The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) recommends that anyone travelling outside Québec carry travel insurance to cover health care received, even if you travel within Canada. It is in your own financial interest to do so. The RAMQ only reimburses a tiny part of costs incurred outside Québec; your savings can disappear quickly.

Extracts of the Régie d'assurance maladie du Québec website related to “Services Covered Outside Québec”  (february 2007)

«Please bear in mind that the Régie usually cannot reimburse you in full and that the cost of healthcare services outside Québec is usually higher than in Québec.

It is therefore essential to take out private travel insurance covering all or part of the costs not paid by the Régie. Obtaining insurance before leaving could spare you unfortunate financial consequences.

If you receive healthcare outside Québec but don't have private insurance, you are responsible for the portion of the cost not reimbursed by the Régie.

The examples in this section illustrate the amounts that an insured person may be required to pay, in a given situation. Please note that we cannot list here the cost of all the various healthcare services. »

The Régie de l'assurance maladie issues reimbursements for professional services
at amounts not exceeding Québec rates, even if the insured person paid more.
«The Régie de l'assurance maladie reimburses the cost of hospital services at pre-set rates, as follows:

• a maximum of CA $100 per day for hospitalization;
• up to CA $50 per day for healthcare received at a hospital outpatient clinic.

For haemodialysis and the required medication, the Régie reimburses up to CA $220 per treatment, regardless of whether the person is hospitalized. »

Read the brochure 'Healthcare services insured outside Québec' :

Private insurance: to avoid unfortunate consequences

• you need Acrobat Reader. You can download it free of charge: