Health Insurance in Quebec: How RAMQ Changes Your Coverage Needs

Why health insurance works differently in Quebec than the rest of Canada

Health insurance in Quebec is different from other Canadian provinces because it’s a mix of universal public healthcare and mandatory prescription drug insurance, managed by the provincial agency Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). 

If you’re eligible and registered with RAMQ, you get public coverage for medically necessary services, such as:

• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Doctor and specialist visits
• Diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs, lab work)
• Maternity and emergency care

Public coverage does not include dental care (with some exceptions, including for children), routine vision care for adults, cosmetic procedures, and many allied health services (e.g., physiotherapy, psychology) unless provided in a hospital setting.

Quebec requires everyone to have prescription drug insurance.

• If you have an employer/private plan, you must join it
• If you don’t have an employer/private plan, you must enroll in the public RAMQ drug plan

If you don’t have private insurance, you’ll need to register through RAMQ—it’s not automatic like it is for the general public health insurance plan. You can register online or by phone.

It's important to note that even on the public plan, there are still premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

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How private health insurance fills Quebec’s coverage gaps

There are clear gaps in Quebec’s provincial health plans, such as dental care, mental health care, paramedical services, and vision care for some residents. Every person’s needs are different, which is why a private health plan is a great way to get the coverage you need based on your specific gaps.

What’s the best health insurance in Quebec?

We’ve identified the best private health insurance plans in Quebec by analyzing over 1,700 quotes covering 50+ private health insurance products from the seven biggest providers in Canada, sourced from official product websites and supplemented with customer ratings from Google.

To identify the best plans for the average household in Quebec, we focused on plans with: 

• Excellent coverage for adults: Adults aged 18–14 are most overlooked by government health care coverage, making them prime candidates for private health insurance. 
• Complete coverage: We prioritized insurance options that include coverage for both prescription drugs and dental services in addition to other extended health benefits. 
• Mid-tier pricing: We focused on plans with mid-range pricing that’s competitive in the industry in order to deliver the highest value for the largest number of Canadians. ‍
• Non-replacement plans: We’ve recommended plans designed for Canadians without existing workplace health benefits, rather than those seeking to replace previous employer-sponsored plans.

If you’re comparing health insurance across Canada, explore our list of the best health insurance plans in Canada. If you live in Quebec, the plans below are the best picks for the unique provincial health landscape.

Because Quebec residents already have mandatory prescription drug coverage, the plans below should be evaluated based on how they supplement RAMQ, not as standalone insurance products.

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

^{** Comparison reflects the total amount of prescription drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health, accidental dental, and ambulance coverage versus the industry average for comparable plans.}

Best for self-employed/contract workers without employer benefits: Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

Our expert take: For a balanced mix of affordability and robust coverage, the Guaranteed Issue Classic plan from PolicyMe is among the best options for residents of Quebec who don’t have employer benefits. Great dental coverage, competitive premiums, and unusually generous and flexible paramedical coverage (which is a big gap for RAMQ) make this private plan a standout. Most areas of coverage see high reimbursement rates, but prescription drug coverage is a little lower than the industry average, making this a less competitive plan for those with high medication coverage needs.

Available products from PolicyMe: 

• Guaranteed Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more
• Dental Care: A guaranteed health insurance plan with no coverage for prescription drugs‍
• Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of replacement health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more

Best to supplement RAMQ drug coverage: ZONE 5 (Choice) from GreenShield

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

‍Our expert take: Older Quebec residents may find a good fit in GreenShield’s ZONE 5 (Choice) underwritten plan, which acts as an excellent supplement for public health insurance coverage. Because RAMQ already covers prescription drug costs, the plan’s lower level of drug coverage means less redundant coverage.

Best for balanced, budget-conscious coverage: ComboPlus Basic Plan from Manulife

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

‍Our expert take: Manulife’s ComboPlus Basic Plan is fairly affordable and includes generous coverage for mental healthcare services, vision care, and emergency services. You’ll also get built-in perks like access to online services for medical care. High out-of-pocket dental costs are the major drawback of this policy, so proceed with caution if robust coverage for dental services is a priority.

Available products from Manulife: 

• Flexcare ComboPlus Starter, Basic, and Enhanced Plan: A series of complete health insurance plans with guaranteed options.
• Flexcare DentalPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans.
• Flexcare DrugPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of no-dental health insurance plans.
• FollowMe Basic, Enhanced, Enhanced Plus, and Premiere Plan: A series of complete replacement health insurance plans.‍
• Guaranteed Issue Enhanced: A complete, premium health insurance plan with guaranteed acceptance.

Best for high prescription drug coverage: Freedom to Choose Select Plus from Canada Life

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

Our expert take: CCanada Life’s generous underwritten Freedom to Choose Select Plus plan comes with high reimbursement rates for paramedical coverage, prescription drugs (a $10,000 cap!), dental services, and more. It’s also priced competitively for adults in Quebec. However, per-visit maximums and other exclusions dampen the impact of some coverage, and it’s not the most affordable option on the market.

Available products from Canada Life: 

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• Freedom to Choose Guaranteed, Guaranteed Plus, and Guaranteed Elite: A series of guaranteed and replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental coverage options.
• Freedom to Choose Select, Select Guaranteed, Select Plus, and Select Elite: A series of health insurance plans with guaranteed, underwritten, complete, and high-drug options.

Compare the top 3 private health insurance plans in Quebec

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Quebec.}

How much does health insurance in Quebec cost?

On average, Quebec households spent roughly $2,870 in out-of-pocket healthcare costs in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. 

By opting for a private health insurance plan like PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan, residents of Quebec could save $1,559 or more each year in medical costs not covered by the RAMQ provincial health plan. 

As for what you’ll pay, here’s a comparison of monthly health insurance quotes for the top 3 health insurance policies in Quebec:

^{* Prices reflect the approximate costs for residents in the relevant age group in Quebec. They are current as of December 2025.}

What does the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Quebec (RAMQ) cover?

Quebec’s health insurance plan, the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Quebec (RAMQ), covers the following medically necessary services for all residents with a valid health insurance card:

The provincial government covers most of the cost of ambulance transport for residents, but patients are responsible for a base fee of $125, along with an extra $35 for any additional person being transported and $1.75 per kilometre of travel. 

Medical services covered by public insurance coverage in Quebec are generally covered when traveling outside the province or outside Canada if you have a valid health card. In most cases, though, RAMQ will only reimburse a portion of the cost.

The table below gives more information about specific areas of drug, dental, vision, and extended health coverage under RAMQ. 

The province also offers the following extended health benefits for Quebec residents in low-income households:

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How to find the best health insurance for you

No single health insurance company offers the best plan for every resident of Quebec. To determine which plan is the best option for you and your family, follow these steps: 

1. Review your current coverage: Do you have a valid and up-to-date health insurance card? Are you enrolled in any government programs or workplace group benefits plans that you or your partner are eligible for? 
2. Take stock of your current healthcare spending: Go back through your accounts, receipts, and other records to tally up the total amount you spent in the last 12 months on health expenses not covered by insurance. 
3. Project your future healthcare spending: Do you expect to spend roughly the same amount on healthcare in the next 12-24 months, or do you anticipate needing any major procedures that aren’t covered by RAMQ, such as major dental work, physiotherapy, or speech therapy? If possible, estimate the total cost of any planned or expected medical services. 
4. Calculate your coverage gap: Add up the total amount of your healthcare spending for the last 12 months along with the projected cost of non-covered procedures or treatments you expect to need in the next 12-24 months. Divide the total by 12 to find your average monthly health coverage gap. 
5. Research plans and request quotes: Once you understand where your healthcare spending is focused and how significant your coverage gap is, you can look for private health insurance plans that match the type and amount of coverage you need. Request health insurance quotes from these companies and compare the results with your calculated monthly coverage gap. 

Through these steps, you can find the private health insurance plan with the best coverage for you and your family while maximizing the impact to your healthcare budget. Now is also a good time to decide if you want other types of insurance, like life insurance — you can often get discounts on a bundled policy.

4 common mistakes when buying health insurance in Quebec

Quebec has unique rules around health and drug coverage, and understanding how the public and private healthcare systems work together can save you from making expensive mistakes. 

Here are some of the most common errors people make when choosing a health insurance plan in Quebec.

1. Paying for drug coverage you already have

Drug coverage is mandatory in Quebec. If you don’t have an employer plan (either your own or your spouse’s), you’ll be enrolled in the public drug plan, RAMQ. Many people buy private insurance without realizing this and end up paying for the same coverage twice.

Before choosing a plan, check:

• Do you have access to an employer plan?
• Are you already covered under RAMQ?
• Does private insurance improve your coverage or duplicate it?

2. Choosing a health plan based on “best in Canada” rankings

National rankings can be helpful (we even publish one!), but they don’t always reflect how insurance works in Quebec, where the health landscape is different from most other provinces.

Instead of relying on Canada-wide lists, compare the features that matter most in Quebec: reimbursement percentages, annual maximums, and out-of-pocket limits.

3. Buying more coverage than you need

Many insurance plans are made for provinces where prescription drug coverage is optional. Since that coverage is regulated in Quebec, plan differences typically rest on:

• Dental 
• Vision
• Paramedical (e.g., massage therapy, chiropractic, mental health)
• Travel insurance

Focus on benefits that add real value by filling your coverage gaps.

4. Assuming RAMQ covers everything

RAMQ covers medically necessary services like hospital stays, surgeries, and diagnostic tests. It does not cover everyday and preventative expenses like dental care, vision care, travel insurance, and most paramedical services. 

These are expenses that often surprise people and can result in high out-of-pocket costs. Know what public insurance covers and opt for a plan that supplements it.

FAQ: Best health insurance in Quebec

Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of March 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.