DATE: August 2001
TO: Directors of Personnel
Compensation Managers
Heads
SUBJECT: Important Information for Members of the Public Service
Health Care Plan (PSHCP)
Who Reside in Québec and Are Under Age 65.
Attached is a very important Information
Bulletin concerning the termination of the administrative arrangement
entered into with the Régie de l'assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in 1997.
The bulletin should be distributed to all employees living in Québec.
The end of the administrative arrangement with RAMQ will affect members of
the PSHCP under the age of 65 and residing in Québec who, after being
reimbursed by the PSHCP, are out-of-pocket by $750 or more in a year for RAMQ
covered drugs.
The end of the administrative arrangement does not affect benefits under the
Public Service Health Care Plan. Members of the PSHCP will still be able to
claim 80% of the cost of eligible prescription drugs, with no limit, after
satisfying the plan deductible. Plan members will also continue to have access
to benefits such as the Vision Care Benefit and the Health Care Practitioner
Benefit under the PSHCP.
Note: This bulletin is of special interest to those members of the
PSHCP who incur significant expenses for prescribed drugs.
The Québec government instituted a drug insurance plan in 1997. RAMQ and Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada entered into an administrative arrangement in
1997, on behalf of Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) members, to ensure
that federal public service employees and retired federal employees living in
the province would be treated as equitably as any other Québec resident
participating in the provincial plan.
RAMQ has decided not to continue the arrangement with Sun Life. Members of
the PSHCP residing in Quebec now have the choice as to whether they wish to join
RAMQ.
After September 30, 2001, those PSHCP members with high drug costs should
consider seeking coverage under RAMQ if they wish to continue to be reimbursed
at 100% after reaching $750 in out-of-pocket expenses in a year. Members who
join RAMQ will be required to pay the annual RAMQ premium.
Members wishing to join the provincial plan should contact RAMQ directly at
1-888-435-7999 or, in Quebec City, (418) 528-5921.
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