart purchase, since provincial healthcare programs focus on basic, medically-necessary physician and hospital services but don’t cover common medical needs like dental care, paramedical services, and medical equipment.
In New Brunswick, access to public healthcare through Medicare is free. However, if you want to purchase a private health insurance policy, you’re likely looking at average premiums from as low as $35/month to $400/month or more, depending on your age and the policy you select. For instance, a Guaranteed Issue Classic policy — PolicyMe’s most popular option — costs New Brunswick residents aged 21 to 44 about $119/month.
New Brunswick Medicare doesn’t cover prescription medications, but residents without prescription drug coverage who hold an active Medicare card are eligible for coverage through the New Brunswick Drug Plan. Additional drug plans are available for certain groups, such as seniors and those with specific health conditions.
Anyone with routine medical expenses that aren’t covered by New Brunswick Medicare, the New Brunswick Drug Plan, or an employer-sponsored group healthcare plan should consider buying private health insurance. This includes people who are self-employed or retired, as well as anyone with consistent medical costs that aren’t covered by their existing insurance.
In order to qualify for Medicare coverage in New Brunswick, you must be a Canadian citizen, a legal resident who primarily makes their home in the province, or an international student who meets eligibility criteria.
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of October 2025. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.
