A total of 36 medical conditions are covered, based on definitions commonly used in the insurance industry. There are 25 conditions eligible for full payment (you can claim for two of these conditions and receive two full payments if the conditions are in unrelated categories). There are also four conditions eligible for a partial payment and seven childhood conditions eligible for a full payment.

A full list of conditions and exclusions and limitations can be viewed in the Coverage Details.

You can get a quote in seconds and apply in minutes by clicking ‘Get an instant quote’ on this page and typing in the access code that is unique to the Government of New Brunswick.

The access code is GOVNB1.

Simply select who you want to cover, and the coverage amount you want – rates appear in real time, and you can adjust your amounts of coverage to suit your needs and budget. Select the coverage that works for you and your family to complete the online application. It’s that easy!

Can I apply without providing medical information?

If you apply during a special time-limited ‘open enrolment’ period or are a new employee and apply within 31 days from the date you become eligible for benefits, you do not need to provide medical information to secure up to $60,000 in coverage. This amount of coverage is guaranteed.

Medical information is never needed for dependent children if you apply during an open enrolment period or within 31 days of their birth/adoption.

Do I have to buy $60,000 of coverage?

No. You choose the amount of coverage that works for you and your family. For you and your spouse, coverage is available in units of $10,000 to a maximum of $400,000 per insured person. Coverage for dependent children is available in units of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000.

Up to $60,000 of coverage is what is available to you and your spouse without needing to provide medical information.

When would my coverage become effective?

The effective date of your coverage is based on the date you apply. Coverage for any guaranteed amounts is always effective the first day of the month following the date Medavie Blue Cross receives your signed application. For example, if you apply in May, your effective date is June 1st.

If you request coverage that requires a review of your medical information, the effective date of the portion being reviewed will be communicated with you once your application has been processed and approved.

All permanent employees (and employees otherwise eligible to participate in the Province of New Brunswick’s employee benefit plans) who are actively at work are eligible to apply.

If you are a new employee or you have a qualifying life event, you can secure up to $60,000 in coverage with no health questions asked if you apply within 31 days of your date of hire or qualifying life event.

Are my dependents covered?

This is up to you. You are in control of who you would like to cover. You can obtain coverage for you and/or your spouse and you can cover your dependent children under age 21 (or under age 26 if a full-time student) if you and/or your spouse have coverage.

You have 31 days after the date of a marriage/common law union or the birth/adoption of a child to apply for coverage without medical information for a new spouse (up to $60,000) or new child (up to $25,000), respectively.

Applying while on a leave of absence:

To apply for coverage, you need to be actively at work. When you return to work, you can obtain up to $60,000 in coverage if you apply within 31 days of your return-to-work date with no medical questions.

Applying when you are a new employee:

You can obtain up to $60,000 in coverage without medical questions if you apply within 31 days from the date you become eligible for benefits. You do not need to be enrolled in health and dental benefits to apply for Optional Critical Illness insurance.

Applying if you and your spouse both work for the Province of New Brunswick:

You can apply as an employee and a spouse, or you can apply separately as two employees. However, if you apply together on your application (employee and spouse), your spouse CANNOT also secure coverage as an employee, without providing medical information.

The $60,000 in coverage that is guaranteed without medical information is per insured person and cannot be combined. For added clarity, you cannot obtain $120,000 in coverage ($60,000 as an employee and $60,000 as the spouse of an employee) without providing medical information.

No. Disability insurance replaces your monthly income if you become disabled and can no longer perform the normal duties of your job. The benefit is normally limited to a percentage of your regular income, which ends once you start earning an income again, or you no longer meet the definition of disability.

Critical illness insurance provides the full benefit payment in one lump sum on diagnosis of a critical illness, while long-term disability policies may have a waiting period. Unlike disability benefits, critical illness benefits are not affected by other income you receive or by your recovery.

If you are actively at work and apply within 31 days from the date you become eligible for benefits, you do not need to provide medical information to secure up to $60,000 in coverage. This amount of coverage is ‘guaranteed’.

All types of insurance are meant to protect you against unknown risks. If you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness within the first two years of your coverage, no benefit will be paid if this illness is related to a pre-existing condition.

A pre-existing condition is a condition for which, during the two years before your coverage, you:

• had a medical consultation,
• were prescribed or were taking medication, or
• received treatment, including diagnostic measures, for any symptom of medical problem that led to the diagnosis of or treatment for the covered condition.

If you are diagnosed with an eligible condition within two years of being insured and your pre-existing condition has been deemed unrelated, your claim would be accepted, assuming all other terms of the policy were met.

If you are diagnosed with an eligible condition after being insured for two years or more, the pre-existing condition limitation no longer applies, regardless of the treatment you received prior to obtaining coverage.

Note that there is no coverage for cancer for 90 days after securing new coverage, or for Parkinson’s Disease, specified Atypical Parkinsonian disorders and/or Multiple Sclerosis for one year after securing new coverage.

For more information on pre-existing conditions consult the Coverage Details.

Here are some common scenarios:

I am taking medication for high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or I have diabetes. If I were to have a heart attack or stroke, would I receive a benefit payment?

If you are diagnosed after being insured for two years or more, the pre-existing condition limitation no longer applies and your claim would be accepted, assuming all other terms of the policy were met.

If you are diagnosed within two years of being insured, the claims adjudicator at Medavie Blue Cross would need to determine if there was a pre-existing condition that was related to your heart attack/stroke claim. See above for more information or consult the Coverage Details.

Also, if your pre-existing condition is deemed unrelated to the condition for which you are claiming, your claim would be accepted, even if you have been insured for less than 2 years, assuming all other terms of the policy were met.

I was diagnosed with cancer five years ago. I am now in remission and cancer-free. If I were to be diagnosed with cancer again, would I receive a critical illness benefit payment?

Regardless of your medical history, no benefits are paid for cancer if within the first 90 days of being insured, you receive a cancer diagnosis or have any signs, symptoms or investigations leading to a diagnosis of cancer (regardless of when the diagnosis is made).

If you are diagnosed with an eligible cancer within two years of being insured and the signs, symptoms or investigations leading to this diagnosis started more than 90 days after being insured, the claims adjudicator at Medavie Blue Cross would need to determine if your diagnosis was related to a pre-existing condition. See above for more information or consult the Coverage Details.

If you are diagnosed with an eligible cancer after being insured for two years or more and the signs, symptoms or investigations leading to this diagnosis started more than 90 days after being insured, the pre-existing condition limitation no longer applies and your claim would be accepted, assuming all other terms of the policy were met.

You can get a quote in seconds by clicking ‘Get an instant quote’ on this page. The price is impacted by several factors, including the amount of coverage selected, sex at birth, age, and use of tobacco products.

The risk of being diagnosed with a critical illness increases with age. To manage this risk, your premiums change when you enter a new age band. After age 30, age bands are in 5-year increments (i.e. 30-34, 35-39 and so on). We always advise you when there is a change to your premium.

When thinking about how much coverage you need, you should consider your income, financial obligations, dependents, and health care needs.

Method of payment

During the application process, you choose to pay by pre-authorized debit (directly from your bank account) or by credit card. Someone can pay your premium on your behalf, but you will need to enter their banking/payment information on your application, and they will need to sign your application electronically. Premiums cannot be paid via payroll deduction because PNB does not know the amount(s) of coverage you have obtained.

Timing of payments

Premiums are charged on the first business day of each month.

If you do not see a charge for the first month of your coverage, it’s probably because your application was processed after the payment cut-off date. In this case, your first payment will be charged at the same time as your second payment (on the first business day of the next month).

Non-payment

Coverage will end if your premiums are not paid within 31 days of the due date. Blue Cross may, at its own discretion, agree to reinstate your coverage if full payment is made within 60 days of the termination date. Medavie Blue Cross will notify you if your premiums have not been paid.

You complete a critical illness claim form and submit it for review by an experienced Medavie Blue Cross claims adjudicator. Claim forms are available on both the Medavie Blue Cross and Vestcor websites. They can be submitted along with any supporting documentation according to the instructions on the claim form.

What if I am diagnosed with a critical illness and then recover and return to work. Would I receive a benefit payment?

Your eligibility for benefits is not dependent on your ability to work. If your claim is eligible according to the policy, your coverage pays a lump sum to use how you like. Please refer to the Coverage Details for a complete list of definitions, terms, and conditions.

If my critical illness diagnosis is terminal, would I receive a payment?

Even if your covered critical illness is terminal, the critical illness coverage may pay a benefit. To be eligible to file a claim, you must survive 30 days following the date of diagnosis. For example, if you were diagnosed with life-threatening cancer, the critical illness coverage will provide benefits if you survive at least 30 days, assuming all other terms of the policy are met.

Your coverage will continue automatically. Premiums will continue to be deducted via pre-authorized debit and you will remain eligible to submit claims during your leave, assuming that all other terms of the coverage are met.

If you do NOT wish to continue your coverage while on a leave of absence, you must decide this BEFORE your leave of absence starts.

If you choose NOT to continue your coverage, you will not pay premiums and will not be eligible to make claims. You can resume the same coverage when you return to work (with premium payments) if you provide notice to Medavie Blue Cross of your desire to re-instate coverage within 31 days of your return-to-work date. If you wait more than 31 days, you will need to re-apply as a new applicant and answer medical questions to obtain coverage again.

If your coverage is continued while you are on leave and then you decide to cancel it DURING your leave, you will need to re-apply as a new applicant and answer medical questions to obtain coverage again.

It is your responsibility to notify Medavie Blue Cross if you decide NOT to continue coverage. Please contact the Optional Benefits Team at Medavie Blue Cross directly at 1-844-949-3809 to discuss your coverage during a leave of absence.

Your Optional Critical Illness coverage is portable and will continue automatically if your employment terminates. Premiums will continue to be deducted via pre-authorized debit and you will remain eligible to submit claims, assuming that all other terms of the coverage are met. No action is required unless you decide to cancel it.

Your coverage also continues automatically if you change jobs or transfer to a different part of government.

You can cancel your Optional Critical Illness coverage at any time by contacting the Optional Benefits Team at Medavie Blue Cross directly at 1-844-949-3809. Medavie Blue Cross agents are always happy to discuss your coverage requirements with you, including when your employment with the Province of New Brunswick is ending.

Most commonly, coverage for you, your spouse and/or your dependent children will end the earlier of when:

• You terminate your coverage
• Your premiums are not paid within 31 days of their due date.
• You or your spouse or your dependent child(ren) are no longer a full-time resident of Canada
• Your spouse or your dependent child(ren) no longer meet the eligibility requirements
• You or your spouse turn age 70, or your dependent child(ren) turn age 21 (age 26 if a full-time student)
• The maximum amount payable under this policy has been paid
• You or your spouse or your dependent child(ren) commit fraud against Medavie Blue Cross
• You or your spouse or your dependent child(ren) die

Full details on when coverage ends are provided in the policy.