Is the waiting period for health care (3 months here in NB) from when we arrived or when we become Perm Res? My OH and I are on a one year work permit and will be applying for PNP in Sep and not sure if we will need private insurance (we have one year working holiday insurance from UK)

Thanks

You will have to have additional coverage for the three months following PR if you are not already in the provinces healthcare scheme. You register as soon as you have PR and have landed, then the three months you do need coverage. Idealy if you still had your policy for your working holiday in force at the time you get PR and land, then you wouldn't need any other, if not then a 3 month Policy. I have a post on the go asking the same question but for Ontario, so have a look at the replies I have had
lol
Stef

You cant guarantee that NB is the same as Ont. Health care is an area of difference between provinces, Mb for example will admit you to the healthcare scheme as soon as you are living there with a work permit.

Hi
But the OP did say that NB has the same waiting period if you read their post. The advice on my post is generic and quite useful. If someone is asking that question, they would be in a position to know the rules regarding their province
lol
Stef

Apply for your health care card as soon as you are in Canada, no matter if you are Perm Res or on a Temp Res. Look at this link that might help

http://www.immigration-service.com/health-care

apply as soon as you get here because it's 3 months from the month you land not the date. We arrived on 25 March and medicare started 1 June. So we only waited just over 2 months.

You can register at Service NB at the same time as getting your drivers license switched. Took us about 20-30 mins to get both sorted.

Should you apply even if you land and then return home? Or do you need a permanent address, we have rellies out in Canada but don't intend to move permanently until next year?

I believe, in Ontario anyway, that you require proof of a permanent address before you're acceptable for OHIP.

The link does say citizens or PR though.
When I read the New Brunswick stuff in 2004 it did actually suggest being resident in the province (by any normal definition) was enough, but the appropriate office insisted they'd only look at my application when I had PR.

The 3 months can actually be two and a bit.