In Quebec, having drug coverage is mandatory. If you don't have access to private insurance (through your job or your spouse's), you're covered by the public prescription drug plan run by RAMQ. Every July 1, its rates are adjusted — and on July 1, 2026, they went up.
The maximum annual premium rises to $789. According to RAMQ's June 30, 2026 announcement, the maximum premium climbs from $766 to $789 per person (a 3% increase). Note: this is a maximum. You pay between $0 and $789 depending on your net family income — low-income people pay nothing. This premium isn't paid at the counter: it's calculated once a year, when you file your Quebec income tax return, and the current figures are set out on RAMQ's Rates in effect page.
Beyond the premium, there's what you pay at the pharmacy. Each month you buy medication, you first pay a deductible (the first $21.25), then 30% coinsurance on the rest of the bill. It's all capped: your maximum monthly contribution is $105.25. Once you hit that ceiling within a month, your covered medications are free until the month ends.
Some people pay neither premium nor deductible. The children of plan members, people aged 65 and over who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement at the maximum rate, and social assistance recipients are exempt from the contribution. If you're unsure which category you fall into, RAMQ confirms it when you register.
Good to know for newcomers: the most common trap is thinking you're "covered by RAMQ" for medication the same way you are for medical visits. These are two separate things. If your job gives you access to a group plan that covers drugs, the law requires you to join it — you cannot choose the public plan instead. Otherwise, register for the public plan as soon as you arrive so you don't pay full price for your prescriptions.
