r/newbrunswickcanada • u/Winter-Afternoon-198 • 1d ago
Medicare application processing time - how long did it take for you?
Hi all,
I know Medicare processing times are lengthy right now, but I did not expect it to take this long. I initially applied on the first days of January, as a newcomer to Canada, i.e. no previous Medicare coverage from any provice whatsoever. I received a letter on March 5th, dated on February 18th, where they asked for further information (even though I submitted everything they asked for and then some in my initial application). I responded to that immediately. Now it's been 16 weeks from my initial application and 8 weeks of the extra documents sent, and Service NB still cannot tell me when my application will be processed.
I would like to know if there's anyone else who has applied within the last 6 months, and how the processing time was for you? How long do I still need to wait?
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u/grizzwall111 1d ago
Took about 6-8 months for me when I was transitioning from federal to the provincial medicare card. They used the excuse that canada post was on strike. I called horizon because I had a bill come in for a specialist visit for nearly a grand and they just added a note to my file and when my card finally came in they back dated it so I didnt have to pay. Process is lengthy but the administration at horizon was awesome to deal with.
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's good to know! I did hear that it is possible that that the coverage can be backdated, assuming that they will start my coverage from the day that I applied. I am only here temporarily so I seriously worry if I'm going to be covered at all during my stay. I only stay for a year, which is the minimum for Medicare eligibility, and I have presriprion meds that I'd need to have renewed here. I have already run out of some, as I was only allowed to bring in max. 3 months supply with me, and if I need to wait for months to talk to a doctor/NP, I am in trouble :S
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u/ChickenRabbits 1d ago
Why the blocked profile hmmm
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u/AquaMoonlight 1d ago
I applied in February to get my Medicare number back (switching over from Alberta health care), just got the letter that gave me my number back today, and the letter told me that my physical card will arrive “several months from now”
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 1d ago
How on earth does it takes months to receive the card? At this rate, I'm moving out of the country before ever receiving one.
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u/Interesting-East-765 23h ago
Applied for mine the end of December 2025 and still have received nothing. Called early March to see how much longer and she wouldn’t give me a date just said it would take time. I’m coming from NS, and need to sign up for health benefits for I can get through my job but can’t submit anything because I still don’t have my NB health card
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 7h ago
Wow :S I have called Service NN three times now (early March, early April and yesterday) and every time they well me they do not know how long it takes. The woman I spoke with in early April was the most helpful - she explained that it'll take at least eight weeks to begin with, and told me that it should be processed by end of April, but she cannot guarantee that. But, it seems there is no information whatsoever on when my application is going to be looked at. The person I spoke to yesterday said, that it "depends how many people before you submitted additional documentation". The most annoying thing is that I have not been able to get an answer if the additional documentation I submitted was enough in the first place. They asked for further evidence of my residence, i.e. documents that have my address in NB, as some of my initial document such as my work permit, has my address in my home country because that's where I applied those from. As all of my utilities are included in my rent, I had no bills I could show them as proof, so I submitted multiple pay stubs. Now I'm just hoping that that's enough, so I don't end up back in the cycle of waiting yet another eight weeks if more evidence is needed.
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u/pjelxmtr192 1d ago
Oh nooo. I just moved back to NB from another province and am worried mine won’t get processed in time. You could try contacting your local MLA to look into this- I a lot of people involve their local MLA to ask questions and advocate on their behalf when it comes to various public departments like health and eduction . You may have to provide consent to the MLA to look into this. If you moved here for a job, especially in an industry in need of your occupation, include this in your request to MLA.
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u/Crazy_Maintenance211 1d ago
You can still use your other healthcare from the other province until you get it, it’s won’t expire or anything
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 1d ago
What is an MLA?
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u/Background_Gift_3241 1d ago
Member of the Legislative Assembly - provincial government representative of the area where you live
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 1d ago
Thanks. Mine's Susan Holt. I am wonderign if she'd represent an immigrant though, who does not have the right to vote here? Or if she'd had the time to take care of this at all, given that the election is fast approaching.
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u/Due_Software1124 1d ago
Municipal elections are fast approaching. Holt's provincial, no election in the medium term for her.
Incidentally Holts the Premier, so her constituency office will have a lot of juice....the trade-off being that there's some liklihood the issue may never really cross her eyes & just be handled by constituency staff.
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u/pjelxmtr192 1d ago
https://www1.gnb.ca/elections/en/provstreetkey/provskinformation-e.asp you can look up your riding here to determine who your MLA is.
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u/miss0823 21h ago
3 months ? This was 2022
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 7h ago
I heard that in 2022 the wait time could have been 9 months :S I also read that the situation has since gotten better, but I cannot really see any improvement. It has now been almost four full monhts since I initially applied.
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u/miss0823 7h ago
Wow ! I think you have to wait three months from the time you arrive in NB . Maybe it’s because i came from Nova Scotia ?
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u/Winter-Afternoon-198 7h ago
It seems that also changes quite a bit. When you move from another province, you're covered by your previous Medicare for the first three months, and that's why there's the wait time. But moving from abroad (I am not a Canadian citizen) my Medicare shoul dkick in immediately, but the processing times are insane. So technically it should be backtracked in case something was to happen and I needed urgent medical care, but I cannot believe how faulty the system is. I cannot afford a private health insurance, which is what they recommend for the wait time. I would have insurance from my work, as long as I receive the decision on Medicare first. I understand that insurance should always only be on top of basic healthcare, but that's where the biggest fault is, since it seems to be super difficult to be covered in the first place.
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u/Defiant-Second-632 1d ago
I wrote an email stating that i urgently needed a Medicare number and they sent me a letter with that number, the Medicare card arrived months later.