New Brunswick

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

Cancer Patient Navigation Program: The Cancer Patient Navigation Program is a community based service with a goal to provide assistance and support to patients and their families throughout the cancer care journey, especially in the pre diagnostic and post treatment transition to cancer survivorship periods. The Cancer Patient Navigation program can help you and your family with questions about treatments, and how to secure financial resources for travel and medications.

Transportation | Canadian Cancer Society: If you live in New Brunswick, the Canadian Cancer Society’s travel treatment fund offers 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 available 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 offer affordable, accessible transportation through 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 help cancer patients with some of the minor yet significant financial challenges they and their families experience on a daily basis. Things like a taxi fare, a grocery card, a prescription top-up, a bus pass, or headwear for chemo treatments etc. 
• Breast Cancer Angel Fund: The Breast Cancer Angel Fund helps women with transportation to and from chemotherapy treatments, wigs, prostheses, food coupons and so much more. It offers women with breast cancer the opportunity to live more comfortably, with dignity and improved emotional health. It provides them with the needed financial support so they can focus on fighting cancer.

Social Assistance program: Social Assistance provides financial support to people who are not able to afford basic living costs such as food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. It can also help you access 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 are unable to pay the costs of winter heating due to unavoidable and unforeseen situations. This benefit can pay for any type of heat including electric, gas, wood, oil and more. 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 some of the programs that offer 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 or older. The benefit helps older residents to supplement their income and can help with household expenses or other necessities. Applications for the benefit are available on April 1st of every year. For more information, including qualification criteria, and how to apply, click here.

Feed NB is a registered, non profit charitable organization that serves food banks, community kitchens, school programs and 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 pay for health services or medical supplies. If you meet the medical criteria, the programs can loan or buy equipment for you or cover the cost of medical services and supplies to meet your basic health and safety needs. The programs cover specific benefits not covered by Medicare, private health insurance plans or other agencies. If you are not a Social Development client, you can find more information about equipment programs offered by the Canadian Red Cross or 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:

1. Get a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner
2. Take your prescription to a pharmacy or medical supplier with someone trained in fitting breast prostheses. 
3. The pharmacy/medical supplier will send the prescription and quote to Health Services to request approval.
4. 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 recovering from illness or injury. Healthcare professionals refer clients to the Canadian Red Cross and health equipment is selected to meet the needs of the individual. This program operates in a few provinces, including New Brunswick. For more information, click here.

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 the child’s Oncology care team.

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

Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigation: A pediatric oncology patient navigator can help you and your family understand challenges and answer questions about your child’s cancer. The navigator, among other things, can help you find resources to help with travel expenses during the treatment. This service is offered through Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network.