Health Insurance in New Brunswick: Public and Private Options

Editorial Team
Edited by: Jessica Barrett
Content Marketing Manager
Updated
January 14, 2026
Get My Quote
Scroll down for full content ↓
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 health care aren’t covered.
  • Other personal health insurance plans that may be good options in New Brunswick include GreenShield’s ZONE 5 (Choice) and Manulife’s ComboPlus Basic coverage.

Health insurance in New Brunswick 101

Private health insurance in New Brunswick costs between $80 and $120 per month for adults 21–44. A private plan can cover what the province does not, like vision care, dental care, paramedical services, and more. The best private health options in NB are from PolicyMe, Manulife, and Sun Life.

New Brunswick Medicare, the provincial plan, 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, long-term care, 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.

Blog Icon
How private health insurance fills New Brunswick’s coverage gaps

Public healthcare does not cover vision, dental, medical equipment, or other paramedical care in New Brunswick. But you can get a private plan that covers exactly the supplemental care you need — you benefit from provincial programs and save money out-of-pocket by getting a custom private plan, too.

Join 18,000+ Canadians with quality coverage from coast to coast

What is the best health insurance in New Brunswick?

We’ve identified the best private health insurance plans in New Brunswick by analyzing over 1,700 quotes covering 50+ private health insurance products from the seven biggest providers in Canada, sourced from official product websites and supplemented with customer ratings from Google.

To identify the best plans for the average New Brunswick household, we focused on plans with: 

  • Excellent coverage for adults: Adults aged 18–14 are most overlooked by government health care coverage, making them prime candidates for private health insurance. 
  • Complete coverage: We prioritized insurance options that include coverage for both prescription drugs and dental services in addition to other extended health benefits. 
  • Mid-tier pricing: We focused on plans with mid-range pricing that’s competitive in the industry in order to deliver the highest value for the largest number of Canadians. 
  • Non-replacement plans: We’ve recommended plans designed for Canadians without existing workplace health benefits, rather than those seeking to replace previous employer-sponsored plans.  
Rating
Company
Plan
Premiums*
Coverage**
★★★★★ (5.0)
PolicyMe
Classic
$131/month
35% above industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
GreenShield
ZONE 5 (Choice)
$124/month
21% above industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
ScotiaLife
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
$102/month
46% below industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Manulife
ComboPlus Basic Plan
$142/month
44% below industry average
★★★☆☆ (3.0)
Canada Life
Freedom to Choose Select Plus
$154/month
70% above industry average

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

** Comparison reflects the total amount of prescription drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health, accidental dental, and ambulance coverage versus the industry average for comparable plans.

Join 18,000+ Canadians with quality coverage from coast to coast

1. Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe

PolicyMe Classic
Rating
★★★★★ (5.0)
Premiums*
$131/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
80% of visits to 9 paramedical professionals (up to $750 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $100 per visit and $800 combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

Our expert take: PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan offers competitive premiums for adults in New Brunswick, with excellent paramedical coverage and generous maximums for dental care in Year 2 and beyond. Coverage for prescription drugs is lower than with competing plans, but New Brunswick’s generous public coverage for prescription medication may make this a lesser concern.

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Above-average dental, paramedical, and accidental dental coverage
  • Includes access to online health forums
  • No medical questionnaire required
  • Below-average prescription drug coverage
  • No add-ons available

Available products from PolicyMe: 

  • Guaranteed Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more
  • Dental Care: A guaranteed health insurance plan with no coverage for prescription drugs
  • Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of replacement health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more

2. ZONE 5 (Choice) from GreenShield

GreenShield ZONE 5 (Choice)
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$124/month
Drug coverage
90% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
No
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $700 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $100 for eye exams and $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
100% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $45 per visit and $500 per profession)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $500 combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

Our expert take: Seniors in New Brunswick who want to supplement their existing medical coverage can find competitive premiums and decent paramedical, accidental dental, and travel insurance with GreenShield’s ZONE 5 (Choice) plan.

  • Below-average premiums for older adults and seniors
  • Includes access to GreenShield Pharmacy, 4 hours of virtual counselling through GreenShield Mental Health, and 4 virtual visits per year through GreenShield Telemedicine
  • Includes travel insurance and semi-private or private hospital accommodations
  • Below-average prescription drug, dental, and mental health coverage

Available products from GreenShield: 

  • LINK 1, 2, 3, and 4: A series of replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental options.
  • ZONE 1, 2, and 3 and Zone Fundamental: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with complete and no-drug options.
  • ZONE 4, 5, 6, and 7: A series of underwritten health insurance plans with complete and no-dental options.

3. Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan from ScotiaLife

ScotiaLife Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$102/month
Drug coverage
75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery, including a $50 limit for eye exams)
Paramedical coverage
75% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $25 per visit and 12 visits per profession each year)
Mental health coverage
75% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per year, and $800 combined per year, including visits to paramedical professionals)
Accidental dental coverage
75% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
75% of ground ambulance transportation (unlimited) and 100% of air ambulance transportation (up to $10,000 per year)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

Our expert take: For existing Scotiabank customers, the Health Insurance Plan offers low premiums, with coverage to match. An optional dental plan adds basic coverage for dental services, but you’ll need to wait three months before using that coverage. This plan is also unusual for its limits on accidental dental coverage and ambulance transportation, but it’s a solid option for those who want a simple, affordable supplement to their existing coverage.

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 1 optional add-on available
  • Above-average prescription drug and mental health coverage
  • Below-average premiums for all ages
  • Includes semi-private hospital accommodations
  • 3-month dental waiting period
  • 1-year vision waiting period
  • Below-average dental and vision coverage
  • Only available to Scotiabank customers, their spouses, and dependents 64 and under

Available products from ScotiaLife: 

  • Health Insurance Plan: A guaranteed no-dental health insurance plan with a single dental option available only to Scotiabank customers, their spouses, and dependent children

4. ComboPlus Basic Plan from Manulife

Manulife ComboPlus Basic Plan
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$142/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $70 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
60% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $500 per profession and $4,000 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 15 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

Our expert take: The ComboPlus Basic plan from Canadian insurance juggernaut Manulife may be a good fit for families with relatively simple coverage needs. Key strengths of this plan include competitive premiums for children, excellent coverage for mental health services, and great built-in benefits like virtual care and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. The drawback: when claiming your full dental benefits, you’re likely to end up with extremely high out-of-pocket costs compared with other plans. 

  • 7 optional add-ons available
  • Above-average mental health coverage
  • Below-average premiums for children
  • Includes access to TELUS Health Virtual Care and survivor benefit
  • Includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance and travel insurance
  • Below-average prescription drug coverage
  • High out-of-pocket dental costs

Available products from Manulife: 

  • Flexcare ComboPlus Starter, Basic, and Enhanced Plan: A series of complete health insurance plans with guaranteed options.
  • Flexcare DentalPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans.
  • Flexcare DrugPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of no-dental health insurance plans.
  • FollowMe Basic, Enhanced, Enhanced Plus, and Premiere Plan: A series of complete replacement health insurance plans.
  • Guaranteed Issue Enhanced: A complete, premium health insurance plan with guaranteed acceptance.

5. Freedom to Choose Select Plus from Canada Life

Canada Life Freedom to Choose Select Plus
Rating
★★★☆☆ (3.0)
Premiums*
$154/month
Drug coverage
80% of generic, birth control, cannabis, and other prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
No
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $75 for eye exams and $200 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
100% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $40 per visit and $400 per profession)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $40 per visit and 10 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (unlimited)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

Our expert take: Canada Life’s Freedom to Choose Select Plus plan rounds out our recommendations for New Brunswick with generous reimbursement for drug, dental, and vision costs and excellent pricing for families with young kids. It’s a great fit for households with relatively high coverage needs who still want to save, but above-average premiums, a waiting period for dental coverage, and potentially redundant prescription drug coverage keep it from climbing the ranks. 

  • 31-day missed payment grace period
  • 20% off at Rexall with Preferred Perks
  • Above-average drug, dental, and vision coverage
  • Below-average premiums for children
  • Includes second opinion services from Teledoc Medical Experts
  • 3-month dental waiting period
  • Above-average premiums for adults and seniors

Available products from Canada Life: 

  • Freedom to Choose Guaranteed, Guaranteed Plus, and Guaranteed Elite: A series of guaranteed and replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental coverage options.
  • Freedom to Choose Select, Select Guaranteed, Select Plus, and Select Elite: A series of health insurance plans with guaranteed, underwritten, complete, and high-drug options.

Compare the top 3 health insurance plans in New Brunswick

PolicyMe
GreenShield
ScotiaLife
Plan
Classic
ZONE 5 (Choice)
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
Rating
★★★★★ (5.0)
★★★★☆ (4.0)
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Medical questions required
No
Yes
Yes
Premiums*
$131/month
$124/month
$102/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year)
90% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
No
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year)
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $700 per year)
Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year)
Vision coverage
100% every 2 years (up to $60 exam / $250 lenses)
100% every 2 years (up to $100 exam / $150 lenses)
100% every 2 years (up to $150 lenses, $50 exam)
Paramedical coverage
80% of visits to 9 professionals (up to $750 combined)
100% of visits to 8 professionals (up to $45/visit, $500/profession)
75% of visits to 10 professionals (up to $800 combined)
Mental health coverage
100% (up to $100/visit, $800 combined)
100% (up to $500 combined)
75% (up to $25/visit, $800 combined)
Accidental dental coverage
100% (up to $10,000 per year)
100% (up to $10,000 per year)
75% (up to $2,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% ground and air (unlimited)
100% ground and air (unlimited)
75% ground (unlimited) and 100% air (up to $10,000)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in New Brunswick.

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 $131.09/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:

PolicyMe, Guaranteed Issue Economic
PolicyMe, Guaranteed Issue Classic
PolicyMe, Advanced
Kids (0–4)
$45.01
$52.82
$69.52
Kids and youth (5–20)
$57.95
$70.53
$91.56
Adults (21–44)
$111.61
$131.09
$170.89
Adults (45–54)
$129.34
$157.96
$209.06
Adults (55–59)
$150.59
$172.91
$226.16
Adults (60–64)
$166.99
$189.17
$244.42
Seniors (65+)
$153.63+
$174.03+
$224.86+

See how affordable health insurance can be with PolicyMe

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.

 
Medicare
Prescription Drugs

* 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)

Dental

* CHILDREN (0-18): 100% of regular exams, x-rays and extractions for low-income families with no other public or private dental coverage (Healthy Smiles, Clear Vision)

* SENIORS (65+) paying for Medavie Blue Cross coverage: 70% of diagnostic, preventative and restorative dental services ($57.26/month) (Medavie Blue Cross Seniors' Health Program)

Vision

* 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

Paramedic

* 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)

Mental health

* 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)

Extended health

* 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: 

  1. 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? 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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? 
  4. 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. 
  5. 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. 

Now is a good time to research other types of insurance, like life insurance and critical illness coverage. You can often get a discount on a bundled policy and save money.

FAQ: Best health insurance in New Brunswick

Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.

Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.

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.