Annual premium

In general, you pay an annual premium to Revenu Québec for coverage under the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.

The premium is:

Variable, ranging from $0 to $744 per person, based on the annual rates in effect
Established according to your situation and net family income
Payable even if you do not purchase any prescription drugs
Adjusted annually on July 1

Payment to Revenu Québec

Revenu Québec collects the annual premium through your income tax return. For 2024, you will have to pay this premium in the spring of 2025 when you file your tax return.

You have to pay the public plan premium for every full month during which you had no access to a private plan. To find out more, go to the webpage Premium payable under the Québec Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan on the website of Revenu Québec.

Age 65 or over with supplemental coverage through a private insurance

If you are age 65 or over and only have supplemental coverage with a private insurance, the public plan must also cover you. You must pay the premium for this basic coverage.

Spending time outside Québec

The public plan no longer covers you if you were outside Québec for an entire calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Therefore, you no longer have to pay the annual premium. We strongly recommend that you take out personal insurance that covers prescription drugs if you spend time temporarily outside Québec. To find out more, go to the webpage Absence from Québec.

If you leave Québec for less than a year, you must file an income tax return for the months of the year in which you were in Québec. Revenu Québec will therefore collect the part of the premium corresponding to this period.

Tax credit for medical expenses

Certain medical expenses may qualify you for a tax credit. The annual premium and the amount paid for your prescription drug purchases are part of medical expenses. To apply for a tax credit, go to the webpage Refundable tax credit for medical expenses on the website of Revenu Québec.

Persons covered free of charge

The following persons are generally covered by the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan free of charge:

Holders of a valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
Children of persons covered under the public plan:
- Under age 18, without access to a private plan
- Age 18 to 25, without access to a private plan, in full-time attendance at a secondary-, college-, or university-level educational institution, spouseless, domiciled with their parents or legal guardian
Persons with a functional impairment specified in the Regulation respecting the basic prescription drug insurance plan which occurred before age 18, spouseless, domiciled with their parents or legal guardian, without access to a private plan, not receiving last-resort financial assistance with a claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
Persons age 65 or over receiving 94% or more of the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement