Benefits

Below you’ll find information regarding your health, dental, group life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability coverage. This information is provided to you on behalf of the Government of New Brunswick’s Standing Committee on Insured Benefits and the Committee for Long-Term Disability.

The Government of New Brunswick (Treasury Board) has appointed Vestcor to perform the day-to-day administration of the employee benefits plans per a Service Level Agreement.

Enrolment Opportunity: Dependent Life Insurance

The open enrolment period from May 1 – 31 is the only time of the year when you can enrol in Dependent Life Insurance Coverage, other than at qualifying life-changing events.

Please note: This annual opportunity applies only to active members and Provincial Court judges.

Refer to the newsletter below for more information.

Benefits At-A-Glance - Enrolment Opportunity: Dependent Life Coverage (2025)Dependent Life Enrolment Opportunity (2025) - Form
Benefit Information Sessions: Recordings

To help employees and retirees understand the design of the Government of New Brunswick benefit plans and the benefits available under each plan, the Government of New Brunswick’s Department of Finance and Treasury Board recently hosted a series of benefit information sessions.

Active Member Benefit Information Session

 

Retiree Benefit Information Session

Active Employees
Active Employee Benefits Booklet and Fact Sheets Benefit Forms Long Term Disability Long Term Disability (for nurses employed in nursing homes)

LTD Eligibility

  • Compulsory for all permanent full-time and part-time employees
  • Part-time employees
    • minimum of 40% of full-time equivalent (FTE)
    • reduced work schedule – minimum 331/3% of FTE to remain eligible
  • Employees must be actively at work to begin coverage
  • Employee coverage only

LTD application must be made within 10 months of the date of disability and must include

  • Employer statement and job description
  • Employee statement and proof of birth (driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate)
  • Physician’s statement and additional medical information – to be sent directly to Medavie Blue Cross (MBC) and not Vestcor
  • Recommended to apply within 8-10 weeks from date last worked
  • Deadline to apply for employees who are entitled to receive benefits under the Worker’s Compensation Act is also 10 months
  • Payments for 4-month qualifying period must be received from employee for Vestcor to forward the claim
Continuation of Employee Benefits Coverage (COEB) - Nurses Employed in Nursing Homes and Employees of WorkSafe NBRemittance Statement Form (Insured Benefits)Procedures for Remitting Insurance BenefitsLong Term Disability Plan Enrolment Card for Nurses of N.B. Nursing HomesEmployer StatementLTD Physician's Statement FormLTD Employee Statement FormLTD Administration Guide (For Employers)
Newsletters - SCIB (Standing Committee on Insured Benefits) Newsletters - LTD (Committee for Long-Term Disability)
The Committees: Our Roles

Who is SCIB – the Standing Committee on Insured Benefits?

The Standing Committee on Insured Benefits (SCIB) is a group of employee and employer representatives who devote time and effort to make sure that the Plan meets your health needs. SCIB along with the individual service providers review the financial position of each plan to determine if the contributions paid by you and your employer are enough to cover the cost of providing benefits. Once the committee has reached consensus, SCIB then makes their recommendations to Treasury Board for approval. Treasury Board approves the recommendations contained in newsletters prior to communications being sent out to all members. SCIB is committed to continuously review Plan Provisions to ensure that the plans are relevant to employees needs and remain affordable and sustainable.

 

Who is the Committee for Long Term Disability?

LTD coverage provides a source of income should you be unable to work for more than 4-months due to illness or injury. The LTD Plan is funded by employees – employees pay 100% of the LTD premiums. This ensures that the LTD benefits, when received, are non-taxable. The LTD plan has three groups of participants that are defined by their group characteristics (e.g., occupation, risk profile, etc.):

  • GENERAL – Employees in Government Departments, Agencies, School Districts, Hospitals, Crown Corporations and Commissions.
  • NURSES – Registered Nurses in Hospitals and Nursing Homes.
  • CUPE 1251 – Government Departments (LOCAL 1251), Community Colleges (Locals 5026 & 5017), and others through Transfer Agreements.

The LTD plan is governed by the Committee for LTD. This Committee:

  • is a body of employee and employer representatives appointed by their respective unions and participating employer groups;
  • approves the Actuary’s recommendations, ensures funding is adequate and that the plan is able to pay benefits; and
  • oversees the day-to-day operations.

 

Vestcor's Role

Vestcor and Your Benefits: What is Vestcor’s role?
Per the service agreement between GNB and Vestcor, Vestcor is responsible for:

  • Answering day-to-day questions from Plan members and employers;
  • Communicating updates (such as rate changes, form changes, etc) on behalf of GNB (and its committees*) to Plan members and employers;
  • Update forms and documents, making them available on this website;
  • Maintain coverage information for each plan member;
  • Collect premiums deducted for plan coverage and remit to the GNB selected insurance carrier;
  • Confirm coverage information for processing of claims; and
  • Other miscellaneous administrative duties.

In addition, Vestcor acts as a liaison between Plan members and the two employee benefits committees*.

*The Standing Committee on Insured Benefits (SCIB) and the Committee for Long Term Disability (LTD Committee)

Vestcor does not participate in the:

  • Selection of the companies that provide the employee benefits coverage (insurance carriers);
  • Determining which benefits and coverage options are included in the Plans; and
  • Rates and applicable rate changes.

Vestcor is a not-for-profit organization that functions on a cost recovery basis; they charge GNB for the expenses incurred to provide the services outlined in the Service Level Agreement only.

Questions?

EMPLOYEES

If you currently work within Part 1, contact Payroll and Benefits at 1-888-487-5050 (select your language of choice, then press “2”) or at SNBPBS@snb.ca.

If you work within Part 2 or 3, please contact your Human Resources Office.

 

RETIREES

Contact the Member Services team from Monday to Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Atlantic).

Toll-free: 1-800-561-4012
Fredericton: (506) 453-2296