Health insurance or prescription drug insurance: what’s the difference?

Health insurance

Health insurance gives you access free of charge to health care covered (consultation with a doctor, emergency room visit, surgery, etc.).

It is not mandatory. However, without this insurance, you must pay for all your health care.

It is a public plan managed by RAMQ.

To be entitled to the services covered under the Québec Health Insurance Plan, you must present a valid Health Insurance Card, whether at the hospital, in a medical clinic or a local community services centre (CLSC).

Registration

In most cases, no action is required on your part to register for health insurance. The Directeur de l’état civil informs us of each birth. We then register the child and send them their first card. This is how your coverage begins. To remain covered, you must complete your renewal notice and send it back to us. The renewal notice is sent automatically 3 months before your card expires.

In certain situations, you may need to register or re-register for health insurance:

• Settlement in Québec
• Studies or work in Québec (for foreign students or workers only)
• Extension of a temporary stay in Québec
• Loss of eligibility following a prolonged absence from Québec

If you are ineligible for health insurance, you can obtain covered health care, but you will have to pay for them.

Find out more on the Québec Health Insurance Plan

Prescription drug insurance

Prescription drug insurance allows you to obtain drugs prescribed by a health professional without having to pay the full price.

It is mandatory at all times for persons permanently residing in Québec.

This insurance may be public or private:

• RAMQ manages the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.
• Private insurers offer drug insurance, in the form of group insurance and employee benefit plans, as part of a job or profession.

When you purchase prescription drugs in a pharmacy, you must specify who your insurer is:

• Present your Health Insurance Card if you are covered by the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.
• Present your private insurer’s card if you are covered by a private plan. This card contains your insurer's number and your identification number.

Registration

You cannot choose between a private plan and the public plan (unless you are 65 or over). If you are eligible for private prescription drug insurance (group insurance or employee benefit plan), you must join it. Register for the private insurer. Where applicable, you must also provide coverage under it for your children and spouse.

If you do not have access to private insurance, you must register for the public plan.

Find out more on the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan