Prescription Drugs Covered – Stop-Smoking Products

Certain stop-smoking products are covered by the public plan. Like the other drugs listed on the List of Medications, they are covered only when obtained on prescription in Québec. In addition, coverage is limited (in terms of duration and in quantity).

Stop-smoking products covered are:

• skin patches;
• nicotine gum and lozenges;
• two types of tablets.

Duration of coverage

Skin patches are covered for a maximum of 12 consecutive weeks per 12-month period. And during those 12 weeks, the plan reimburses a maximum of 840 lozenges or pieces of gum.

The two types of stop-smoking tablets are also covered for 12 consecutive weeks per 12-month period, whether or not they are used at the same time as the nicotine patches and gum or lozenges. In the case of one of the types of tablets, coverage may be extended by 12 weeks, provided that you have stopped smoking.

Please note that the period coverage of stop-smoking products is calculated from the date you purchase them, not from the date you start using them.

Reimbursement of stop-smoking products

Insured persons pay a contribution, just as they do for the prescription drugs covered by the public plan, according to the rates in effect.

An example of how coverage works

Your doctor has given you a prescription for skin patches, and you purchase them at a pharmacy on December 1, 2010. As a result, the patches are covered for 12 consecutive weeks, that is, until February 22, 2011.

After four weeks, you stop using the patches, and your doctor prescribes stop-smoking gum instead. Up to the end of the 12-week period ending on February 22, 2011, the plan reimburses a maximum of 840 pieces of chewing gum.

Then you start smoking again. On March 12, 2011, you again take steps to quit, and your doctor prescribes stop-smoking tablets. Since the tablets do not belong to the same category of products as the gum or patches, the tablets are covered for 12 consecutive weeks.

If you decide to use them again, the gum and patches will once more be covered as of December 1, 2011, that is, one year after you purchased the first patches, while the tablets will be covered as of March 12, 2012.