For Whom? – Eligible Persons
Everyone under age 65 who
is eligible for a private plan
is required to obtain at least
the prescription drug coverage
provided by that plan. Most
private plans (often
called health insurance
plans) offer prescription
drug coverage along with other
healthcare coverage,
but some offer prescription drug
coverage only.
Persons who turn 65 and who are
eligible for a private plan that
offers
basic prescription drug
coverage may either retain their
private plan coverage or join
the public plan, administered by
the Régie de l'assurance maladie
du Québec. For information about
the various options available,
consult the page entitled
Turning 65.
Persons may be eligible for a
private plan either
through their employment,
through membership in a
professional order or
association to which they
belong, or through their
spouse or parents. Those persons
covered by a private plan are
required to obtain coverage
under it for their spouse
and children, unless their
spouse and
children are already covered
by another private plan.
Do you need to register for or deregister from the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan because you are now eligible for a private plan? The Régie invites you to do so online (if your family situation and age allow you to use this service).
The importance of being insured at all times and of being covered by the right plan
The Régie carries out regular verifications, notably in collaboration with Revenu Québec, to ensure that all persons registered for the public plan are indeed eligible for it and to collect any sums due. Persons registered for the public plan but who are not eligible for it may have to reimburse the Régie for any amounts the Régie paid for prescription drugs they obtained while ineligible.
Persons who, for one or more months of the year, were not registered for any plan pay a premium for all full months during which they had no coverage, even though they were not entitled to the public plan's benefits. Why? To be fair to everyone: these persons did not have the option of being uninsured. If they were eligible for a private plan, they should have joined that plan. If not, they should have registered for the public plan.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, check your situation by completing a short questionnaire.
