Eight thousand New Brunswickers are currently waiting for their new cards. The province dealing with this issue last March when it updated its record system.
Opposition Health Critic Bill Fraser tells CHSJ News while people will not be denied service and will be reimbursed, some cannot pay upfront while others are hesitant to seek medical help without a card. He says there are people putting off appointments until they get a new card.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health says the new delay is due to the Christmas holidays and the department needed January to catch up on the work
Associate Deputy Minister Lyne St-Pierre-Ellis tells CHSJ News the department has caught up to the backlog and new cards should be in mailboxes within the next two weeks.
As far as the province paying back citizens who had to pay upfront, she says there has been no delays in sending out refunds.
