🍁 New Brunswick Infertility Special Assistance Fund: $5,000 Grant Guide

New Brunswick offers limited but meaningful fertility funding through its Infertility Special Assistance Fund, which provides a one-time grant of up to $5,000 per couple toward eligible fertility treatment costs. The program does not match the scale of Ontario or Quebec funding, but for New Brunswick families it can offset a substantial portion of a single IVF or IUI cycle.

In 2026, the program continues to operate with modest annual funding and a structured application process. Patients planning to claim the grant must apply before incurring expenses.

What the Program Covers

The fund provides up to $5,000 (lifetime maximum per couple) toward eligible fertility treatment costs incurred at a licensed Canadian fertility clinic. Eligible costs include:

• IVF cycle fees (egg retrieval, embryology, transfer)
• IUI cycle fees
• Fertility medications associated with the cycle
• ICSI when medically indicated
• Embryo cryopreservation

The grant is paid as a reimbursement after eligible expenses are incurred and documentation is submitted.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify:

• Both members of the couple must be residents of New Brunswick and hold valid Medicare cards
• At least one member of the couple must have a documented medical diagnosis of infertility
• The fertility treatment must be received at a licensed Canadian fertility clinic
• The grant is per couple, lifetime

Single intended parents may be eligible depending on the current administrative interpretation; confirm with the program office directly.

How to Apply

Application steps:

1. Obtain a fertility specialist referral and confirmation of diagnosis
2. Download or request the Infertility Special Assistance Fund application form from the New Brunswick Department of Health
3. Complete the form, including physician sign-off on the medical diagnosis
4. Submit before beginning the treatment cycle you intend to claim
5. After the cycle is complete, submit receipts and final invoices for reimbursement

Applications and reimbursement requests are typically processed within several weeks. Annual program funding is finite, so applying early in the fiscal year increases the likelihood of approval.

Where New Brunswick Patients Receive Care

New Brunswick does not currently have a full-service IVF clinic within the province. Most patients travel to:

• Halifax (Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies — AART)
• Montreal (OVO Fertility, McGill Reproductive Centre)
• Toronto (multiple clinics)

Travel costs are not directly covered by the $5,000 grant but may be eligible under the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit when treatment is unavailable locally.

Stacking with Other Supports

The Infertility Special Assistance Fund can be combined with:

• Federal Medical Expense Tax Credit (approximately 15 percent of eligible expenses above the threshold)
• Employer extended health benefits if your plan includes fertility coverage
• The first $5,000 grant covers only a portion of a typical IVF cycle (which runs $12,000–$18,000 CAD plus medications), so layering supports is essential

Practical Tips

Apply before treatment. The most common reason for denial is paying for treatment first and applying after.

Keep meticulous records. The reimbursement claim requires itemized receipts, clinic invoices showing what services were rendered, and proof of payment.

File federal medical expense receipts even if you receive the provincial grant. The grant reduces your out-of-pocket cost but federal credits still apply to net eligible expenses.

Use the Fertility Link Navigator (/navigator) to map your full set of New Brunswick and out-of-province options before committing to a clinic.

Confirm Before You Apply

Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application processes can change. Always confirm current details with the New Brunswick Department of Health (https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health.html) before applying.