How can I get healthcare in Quebec?

[Dave_C]

Hi I landed in toronto 18 months ago and have a valid PR card.

I have lived and worked in Quebec for the last 14months. only now have I managed to get around to applying for the Quebec healthcare. I have the forms infornt of me and I have to provide the original certificate de selection.

As I landed in Ontario I do not have this certificate, but it appears without it I cant register for the healthcare in Quebec. I have checked the website for applications but I dont fall into any of the pigeon holes they have. Im not an economic refugee nor did I apply to Quebec for my initial migration. Ive spokne on the phone with the department and they tell me that I must have one but they are not clear themselves as to which caegory I should classify myself.

Having had the right run about when getting my drivers license switched from Ontario to Quebec I know not to trust what they tell you on the phone as this never passes to the clerk behind the desk who will simply ask for exactly whats on the system. no negotiating with them.

I have my social security number and pay my taxes in Quebec. What happens if I dont qualify and do I really need to pay out another $500 to get another piece of paper to say I live in Canada / Quebec?

Is there any way around this?

thanks in advance

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this situation.

We too have found it difficult to get some accurate and definitive information regarding this type of situation.

The Régie de l’assurance maladie website states,

Persons taking up residence in Québec

Persons arriving from another province to take up residence in Québec become eligible for the Québec Health Insurance Plan when they cease to be covered by the plan of their province of origin. For as long as they remain covered by the health insurance plan of their former province, they must present their health insurance card of that province when receiving healthcare from a doctor in Québec. The health insurance plan of their former province will cover the cost. However, if the Québec doctor does not accept that card, they will have to pay the doctor’s fee and then apply for a refund with the organization administering the health insurance plan of their province of origin. Usually, coverage under the Québec plan begins on the first day of the third month following the month of arrival in Québec.

This would seem to indicate that there must be a provision for those moving to and living in Quebec from other provinces.

Additionally, on the Régie de l’assurance maladie website it states,

Permanent residents

The originals of all the following documents:

-Permanent Resident Card, or any other document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities attesting to their permanent resident status in Canada, along with their visa;

-Québec selection certificate, in most cases.

Here it states “in most cases” making it sound as though there are circumstances where it would not be necessary to include the Québec selection certificate.

You can also find some information on the Quebec Health Insurance Act - Regulation respecting eligibility and registration of persons in respect of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec

Here is an excerpt,

(7) in the case of a person referred to in section 5 of the Act who settles in Québec for the first time or who returns to settle in Québec, a person who has ceased to be a resident of Québec under the first paragraph of section 6, or a person who has left another province to settle in Québec, one of the following documents:

(a) a residential lease;

(b) a copy of the deed of purchase of the property or of the deed of hypothec;

(c) an attestation from the employer, containing the given name, surname, address, telephone number and signature of the declarant and date of signature, that the person holds employment in Québec;

(d) an attestation of enrolment in a program of study offered by an educational institution in Québec;

(e) a sworn statement from the lessor, representative of the lessor or lessee, as identified on the residential lease, the address of which is provided under subparagraph 3 of section 14, that the person making an application for registration resides there; this statement must also contain the given name, surname, address, telephone number and signature of the declarant, and the date of his signature;

(f) a copy of an invoice or statement of account from a telephone, electric or cable company or a municipal or school tax invoice addressed to the applicant and indicating the domiciliary address, together with the applicant’s sworn statement of living at that address;

(8) in the case of a person who is unable to provide a domiciliary address because he is homeless, a signed and dated declaration by a worker with a centre local employment centre or with an establishment, to the effect that the worker knows the person and that the person lives in Québec;

(9) in the case of a permanent resident, within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who has been temporarily absent from Canada, the original of the document issued by Canadian immigration authorities attesting that he has retained his permanent resident status;

(9.1) (subparagraph revoked);

(9.2) (subparagraph revoked);

(10) except for an application for which the Board issued a health insurance card without the photograph and signature of the insured person under sections 8, 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 or, where applicable, section 8.0.3 of the Regulation respecting forms and statements of fees under the Health Insurance Act, an authentication document duly completed in the manner prescribed in Division V;

(11) (subparagraph revoked);

A copy of one of the documents required under subparagraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the first paragraph is admissible insofar as the person presents the original of that document to a person referred to in section 31.

As you can see it states,

in the case of a permanent resident, within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who has been temporarily absent from Canada, the original of the document issued by Canadian immigration authorities attesting that he has retained his permanent resident status;

We hope that this information is helpful in situations such as yours where it is a permanent resident of Canada who has moved from another province to live in Quebec.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org