Yes. The Quebec Drug Insurance Act (public plan) stipulates that:
[i]f you are under age 65 [and] you have access to a private plan, [y]ou must join it for your drug coverage. You must also enroll your children and spouse if they are not already covered by another private plan. You can access a private plan in one of the following ways:
- Through your employer or professional group: union, association or order;
- Through your spouse;
- Through your parents (for children or dependents).”
Every person permanently established in Quebec must always be covered by a drug insurance plan. Two types of plans are available: the public plan, administered by the RAMQ, and private plans (group insurance or employee benefit plans). If you are eligible for private insurance, you must enroll.
Yes. The same rules apply to your dependents. Spouses are considered to be two persons:
- Married or in a civil union;
- Living together for at least 12 months (a break of less than 90 days does not interrupt this period);
- Living together and having a child together (biological or adopted).
A child is considered to be a person:
- Under 18 years of age;
- Between the ages of 18 and 25, in full‑time attendance at a high school, college or university, without a spouse and living with one parent. After their child’s 18th birthday, parents must ask the RAMQ or their insurer to extend coverage.
At age 65, you are automatically enrolled in the public plan. You pay the annual premium when you file your income tax return.
If you have access to a private plan offering basic coverage, you must choose an insurer. Before making a decision, ask your employer about the possibilities.
You may decide to be covered:
- Only through the public plan;
- Only through the private plan if it offers at least basic coverage;
- Both the public plan (basic coverage) and the private plan (complementary coverage).
For more information, visit the RAMQ website.
No. You can only change your coverage when one of the following events occurs:
- Change in marital status;
- Birth or adoption of a child;
- Termination of spousal coverage;
- Termination of coverage with a professional association.
Yes. The Quebec Prescription Drug Insurance Act (public plan) requires you, as an employer, to deduct the premium for the private plan you offer from the pay of employees eligible for your plan. Remitting the deducted amounts to the insurer or plan administrator would be best.
Employers who fail to meet these obligations may be subject to fines ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.
Yes. Employees may be exempted from premium deductions if another private group insurance plan already covers them. To demonstrate this, we suggest that you request one of the following documents:
- An official letter from the other employer or professional association;
- An official letter from the other private insurer.
We recommend that you keep this proof. This document proves that you were entitled to waive the deduction and fulfilled your obligation.
Since changes can happen in your employees’ lives, we recommend you carry out a periodic check (at least once a year) to ensure that all your employees are covered and that another plan still covers those who have requested an exemption.
They must cancel their registration with the public plan as soon as their enrollment date is known by calling the telephone number below.
Toll‑free: 1‑800‑561‑9749
The total amount shown on a drugstore invoice combines several amounts. Here’s what it’s made up of:
- The cost of the drug (price paid by the pharmacist to obtain the drug);
- The profit margin (percentage [%] of the drug cost billed by the pharmacist, used, among other things, to pay for the pharmacy’s operating costs);
- Pharmacist’s fees (fees charged by the pharmacist to cover professional services).