New Brunswick

New Brunswick drug plan:  The New Brunswick Drug Plan is a prescription drug plan that offers drug coverage for uninsured New Brunswick residents who hold an active Medicare card. The drugs covered are listed in the New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary. 

Cancer Patient Navigation Program: The Cancer Patient Navigation Program is a community based service with the aim to provide assistance and support to patients and their families throughout the cancer care journey, particularly in the pre-diagnostic and post-treatment transition to cancer survivorship periods. The Cancer Patient Navigation program can assist you and your family when it comes to questions about treatments, or how to obtain financial resources for travel and medications.

Transportation | Canadian Cancer Society: If you live in New Brunswick, the Canadian Cancer Society’s travel treatment fund grants short term financial support to reduce some travel costs when traveling to cancer treatments. This includes costs like fuel and taxi or public transit fares. It is accessible to people in Canada who are currently or will soon be undergoing cancer treatment. For more information, visit the linked website.

Community Transportation Services: The New Brunswick Community Transportation Service is a provincial network of non-profit organizations that provide affordable, accessible transportation with the help of volunteer drivers. 

Cancer Care – Friends Foundation

The Cancer Care Friends Foundation has a few initiatives to support cancer patients with the financial related costs of cancer. These include: 

• The Rebecca Schofield Fund: The Rebecca Schofield Fund works to assist cancer patients with some of the minor yet significant financial difficulties they and their families experience on a daily basis. 
• Breast Cancer Angel Fund: The Breast Cancer Angel Fund helps people with breast cancer by offering support for wigs, and prostheses, and gift cards for groceries and gas. It offers people with breast cancer the ability to live more comfortably, with dignity and emotional well-being. 

Social Assistance program: Social Assistance provides financial support to people who are unable to pay for basic living expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. It can also assist with accessing programs to transition to employment. For more information, including the eligibility criteria, and how to apply click here. 

Emergency Fuel Benefit: The Emergency Fuel Benefit provides up to $550 to eligible households who cannot pay for winter heating due to unexpected circumstances. This benefit covers any type of heat, such as electric, gas, wood, oil, etc. For qualification criteria, how to apply, and more information, click here. 

Internet, Mobile, and Technology Access: Telus Mobility for Good and Rogers’ (together with Shaw) Connected for Success are programs that provide free or discounted smartphones, mobile plans, high-speed internet, and tv bundles. For information on who qualifies for internet, tv, and mobile phone plans for free or at a reduced rate, click here. 

New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors Benefit: The Government of New Brunswick offers an annual benefit to eligible seniors 60 and older. This benefit can help with household expenses or other necessities. To apply, click here.

Feed NB is a registered, non profit charitable organization that supplies food banks, community kitchens, school programs as well as other supportive agencies across New Brunswick. To find a food resource (food banks, kitchens, and other resources in your community), click here.

Health Services has a number of programs that can help with the cost of health services or medical supplies. If you meet the medical criteria, Health Services’ programs can loan or purchase equipment for you or pay for the cost of medical services and supplies to meet your basic health and safety needs. The programs cover certain benefits not covered by Medicare, private health insurance plans or other agencies. If you are not a Social Development client, you can learn more about equipment programs offered by Easters Seals NB.  

Prosthetic program: This program helps clients with coverage for prosthetic services that are not covered by other agencies or private health insurance plans. It covers breast prostheses and one bra. Breast prostheses and bras are eligible once every two years. Modifications and repairs are considered as needed. To apply for a breast prosthesis:

• Get a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner
• Take your prescription to a pharmacy or medical supplier with someone trained in fitting breast prostheses. 
• The pharmacy/medical supplier will send the prescription and quote to Health Services to request approval.
• If it is approved, the supplier will give you your breast prosthesis and bill Health services directly. 

In situations where an applicant has existing coverage for a prosthetic device but would be in financial hardship to pay their copay, the program may help them with the difference. For more information, including eligibility criteria, click here. 

For more information on other health services programs, click here.

Canadian Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program: The Canadian Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP), provides health equipment to individuals healing from illness or injury. Similar to a prescription, healthcare professionals refer clients to the Canadian Red Cross and health equipment is chosen to safely meet the needs of each individual. Canadian Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Programs are offered in B.C., Alberta, New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Yukon territory.

Lions Sick Children Fund: Offers programs like a travel assistance program, a prescription drug assistance program, a medical equipment assistance program, and programs for other types of medical assistance. Referral to the program must come from a medical professional

Fuel the care: This program provides fuel gift cards to families traveling for medical treatments for their child. Families can apply by getting in touch with the social work departments at partner hospitals.

Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigation: A pediatric oncology patient navigator can support you and your family by answering questions about your child’s cancer and assist with understanding challenges. The navigator, among other things, can help you locate resources to assist with travel costs during treatment. This service is offered through Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network.