Learn how health insurance works in Québec, including the Québec Health Insurance Plan administered by RAMQ, prescription drug insurance, employer group insurance, private supplementary health insurance, travel insurance and disability coverage.
Québec has a publicly administered health insurance system. The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) administers the Québec Health Insurance Plan and the public prescription drug insurance plan. Eligible residents can receive insured hospital and medical services under the public system.
Private insurance plays a different role from the Swiss-style competing basic-insurance model. In Québec, private insurance generally supplements public coverage or provides benefits through an employer, professional association or individual policy.
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) administers Québec's Health Insurance Plan. For eligible residents, the public system provides insured medical and hospital services according to Québec's rules.
Provides coverage for insured healthcare services for people who meet Québec's eligibility requirements.
Québec's public system also provides hospital insurance for eligible residents and covers insured hospital services according to the applicable rules.
Québec operates a mixed public-private prescription drug insurance system. Eligible people may receive coverage through RAMQ or an eligible private plan.
Québec's insurance system contains several different forms of public and private protection. They should not be confused with one another because they cover different types of expenses.
The Québec Health Insurance Plan is administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). For eligible residents, it provides coverage for medically necessary insured hospital and physician services. Eligibility depends on your status and your situation in Québec.
Prescription drug insurance is mandatory in Québec. People who do not have access to an eligible private prescription-drug plan generally receive coverage through the RAMQ public prescription drug insurance plan. People eligible for a private group plan covering prescription drugs generally must participate in that plan.
Many employers provide group insurance as part of employee benefits. Depending on the plan, coverage can include prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, paramedical services, disability benefits, travel insurance and other expenses not fully covered by Québec’s public health system.
Individual health insurance can help cover eligible expenses that are not covered by the public system. Depending on the policy, this can include prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, physiotherapy, psychology, ambulance transportation, medical equipment and other services.
Québec’s public health insurance may not fully reimburse medical expenses incurred outside Québec. Private travel insurance can provide additional protection for emergency medical expenses, subject to the policy limits, exclusions and conditions.
Disability insurance is different from Québec’s public health insurance. It can provide income replacement when an illness or disability prevents you from working, depending on the policy. It may be available through an employer or purchased individually.
Many dental services are not covered by Québec’s public health insurance plan for adults. Dental insurance can help pay eligible expenses such as preventive care, examinations, fillings and other treatments, depending on the plan.
Private or group plans may provide benefits for eligible vision care and paramedical services such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychology or other practitioners. The exact practitioners, reimbursement rates and annual maximums depend on the policy.
Prescription drug insurance is mandatory in Québec. Depending on your situation, you may be covered by a private plan, commonly through an employer, professional association or another eligible group, or by the public prescription drug insurance plan administered by RAMQ.
If you are eligible for a private group plan that provides prescription drug coverage, you generally have to participate in that plan rather than relying on the RAMQ public drug plan.
The exact premiums, reimbursement levels, deductibles, co-insurance and maximums depend on the applicable plan.
Unlike Switzerland, Québec does not have multiple private companies competing to provide the province's core public physician and hospital insurance. RAMQ administers the public system. The companies below are examples of major insurers offering supplementary, group, personal or travel-related insurance products in Canada and Québec.
Useful for comparison: Employees, organizations and individuals comparing supplementary health and group insurance options.
Useful for comparison: People comparing supplementary insurance and employer or group benefit options.
Useful for comparison: People looking for personal or employer-sponsored supplementary health coverage.
Useful for comparison: Employees and organizations comparing Canadian group-benefit providers.
Useful for comparison: Employees and businesses comparing group health and benefit plans.
Useful for comparison: People comparing supplementary and travel-related health insurance.
RAMQ coverage is based on the services that Québec's public health-insurance legislation considers insured. Not every healthcare service, product or expense is automatically covered.
Insured physician services are covered for eligible residents when the applicable requirements are met.
Eligible residents receive coverage for insured hospital services under Québec's public system.
Dental, vision, paramedical, transportation and other expenses can have separate rules and may require supplementary insurance.
Newcomers should determine their RAMQ eligibility immediately after arriving in Québec. Eligibility depends on factors such as residency and immigration status.
RAMQ states that people arriving from another country may have a waiting period of up to three months before Québec health insurance coverage begins. Important exceptions exist, including certain people arriving from countries that have social-security agreements with Québec and certain other categories.
If a waiting period applies to you, RAMQ recommends taking out private insurance during the period before your public coverage begins. Private coverage can help protect you against potentially significant healthcare costs during this period.
Visitors and people who do not meet RAMQ eligibility conditions can be responsible for the cost of healthcare services they receive. Private travel or health insurance can therefore be particularly important for people who are not covered by RAMQ.
RAMQ eligibility is not determined simply by having a Québec address. Your legal status and actual presence in Québec are relevant.
For people considered settled in Québec, RAMQ generally requires a main residence in Québec, an eligible status and compliance with the presence rule.
In general, a person settled in Québec must not be absent from Québec for 183 days or more during a calendar year, although exceptions can apply.
Temporary residents can have different presence requirements. Students, workers and other temporary residents should check the RAMQ rules that correspond to their particular status.
Employer-sponsored group insurance is an important part of Québec's private health-insurance system.
Depending on the employer and policy, group benefits may include:
The exact benefits depend on the employer's group contract. Some group plans require eligible employees to participate, particularly in prescription drug coverage.
Private supplementary insurance can complement Québec's public healthcare system. It is designed to help pay eligible expenses that are not fully covered by RAMQ.
Coverage can help with eligible dental examinations, cleanings, fillings and other treatments depending on the policy.
Some plans provide benefits for eye examinations, glasses or contact lenses.
Plans can provide benefits for eligible services such as physiotherapy, psychology or other practitioners.
Some supplementary plans can cover eligible ambulance transportation expenses that are not covered by the public plan.
Travel medical insurance can provide protection for eligible emergency expenses outside Québec.
Depending on the plan, certain eligible medical equipment and supplies may be covered.
Québec's public health insurance does not necessarily reimburse the full cost of healthcare received outside Québec.
The Gouvernement du Québec recommends obtaining private travel insurance before travelling because RAMQ may reimburse only part of the cost of certain healthcare services received outside the province.
Before travelling, check both your RAMQ coverage and any employer or private travel insurance you already have.
If you are comparing supplementary or individual health insurance, do not compare only the monthly premium. Examine the actual benefits and limitations of each policy.
International students should not assume that they automatically receive RAMQ coverage simply because they are studying in Québec. Eligibility depends on the student's circumstances and whether their country has an applicable social-security agreement with Québec.
Students should check RAMQ eligibility before arriving and determine what insurance is required by their educational institution or immigration situation.
Students who are not eligible for Québec public health insurance should arrange appropriate private or institutional coverage.
Temporary workers can have different RAMQ eligibility rules depending on the type and duration of their work authorization.
Before relying on public coverage, check your specific RAMQ eligibility and the validity period of your authorization to stay in Québec.
If there is a waiting period or you are not eligible for RAMQ, private insurance can help reduce the financial risk of medical expenses.
Eligible residents must register for Québec health insurance when they meet the applicable RAMQ conditions. Québec also has mandatory prescription drug insurance. Prescription drug coverage is generally provided through an eligible private plan, such as an employer group plan, or through the RAMQ public prescription drug plan.
RAMQ is the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec. It administers Québec’s Health Insurance Plan and the public prescription drug insurance plan.
No. Québec’s public health system covers insured hospital and medical services, but many services and expenses are outside the public plan or have eligibility restrictions. Depending on your situation, supplementary insurance may help cover expenses such as dental care, certain medications, vision care, paramedical services, ambulance transportation and travel medical expenses.
Private supplementary health insurance is not a replacement for RAMQ coverage for eligible residents. It can complement the public system by covering eligible services and expenses that are not fully covered publicly. Employer group insurance is one common source of private coverage.
Yes. Québec requires prescription drug insurance coverage. Depending on your situation, coverage may come from an eligible private plan, such as an employer group plan, or the RAMQ public prescription drug insurance plan.
Private supplementary insurance generally does not replace eligibility for Québec’s public health insurance plan. If you are eligible for RAMQ, you should register and maintain your public coverage. Private insurance can provide additional protection for expenses not covered by the public plan.
For many people arriving from another country, RAMQ coverage usually begins after a waiting period of up to three months after registration. There are important exceptions, including certain people arriving from countries that have a social security agreement with Québec and certain other categories. RAMQ recommends private insurance during a waiting period when you are not yet covered.
If you do not meet RAMQ eligibility conditions, you may have to pay for healthcare services yourself. RAMQ strongly recommends private insurance for people who are not covered, particularly visitors and certain temporary residents.
For people considered settled in Québec, maintaining eligibility generally requires being present in Québec for at least 183 days during a calendar year, subject to exceptions. RAMQ has different presence rules for some temporary residents, so your immigration or residency status matters.
Newcomers should first determine whether they are eligible for RAMQ and register as soon as possible. If a waiting period applies, private insurance can help cover healthcare expenses during that period. Newcomers should also determine whether they have access to prescription drug coverage through an employer or another eligible private plan.
Many employers offer group insurance, but not every employer provides the same benefits. Group plans may include health, dental, prescription drug, disability and other coverage. Ask your employer which benefits are included and whether participation is mandatory.
Yes. Individual health insurance products are available for people who do not have employer group coverage, including some self-employed workers. The exact eligibility requirements, underwriting and benefits depend on the insurer and policy.
Coverage outside Québec is subject to specific rules and may not reimburse the full cost of care. Québec recommends obtaining private travel insurance before travelling because public reimbursement may cover only part of the cost.
Explore more practical guides for living, working, studying and moving to Québec.
Health-insurance eligibility and coverage rules can change. For applications, eligibility decisions and current requirements, use the official RAMQ and Gouvernement du Québec information.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for the terms of an insurance policy or an eligibility decision by RAMQ.