HEALTH CARE IN QUÉBEC
What to do and where to go
START
Good to know
It is not always easy to navigate the healthcare system in Québec.We’ve created this document to answer any questions you may have about your physical or mental health.
I have questions about health insurance
I have an EMERGENCY
I need to see someone for my physical health
I need to see someone for psychosocial or psychological
LEARN MORE
BACK
HEALTH INSURANCE
What insurance do I need for me and my family?
ASEQ: Alliance pour la santé étudiante du Québec
RAMQ: Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec
DESJARDINS INSURANCE
What does my plan cover?
WHAT INSURANCE AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?
See the following pages to find out which insurance plan matches your situation:
WHAT INSURANCE AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?
WHAT INSURANCE IS MY FAMILY ELIGIBLE FOR?
Some insurance plans also cover your spouse and children:
WHAT INSURANCE IS MY FAMILY ELIGIBLE FOR?
Accessible coverage for children and spouses of international students: Basic hospital and health insurance from Desjardins
- Dependents cannot join the group plan.
- They do have access to Desjardins insurance for visitors.
Other insurance Search online for “health insurance for visitors to Canada.” You’ll find plenty of options. When comparing policies, look at the coverage amounts, what is covered, the deductible, and any special conditions. ASEQ supplemental Insurance Your spouse and children may have access to supplemental insurance through ASEQ. To sign up, visit the family registration page.
ASEQ: ALLIANCE POUR LA SANTÉ ÉTUDIANTE DU QUÉBEC
All INRS students pay for and benefit from two types of supplemental insurance (ASQ group insurance plan): Premiums are billed in fall and winter with your tuition. You can withdraw from one or both components during the first month of your first semester in school. For more information on withdrawing, signing up, or making a claim, see the student handbook for your centre. For more information about the plan, see the documentation on the Fédération étudiante de l’INRS (FEINRS) website.
RAMQ: RÉGIE D’ASSURANCE MALADIE DU QUÉBEC
International students who are covered by a reciprocal health agreement (France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Sweden) should contact Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) as soon as possible after arrival to apply for a health insurance card. This coverage is provided to you at no cost. Otherwise you will have to pay for Desjardins insurance, which is automatically added to your tuition bill. Not all health clinics participate in the Desjardins plan. In principle, spouses and children are also eligible for coverage under the reciprocity agreement. If they are covered, they will also be eligible for RAMQ health insurance. Otherwise they will need private health insurance. For more information, see the INRS page immigration formalities and procedures for studying in Québec.
DESJARDINS INSURANCE
INRS automatically insures non-Canadian students who are not covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement. They will be enrolled in a Desjardins Insurance group health and hospitalization plan (ASHEE, or Assurance santé et hospitalisation pour étudiants étrangers).
- A fee of $300 will be added to your tuition bill;
- You must maintain your insurance for the duration of your time as a student
All minor children residing in Québec for more than 6 months in a year are eligible for RAMQ. This includes children in Québec temporarily (whose parents are foreign workers or international students). For more information, see the INRS page immigration formalities and procedures for studying in Québec.
WHAT DOES MY PLAN COVER?
For information, here is a list of what the various health insurance plans cover. For more details, contact your insurer directly.
BACK
PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE
Seeing a doctor
Finding a medical clinic
Going to the hospital
When and where to go
Other types of care
Accessing care not provided in a hospital
SEEING A DOCTOR
Assess your symptoms If you don’t know whether your symptoms are an emergency or if you are looking for health advice, call 811 – INFO-SANTÉ to talk to a nurse or be referred to the appropriate healthcare resource. This service is free and available 24/7.
811
You can also consult your local pharmacist free of charge.
SEEING A DOCTOR
Non-emergency care Need care, but it’s not an emergency? You have two options:
- CLSC (for student with RAMQ)
- Medical clinic
- Telemedecine (via Omni Desjardins app or through ASEQ-INRS)
- 811: Primary Care Access pointThe Primary Care Access Point makes recommendations tailored to the user's needs and indicates the options available for obtain a health or psychosocial service.
Visit the section about where to get care in Québec on the Immigrant Québec website. Normally the doctor, CLSC, or clinic you go to can tell you whether their services are covered by your insurance. If in doubt, contact your insurer (Desjardins Insurance or ASEQ, as applicable).
SEEING A DOCTOR
Finding a family physician (for students enrolled in RAMQ) Due to the shortage of medical personnel, finding a family doctor in Québec can take a long time. For long-term stays, we recommend registering on the family doctor finder wait list as soon as you arrive. Register at https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/finding-a-resource/registering-with-a-family-doctor
SEEING A DOCTOR
Making an appointment at a medical clinic If you have access to RAMQ, you can make an appointment at a medical clinic by accessing the Clic Santé portal. Some clinics accept patients who hold private insurance. Good to know: Appointments are posted early in the morning and are very difficult to book.If you can’t get an appointment at a clinic, see the next slide for information about going to the hospital. Note, however, that if your condition is not urgent, you may have to wait a long time to be seen.
GOING TO THE HOSPITAL
Emergencies Because patients are seen in order of severity, you should avoid the hospital emergency room for non-urgent care.
If you have an emergency, check the list of hospitals and emergency room wait times at: https://www.indexsante.ca/hopitaux/
If you are insured with Desjardins, contact Assistel in case of emergency: 1-800-465-6390 (international) or 514-875-9170 (local)
OTHER TYPES OF CARE
Vision care
Dental care
Screening clinics
BACK
PSYCHOSOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
At INRS
Contact the Allies Network or the INRS psychological and psychosocial support
PAEE
External Assistance Program for Employees and Students
Outside INRS
Insurance, self-care, and local organizations
At INRS
Allies Network Need someone to talk to? A member of the INRS community can lend a sympathetic ear, provide emotional and social support, and refer you to the appropriate resources. Members of the Mental Health Allies Network are volunteers from the INRS community who are trained and guided in helping those who need confidential psychological or psychosocial support.
Psychological and psychosocial support For help in a crisis, a one-time consultation, or an appointment with a specialist to discuss your situation, explore possible solutions, and be directed to the best resource for your needs, contact the INRS well-being assistance unit at intervention.sesre@inrs.ca. The service is available during normal business hours.
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS (PAEE)
Round the clock (24/7) The Assistance Program for Employees and Students (PAEE) is a professional service provided by LifeWorks to help you resolve problems. You are eligible for 4 hours of free consultations per year (January 1 to December 31, all services combined) in the following areas:
- Psychological and psychosocial support
- Legal
- Financial
- Career guidance
- Psychoeducation
To take the first step towards feeling better, getting answers to your questions, solving problems, making decisions, or understanding yourself better, call 1 855 612-2998, toll-free.
OUTSIDE INRS
Private insurance Check with your insurer to see if consultations with a psychologist or psychotherapist are covered. Many plans offer full or partial reimbursement up to a certain amount per year.
Contact a local agency Discover free and confidential programs and services near you in 240 languages. To find out what’s available, call 211. You can also call 811, option 2 to speak to a social worker for free 24/7.
Self-care To help you manage your mental health, take stock of your psychological distress and well-being, monitor your symptoms, and develop a strategy for getting better, visit the self-care websites recommended by INRS.
I HAVE AN EMERGENCY
If you or a loved one need urgent care, you can go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. Emergency rooms are open year-round, 24 hours a day. They’re usually extremely busy, so only go if it’s really necessary.
- Doctors, ambulance, firefighters, police: 911 in Montréal and Québec City, 0 elsewhere in Québec.
- Info-Santé (medical consultation by phone): 811 medical or psychosocial consultation by phone
- Québec Poison Control Centre: 1-800-463-5060
- Info-crime Québec : 1 800 711 1800
- Crisis centres: https://resicq.ca/
- Suicide prevention centres: https://www.aqps.info/besoin-aide-urgente/liste-centres-prevention-suicide.html
1-866-appelle (277-3553)
QUESTIONS ?
Contact GARE at gare@inrs.ca
Dental care
Dental care is very expensive in Québec. You can check with your insurer or contact colleges or universities that have dental schools and can provide care at a lower cost.
Clinique dentaire de l’Université de Montréal
Clinique-école en hygiène dentaire du Collège Maisonneuve
Clinique dentaire de l’Université Laval à Québec
Vision care
See an optometrist near you but first check that vision services are covered by your insurance.Here are two community organizations that offer affordable eyeglasses:
Le Bonhomme à Lunettes (Montréal)
Le marchand de lunettes (Québec)
Screening clinics
To screen for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, go to the nearest CLSC (available for students with access to RAMQ)
Trouvez votre CLSC
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Transcript
HEALTH CARE IN QUÉBEC
What to do and where to go
START
Good to know
It is not always easy to navigate the healthcare system in Québec.We’ve created this document to answer any questions you may have about your physical or mental health.
I have questions about health insurance
I have an EMERGENCY
I need to see someone for my physical health
I need to see someone for psychosocial or psychological
LEARN MORE
BACK
HEALTH INSURANCE
What insurance do I need for me and my family?
ASEQ: Alliance pour la santé étudiante du Québec
RAMQ: Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec
DESJARDINS INSURANCE
What does my plan cover?
WHAT INSURANCE AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?
See the following pages to find out which insurance plan matches your situation:
WHAT INSURANCE AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?
WHAT INSURANCE IS MY FAMILY ELIGIBLE FOR?
Some insurance plans also cover your spouse and children:
WHAT INSURANCE IS MY FAMILY ELIGIBLE FOR?
Accessible coverage for children and spouses of international students: Basic hospital and health insurance from Desjardins
- Dependents cannot join the group plan.
- They do have access to Desjardins insurance for visitors.
Other insurance Search online for “health insurance for visitors to Canada.” You’ll find plenty of options. When comparing policies, look at the coverage amounts, what is covered, the deductible, and any special conditions. ASEQ supplemental Insurance Your spouse and children may have access to supplemental insurance through ASEQ. To sign up, visit the family registration page.ASEQ: ALLIANCE POUR LA SANTÉ ÉTUDIANTE DU QUÉBEC
All INRS students pay for and benefit from two types of supplemental insurance (ASQ group insurance plan): Premiums are billed in fall and winter with your tuition. You can withdraw from one or both components during the first month of your first semester in school. For more information on withdrawing, signing up, or making a claim, see the student handbook for your centre. For more information about the plan, see the documentation on the Fédération étudiante de l’INRS (FEINRS) website.
RAMQ: RÉGIE D’ASSURANCE MALADIE DU QUÉBEC
International students who are covered by a reciprocal health agreement (France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Sweden) should contact Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) as soon as possible after arrival to apply for a health insurance card. This coverage is provided to you at no cost. Otherwise you will have to pay for Desjardins insurance, which is automatically added to your tuition bill. Not all health clinics participate in the Desjardins plan. In principle, spouses and children are also eligible for coverage under the reciprocity agreement. If they are covered, they will also be eligible for RAMQ health insurance. Otherwise they will need private health insurance. For more information, see the INRS page immigration formalities and procedures for studying in Québec.
DESJARDINS INSURANCE
INRS automatically insures non-Canadian students who are not covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement. They will be enrolled in a Desjardins Insurance group health and hospitalization plan (ASHEE, or Assurance santé et hospitalisation pour étudiants étrangers).
- A fee of $300 will be added to your tuition bill;
- You must maintain your insurance for the duration of your time as a student
All minor children residing in Québec for more than 6 months in a year are eligible for RAMQ. This includes children in Québec temporarily (whose parents are foreign workers or international students). For more information, see the INRS page immigration formalities and procedures for studying in Québec.WHAT DOES MY PLAN COVER?
For information, here is a list of what the various health insurance plans cover. For more details, contact your insurer directly.
BACK
PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE
Seeing a doctor
Finding a medical clinic
Going to the hospital
When and where to go
Other types of care
Accessing care not provided in a hospital
SEEING A DOCTOR
Assess your symptoms If you don’t know whether your symptoms are an emergency or if you are looking for health advice, call 811 – INFO-SANTÉ to talk to a nurse or be referred to the appropriate healthcare resource. This service is free and available 24/7.
811
You can also consult your local pharmacist free of charge.
SEEING A DOCTOR
Non-emergency care Need care, but it’s not an emergency? You have two options:
- CLSC (for student with RAMQ)
- Medical clinic
- Telemedecine (via Omni Desjardins app or through ASEQ-INRS)
- 811: Primary Care Access pointThe Primary Care Access Point makes recommendations tailored to the user's needs and indicates the options available for obtain a health or psychosocial service.
Visit the section about where to get care in Québec on the Immigrant Québec website. Normally the doctor, CLSC, or clinic you go to can tell you whether their services are covered by your insurance. If in doubt, contact your insurer (Desjardins Insurance or ASEQ, as applicable).SEEING A DOCTOR
Finding a family physician (for students enrolled in RAMQ) Due to the shortage of medical personnel, finding a family doctor in Québec can take a long time. For long-term stays, we recommend registering on the family doctor finder wait list as soon as you arrive. Register at https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/finding-a-resource/registering-with-a-family-doctor
SEEING A DOCTOR
Making an appointment at a medical clinic If you have access to RAMQ, you can make an appointment at a medical clinic by accessing the Clic Santé portal. Some clinics accept patients who hold private insurance. Good to know: Appointments are posted early in the morning and are very difficult to book.If you can’t get an appointment at a clinic, see the next slide for information about going to the hospital. Note, however, that if your condition is not urgent, you may have to wait a long time to be seen.
GOING TO THE HOSPITAL
Emergencies Because patients are seen in order of severity, you should avoid the hospital emergency room for non-urgent care.
If you have an emergency, check the list of hospitals and emergency room wait times at: https://www.indexsante.ca/hopitaux/
If you are insured with Desjardins, contact Assistel in case of emergency: 1-800-465-6390 (international) or 514-875-9170 (local)
OTHER TYPES OF CARE
Vision care
Dental care
Screening clinics
BACK
PSYCHOSOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
At INRS
Contact the Allies Network or the INRS psychological and psychosocial support
PAEE
External Assistance Program for Employees and Students
Outside INRS
Insurance, self-care, and local organizations
At INRS
Allies Network Need someone to talk to? A member of the INRS community can lend a sympathetic ear, provide emotional and social support, and refer you to the appropriate resources. Members of the Mental Health Allies Network are volunteers from the INRS community who are trained and guided in helping those who need confidential psychological or psychosocial support.
Psychological and psychosocial support For help in a crisis, a one-time consultation, or an appointment with a specialist to discuss your situation, explore possible solutions, and be directed to the best resource for your needs, contact the INRS well-being assistance unit at intervention.sesre@inrs.ca. The service is available during normal business hours.
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS (PAEE)
Round the clock (24/7) The Assistance Program for Employees and Students (PAEE) is a professional service provided by LifeWorks to help you resolve problems. You are eligible for 4 hours of free consultations per year (January 1 to December 31, all services combined) in the following areas:
- Psychological and psychosocial support
- Legal
- Financial
- Career guidance
- Psychoeducation
To take the first step towards feeling better, getting answers to your questions, solving problems, making decisions, or understanding yourself better, call 1 855 612-2998, toll-free.OUTSIDE INRS
Private insurance Check with your insurer to see if consultations with a psychologist or psychotherapist are covered. Many plans offer full or partial reimbursement up to a certain amount per year.
Contact a local agency Discover free and confidential programs and services near you in 240 languages. To find out what’s available, call 211. You can also call 811, option 2 to speak to a social worker for free 24/7.
Self-care To help you manage your mental health, take stock of your psychological distress and well-being, monitor your symptoms, and develop a strategy for getting better, visit the self-care websites recommended by INRS.
I HAVE AN EMERGENCY
If you or a loved one need urgent care, you can go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. Emergency rooms are open year-round, 24 hours a day. They’re usually extremely busy, so only go if it’s really necessary.
- Info-Santé (medical consultation by phone): 811 medical or psychosocial consultation by phone
- Québec Poison Control Centre: 1-800-463-5060
- Info-crime Québec : 1 800 711 1800
- Crisis centres: https://resicq.ca/
- Suicide prevention centres: https://www.aqps.info/besoin-aide-urgente/liste-centres-prevention-suicide.html
1-866-appelle (277-3553)QUESTIONS ?
Contact GARE at gare@inrs.ca
Dental care
Dental care is very expensive in Québec. You can check with your insurer or contact colleges or universities that have dental schools and can provide care at a lower cost.
Clinique dentaire de l’Université de Montréal
Clinique-école en hygiène dentaire du Collège Maisonneuve
Clinique dentaire de l’Université Laval à Québec
Vision care
See an optometrist near you but first check that vision services are covered by your insurance.Here are two community organizations that offer affordable eyeglasses:
Le Bonhomme à Lunettes (Montréal)
Le marchand de lunettes (Québec)
Screening clinics
To screen for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, go to the nearest CLSC (available for students with access to RAMQ)
Trouvez votre CLSC