Turning 18

Children remain covered by their parents' plan until their 18th birthday, at which time they or their parents must take certain steps.

Generally speaking, children who turn 18 may remain covered by their parents' plan if they meet the following conditions:

• they are full-time students;
• they do not have a spouse;
• they are domiciled with their parents.

Check your situation to avoid unpleasant surprises

In Québec, everyone must be covered by prescription drug insurance at all times. By completing a short questionnaire, you will know in a few minutes under what time of plan (private or public) you should be covered and what steps you need to take, if any.

When a child covered by a private plan turns 18, the insurer will usually extend the child's coverage automatically. However, when a child covered by the public plan reaches that age, the parents must contact the Régie to have the child's coverage extended. Private insurers and the Régie may check to make sure the child is indeed a full-time student.

The Régie may request proof of school attendance issued by an educational institution recognized by the ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. Such proof must show the child's identity, indicate the period of studies and confirm that the studies are full-time.

Children may remain covered by their parents' plan until their 26th birthday. However if, between ages 18 and 25, a child ceases to meet either of the above conditions, even temporarily, the child or the child's parents must notify the private insurer or the Régie, which in most cases will terminate the child's coverage.

Persons who cease to be covered by their parents' plan
(at age 18, age 26, or between these ages)

Persons who cease to be covered by their parents' plan must obtain their own insurance coverage and must therefore determine whether they are eligible for a private plan.

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. In fact, 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.

Persons who are eligible for a private plan must join that plan, at least for the prescription drug portion. Prescription drug coverage is most often included in a plan covering other health care (called a health insurance plan), but is sometimes offered alone.

Persons who are not eligible for a private plan must register for the public plan, by contacting the Régie, in which case they will no longer be registered as a child of an insured person, but rather as an adult.