Payment of the public plan annual premium Prescription drug insurance coverage is mandatory for anyone who has taken up residence in Québec permanently. If you are covered by the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, you pay an annual premium to Revenu Québec for the months you are in Québec. Absence for an entire year If you spent an entire calendar year (January 1 to December 31) outside Québec and retained your eligibility for Health Insurance, you were required to have prescription drug insurance. In this situation, you don’t have to pay the public plan annual premium for the year you were outside Québec. Absence for part of the year If you leave Québec only for part of the calendar year, you must file an income tax return for the months of the year in which you were in Québec. Revenu Québec will therefore collect the part of the premium corresponding to this period. Prescription drugs purchased outside Québec Prescription drugs purchased outside Québec are not covered under the public plan. We advise you to take out private insurance before your departure. If you are staying outside Québec for a short period, such as vacations, plan the quantity of prescription drugs you will need and buy them in advance. See also Annual PremiumMoving outside QuébecObligation to have prescription drug insurance coverage
