Age 50 or over? A look at 3 situations that can change your prescription drug insurance coverage
Whether you dread it or welcome it with open arms, your fifties represent a major turning point in your life. To get through this stage with peace of mind, think about your prescription drug insurance. And remember: drug insurance coverage is compulsory in Québec.
1
Travels and stays outside Québec
Spending winter in the sun? Planning to discover Europe? Your eligibility under the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan depends on your eligibility under the Québec Health Insurance Plan.
You must remain eligible for the Health Insurance Plan
To remain eligible for health insurance, you must not be absent from Québec 183 days or more, consecutive or not, in any given calendar year. To facilitate the tally of your absences, use our online tool.
5 things to do before leaving
- Check if you need to inform us of your departure!
- Take out travel insurance that covers drugs.
- Find out what health services are covered outside Québec. You will see that travel insurance is essential for peace of mind.
- Get your prescription drugs in advance if you take them regularly. Remember! You will have to pay the deductible and co-insurance for each month covered.
- Plan the quantity of prescription drugs you will need. The Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan does not cover purchases outside Québec. This means no reimbursement!
2
Turning 65
When you turn 65, you are automatically registered with the public plan. No action is necessary.
However, if you have access to a private plan, you have a choice to make:
- Private plan
- It must offer basic cover equivalent to that of the public plan
- Access to this type of plan is available through your employment or through your spouse
- Premium is payable to the insurer
- Public plan
- Public plan is offered by RAMQ
- Annual premium is payable when you file your tax return
- Private plan and public plan
- Public plan offers basic coverage (1st payer) and private plan offers supplemental coverage (2nd payer)
- Annual premium is payable when you file your tax return for basic coverage and to your insurer for supplemental coverage
Ask your private insurer to determine what is best for you
Vous décidez de conserver votre assurance privée? Appelez-nous pour nous faire part de votre décision. Have you decided to keep your private insurance? Call us and let us know your decision.
Later on, if the public plan is more suited to your needs, you can join it. At that point, however, you will have to notify your private insurer of the change yourself.
3
Your retirement
If you are retiring before the age of 65 and have access to a private plan, you should first ask yourself the following question:
Does my private plan cover retired persons?
If so, you must keep it until your 65th birthday. If not, ask yourself whether you have access to another private plan (for example, through your spouse or a professional association or order). If so, you should join it. Otherwise, you should join the public plan.