From September 22, 2021, children of temporary foreign workers and international students will be covered by the Régie de l’assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ), the healthcare system of the province. This means that all children in Quebec will now be able to qualify for Quebec health insurance and basic prescription drug insurance plans, provided they have been residing in Quebec for more than 6 months in a year.
Who Will Be Covered by the Quebec Healthcare System?
The Quebec healthcare system will now cover the following:
- Children of temporary foreign workers employed in Quebec
- Children of international students studying in Quebec
- Children without legal status in Canada
This provision was introduced in June and after three months of lobbying by healthcare advocates, all children in Quebec will now be able to get medical coverage.
Why Was this Provision Introduced?
The Quebec branch of Amnesty International and Doctors of the World filed a petition in 2017 to request medical coverage for all children residing in the province. The belief was that immigration status should not deprive the children of receiving medical coverage under Quebec's healthcare plan.