When you start working for a new employer or become a member of a new organization, check your prescription drug coverage. Certain employers or organizations offer a private insurance plan. If so, you have to join it, unless you already have access to another private plan or are age 65 or over.
Here are the questions that you have to ask yourself when you start a new job or become a member of a new organization.
If so, you have to join that private plan, at least for prescription drug coverage. It may be a group insurance plan or employee benefit plan. In addition, you must deregister from the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, if applicable.
You may have access to several private plans, for instance, through:
In this case, you can choose the plan most advantageous to you.
Remember, at all times, you must have prescription drug insurance if you live in Québec on a permanent basis. If you don’t have access to a private plan, you will have to register with the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.
You can choose the private plan you consider the best for you if you have access to several private plans. If you don’t join your new employer’s plan, you will have to provide proof that you are covered under another private plan. Otherwise, your new employer will to deduct a premium from your salary.
Certain employers oblige their employees to join their private plan as a job requirement. In this, case, you will have to pay the premium. To find out more, refer to the webpage Information on private plans.
From the moment you become eligible for a private plan, you must deregister from the public plan without delay. If not, you will have to repay the cost of the drugs you have purchased because they should have been covered by the private plan.
Deregister from the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan
If you change insurers in the course of the year, you must avoid overpaying your annual maximum contribution for the purchase of covered prescription drugs.
Your former insurer must give you the Statement of Contributions, which includes:
Certain insurers will provide this document automatically, while others will do so only on request. You have 6 months following the date the change was made to request the statement of contributions from your former insurer. You must then provide this document to your new insurer, which will be able to take it into account in making sure your maximum contribution is not exceeded. To facilitate processing of your application, send the statement of contributions rather than any other document.
To find out more about the annual maximum amount payable and the contribution itself, refer to the Rates in effect and Amount to pay for prescription drugs webpages.
