Temporary stays outside Québec

Eligibility during the stay

Persons taking up residence in Québec

To remain covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan, all persons who have taken up residence in Québec must be present here more than half of the year. The Régie conducts checks to ensure compliance. Specifically, your total number of days of absence in a given calendar year Calendar year
A year running from January 1 to December 31 of the same year. must be less than 183 (absences of 21 days or less do not count).

Persons who do not observe this rule lose their Health Insurance Plan coverage for all the calendar years during which they were absent 183 days or more. The Régie will require that they repay the cost of the healthcare services received during that time.

Here is an example This link will open in a new window. of how the number of days of absence is calculated.

Here is an example This link will open in a new window. of stays outside Québec totalling at least 183 days.

Exceptions to the rule

Certain persons may remain covered by the Health Insurance Plan despite an absence of 183 days or more in a given calendar year Calendar year
A year running from January 1 to December 31 of the same year..

Here are the exceptions

They qualify for the once-every-7-years exception.
They qualify for coverage under a social security agreement.
They are unable to return to Québec because they are hospitalized or are assisting a person who is hospitalized. (In the former case, the persons must send the Régie a medical certificate indicating the start date and expected duration of their incapacity to return to Québec).
They will be working, studying or taking training outside Québec.

Working, pursuing studies or taking training outside Québec
Persons whose coverage is maintained and extended to their spouse Spouse Two persons (of the opposite sex or the same sex) are considered spouses if they are married and have entered into a civil union, or have been living together for 12 months (separations of less than 90 days do not interrupt the 12-month period), or are living together (regardless of for how long) and together have had or have adopted a child. and dependants	Period of coverage	Required documents (photocopies)

Students registered at an educational institution Educational institution A legal person or a private or public organization providing, at the elementary, secondary, college or university level, either general education or specialized training for a trade, vocation or profession. in Québec or outside Québec who pursue a study program outside Québec	Duration of studies, to a maximum of 4 consecutive calendar years	Attestation of enrolment in a study program
Full-time, unpaid trainees at: a university institution; a university-affiliated institution; a research institute; a government or international organization; a company or organization affiliated with a research institute or a government or international organization.	Duration of contract, to a maximum of 2 consecutive calendar years	Attestation of training
Québec government employees posted outside Québec	Duration of contract	None
Persons spending time in another province to hold temporary employment or to carry out a contract	Duration of contract, to a maximum of 2 consecutive calendar years	Employment contract or attestation from employer
Employees of a non-profit organization having its head office in Canada who are working abroad within the scope of an international aid or cooperation program recognized by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux	Duration of contract	Contract between employee and non-profit organization, or attestation from organization
Persons holding employment or carrying out a contract outside Québec for a corporation or an organization having its head office or a place of business in Québec and to which these persons are directly accountable	Duration of contract	Employment contract or attestation from employer
Canadian government employees posted outside Québec	Duration of contract	Employment contract or attestation from employer
Self-employed persons who are carrying out a contact outside Québec and whose usual place of work is in Québec	Duration of contract	Contract between self-employed person and client

Before leaving

If you are absent from Québec 183 days or more in a given calendar year, you must notify the Régie of such, ideally before you leave, if you know how long you will be away. You must also fill out the form entitled Temporary Departure From Québec, available from the Régie. Upon receiving the completed form, the Régie will confirm in writing, if applicable, whether you remain eligible for the Health Insurance Plan.

During their time away from Québec, persons who remain insured qualify for services covered outside Québec.

When you return

After spending 183 days or more outside Québec in a given calendar year, you must contact the Régie if there was a change to the duration of or the reason for the stay. For example, a person who spent time temporarily outside Québec to pursue studies but who, once there, instead carried out a work contract must inform the Régie of this. The person who did not notify the Régie before leaving Québec must do so without delay.

New immigrants

To remain covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan as a person arriving in Québec from outside Canada, you must not spend 183 days or more (consecutive or not) outside Québec during the 12 months following the date your coverage began. Absences of 21 days or less are not included in this calculation.

You must notify the Régie as soon as your temporary stays outside Québec total 183 days or more.

Persons staying in Québec temporarily

Persons who are registered for the Health Insurance Plan as being in Québec for a temporary stay must be present in Québec for the entire duration of their stay. They may, however, leave Québec for periods of 21 consecutive days or less and remain eligible for services covered outside Québec. If they leave Québec temporarily for more than 21 days, they will not be covered by the Health Insurance Plan during their absence.

Under the Health Insurance Act This link will open in a new window. , persons who are in Québec temporarily are required to notify the Régie of any period of more than 21 days they spend outside Québec. They must also inform the Régie if they end their temporary stay in Québec earlier than planned.