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Which drugs are covered by the public prescription drug insurance plan?

✓ Verified answer Written from official pages, with checked citations and a verification date.

The public prescription drug insurance plan, run by the RAMQ, covers more than 9,000 drugs. They are listed, with their coverage conditions, in the Liste des médicaments (List of Medications), which is updated regularly. In general, you pay an annual premium to Revenu Québec in your income tax return, then a deductible and coinsurance at the pharmacy. The rates in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 are $0 to $789 for the premium, $21.25 for the monthly deductible and 30% for the coinsurance; they are adjusted every year on July 1. General information only, not medical advice: for your own case, check with your pharmacist or the RAMQ.

Official page: Prescription drug insurance (RAMQ) ↗

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Key facts

Covered drugs: More than 9,000 drugs, listed in the Liste des médicaments, which is updated regularly. The Minister of Health chooses the covered drugs after consulting the INESSS.
Annual premium (rates from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027): From $0 to $789 per person, based on net family income. Paid to Revenu Québec in the income tax return, even if you buy no drugs.
Deductible and coinsurance (same period): Deductible: $21.25 per month, paid on your first purchases of the month. Coinsurance: 30% of the cost of covered drugs, once the deductible has been subtracted.
Maximum contribution (same period): Per month: $105.25; per year: $1,263. Exception for people aged 65 or over who receive less than 94% of the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement: per month: $58.08; per year: $697.
People insured at no cost: Generally: people holding a valid claim booklet; children of people insured by the public plan who are under 18 with no access to a private plan (or aged 18 to 25 under certain study and residence conditions); people aged 65 or over who receive 94% or more of the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement; certain people with a functional disability.
Rates change: Rates are adjusted every year on July 1: check the ones in effect on the official page.

Steps

Check whether a drug is covered with the RAMQ tool “Savoir si un médicament est couvert” (Find out if a drug is covered): you enter the name of the drug or of an active ingredient. The results do not have the same value as a legal document: the authoritative document is the Liste des médicaments.
Keep in mind that a drug can exceptionally be covered even if it is not on the list.
Look at the general coverage conditions: the drug is on the Liste des médicaments, prescribed by a health professional, bought in Québec from a pharmacist and sold at the lowest price. If you buy the original drug while a generic copy is covered, you pay the price difference.
Check whether you are eligible for the public plan: in general, you are if you do not have access to a private plan. If you have access to a private plan, you must join it. At age 65, enrolment in the public plan is automatic.
Plan for the annual premium: it is collected by Revenu Québec when you file your income tax return, based on your situation and your net family income.
At the pharmacy, show your valid health insurance card and, where applicable, your claim booklet (carnet de réclamation). You generally pay part of the cost of covered drugs (your contribution): the monthly deductible, then the coinsurance up to the maximum contribution.
Check whether you are among the people generally covered free of charge by the public plan (see the “People insured at no cost” line below).

General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.

Sources

Assurance médicaments (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Connaître les conditions de couverture du régime (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Tarifs en vigueur (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Montant à payer pour les médicaments (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Prime annuelle (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Savoir si un médicament est couvert (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))
Connaître les conditions d’admissibilité au régime public (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ))

Checked on October 5, 2026. Rules, deadlines and fees can change: always confirm on the official page above. Demande au Québec is an independent website, not a government site.