NB Drug Plan for Surviving Spouses: Keeping Prescription Coverage After a Death

When a spouse dies, their employer's benefit plan typically ends immediately. If that plan covered your prescriptions, you are suddenly without drug coverage — and filling a prescription out-of-pocket for a chronic condition can cost hundreds of dollars a month. New Brunswick's provincial drug programs exist precisely for this situation, but you have to apply. Nothing happens automatically.

This article covers two separate but related issues: cancelling the deceased's Medicare coverage, and ensuring the surviving spouse maintains continuous prescription drug coverage.

Cancelling the Deceased's Medicare: The DH-2026 Form

A common mistake New Brunswick families make is assuming that registering the death with SNB Vital Statistics automatically cancels the deceased's Medicare coverage. It does not. The two systems do not communicate automatically. Failing to cancel Medicare explicitly can result in coverage fraud flags and administrative complications down the line.

To cancel a deceased person's Medicare coverage, you must submit the DH-2026 "New Brunswick Medicare Updates and Changes Form" to the provincial Medicare office.

Important: Do not use the online application portal at myhealth.gnb.ca for this. That portal is designed for new Medicare applicants, not for death notifications. Using the wrong portal causes processing delays and may result in the form being misrouted.

Instead:

• Email the completed DH-2026 form as a PDF to [email protected], or
• Call SNB Teleservices at 1-888-762-8600 to have the cancellation processed verbally

When submitting the DH-2026, include documentation from "List 1" (identity support) and "List 2" (proof of New Brunswick residency). A death certificate satisfies the identity requirement for the deceased. The surviving spouse's own identity documents may be needed if making changes to the surviving spouse's coverage at the same time.

Processing takes four to six weeks after the form is received. There is no expedited option.

NB Medicare Number for Benefit Applications

The deceased's NB Medicare number will be requested on certain provincial benefit applications. Keep it accessible during the estate administration process — it is typically on the Medicare card itself or in any correspondence with New Brunswick Medicare.

The surviving spouse's own Medicare number may also be needed for:

• NB Drug Plan enrollment
• Property Tax Allowance applications
• Confirming continued provincial health coverage

The NB Drug Plan: Who It Covers and What It Costs

The New Brunswick Drug Plan provides prescription drug coverage for New Brunswick residents who do not have equivalent or better private coverage. For surviving spouses who lose employer drug coverage, this is the primary replacement option.

Premiums for GIS recipients: If you receive the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the OAS Allowance for the Survivor, your Drug Plan premiums are waived entirely. You pay only:

• $9.05 co-payment per prescription (the dispensing fee and a portion of the drug cost)
• Up to a $500 annual maximum in co-payments, after which the plan covers costs at 100% for the rest of the year

For many low-income surviving seniors in New Brunswick, this is substantially better coverage than they had under an employer plan.

Premiums for other income levels: For surviving spouses who do not receive GIS, premiums are income-tested based on your CRA assessment. Lower incomes pay lower premiums; higher incomes pay more. Current premium schedules are available from SNB or through the Medicare phone line.

How to Apply for the NB Drug Plan

Applications are processed through the New Brunswick Medicare program. Call 1-888-762-8600 or visit your nearest Service New Brunswick location.

You will need:

• Your NB Medicare card number
• Your SIN
• Your most recent CRA Notice of Assessment (to confirm income for premium calculation)
• Proof that you no longer have equivalent employer drug coverage (if applicable)

There is no annual deadline for the Drug Plan — you can apply any time. However, there is no retroactive reimbursement for prescriptions purchased before enrollment. If your employer coverage ended at your spouse's death, apply immediately to minimize the gap.

Updating Medicare Coverage for the Surviving Spouse

In addition to cancelling the deceased's coverage, surviving spouses should check whether their own Medicare registration needs updating. Changes in circumstances that require a Medicare update include:

• Change of address: If you are moving after the death (to a smaller home, to be near family, or to a care facility), update your address with Medicare using the DH-2026 form
• Change in coverage from employer plan: If you are also losing any of your own coverage from an employer plan that listed the deceased as the primary subscriber, report this when applying for the Drug Plan
• Updated direct deposit for any premium refunds: If the deceased's Medicare was set up with direct deposit for refunds, update the banking information

Connecting the Drug Plan to Other Benefits

The NB Drug Plan does not exist in isolation. For surviving spouses aged 60 and over who receive the OAS Allowance for the Survivor or GIS, the interaction is:

• Drug Plan premiums waived (as described above)
• NB Low-Income Seniors Benefit ($629/year) also becomes available — apply before December 31
• NB Dental Program may also be available for GIS recipients — contact SNB for current eligibility details

None of these programs notify each other. Each requires a separate application.

Managing healthcare coverage during bereavement in New Brunswick involves at least three separate steps: cancelling the deceased's Medicare, applying for the surviving spouse's Drug Plan coverage, and claiming the income benefits that reduce or eliminate premiums. The New Brunswick Survivor Benefits Navigator walks through all of these steps in sequence, including the exact forms, phone numbers, and deadlines for each agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the deceased's Medicare card for any transactions after their death? No. Using a deceased person's Medicare card is considered fraud. Cancel it promptly using the DH-2026 form.

How long does it take to get enrolled in the NB Drug Plan after applying? Processing typically takes two to four weeks. In the interim, you can submit receipts for prescriptions purchased out-of-pocket after the application date — check with SNB whether retroactive coverage for the gap period is available.

Is there a gap in provincial drug coverage during the processing period? Formally, yes. The Drug Plan covers from the enrollment date, not the application date. Prescriptions purchased before enrollment are generally not covered. Contact SNB at application time to ask whether a temporary approval can be issued for essential medications.

Does losing my spouse's coverage count as a "qualifying life event" for private insurance? Yes. Most insurers treat a spouse's death as a qualifying life event, allowing you to enroll in a private plan outside the standard enrollment period. However, private plan premiums are typically higher than the NB Drug Plan for low-income seniors.

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