Taking out health and hospitalization insurance

All international students in Québec are required to have health and hospitalization insurance for themselves and their accompanying dependents and to maintain this insurance for the duration of their studies.

If you are admitted to university and are not covered by a reciprocity agreement on healthcare, you are automatically registered for the group health insurance plan applicable to international students. You will have to pay the premium in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by the university’s financial services.

If you are covered by a reciprocity agreement on healthcare, contact the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) as soon as possible after your arrival to apply for a health insurance card (carte soleil). The RAMQ will tell you how to proceed, the documents to provide, as well as the extent of your coverage. This coverage is provided free of charge. Being covered by a pubic health insurance plan does not prevent you from taking out complementary insurance for services not included in this plan. Ask your educational institution about this option.

In principle, reciprocity agreements also cover your accompanying spouse and children. If they are covered, they will also be able to have a health insurance card. If not, they will have to take out private health insurance as soon as possible.

In all other circumstances, you will have to take out private health and hospitalization insurance for yourself and the dependents accompanying you.

If your educational institution does not suggest any private insurance plan, contact the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association to learn about the companies that sell this type of policy.

	USEFUL INFORMATION
	You have a limited period of time (from 5 to 30 days, depending on the insurance company) to take out private insurance after you arrive in Québec. Please purchase insurance before this deadline since it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to do so thereafter.

Useful links

• Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
• Canadian Life and Health Insurance OmbudService