Healthcare and health insurance for expats in Montreal

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Healthcare in Montreal is of an excellent standard, and you will have access to first-class doctors and facilities in the city. Montreal's healthcare system benefits from continuous investments, ensuring a modern and efficient system.

The language barrier won’t be much of a concern, either, as most doctors in Montreal are multilingual. Recent changes have emphasised the importance of French in healthcare services, but anglophones are still assured the right to receive healthcare in English.

Health insurance in Montreal

Universal healthcare in Canada means all residents receive free or low-cost medical care, although you should note that each province’s healthcare system differs slightly.

In Quebec, the system is administered by the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Under the RAMQ, most people who live in the region qualify for subsidised healthcare. Employers are required to provide temporary health coverage until employees become eligible for RAMQ benefits.

To receive subsidised healthcare in Montreal, you must first register with RAMQ and receive a medical insurance card. There is then a three-month waiting period, during which you should take out private health insurance. Exceptions to the waiting period include pregnancy, childbirth, victims of violence, and patients with infectious diseases, children under 18 and Canadian Armed Forces members.

If you are from a country with a healthcare agreement with Quebec, you will also be exempt from the waiting period. These countries include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, and Sweden.

In addition to regular health insurance, every resident of Quebec is required to have prescription drug insurance, as the province’s universal healthcare system does not cover this.

You can choose between taking out public or private prescription drug insurance through RAMQ or a policy arranged by your employer. Private plans are usually offered as part of group insurance, such as through employers or unions, and they can provide more comprehensive coverage.

Useful links

Official RAMQ Website

Hospitals in Montreal

Below are some of the most prominent hospitals in Montreal, providing a range of services to residents and newcomers alike.

Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal

Website: www.chumontreal.qc.ca
Address: 1000 Rue Saint-Denis

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine

Website: www.chusj.org
Address: 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine

Hôpital de Réadaptation Villa Medica

Website: www.villamedica.ca
Address: 225 Rue Sherbrooke Est

Hôpital Marie-Clarac

Website: www.hopitalmarie-clarac.qc.ca
Address: 3530 Boulevard Gouin E

Institut National de Psychiatrie Légale Philippe-Pinel

Website: www.pinel.qc.ca
Address: 10905, Henri-Bourassa Boulevard East

What do expats say about Montreal's healthcare system?
"We are both pretty healthy so fortunately, we haven’t had the need to use the healthcare system and don’t have any personal experience to comment. From what we’ve been told, Canada's public health system is of high quality and funded by the government. It appears to be very well structured. Most of the basic healthcare expenses are covered by public insurance with a few exceptions. Dental care is generally funded privately through employment-based insurance."
Read South African and Slovak Tim and Kamila's interview about their experiences in Canada.

Are you an expat living in Montreal?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Montreal. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute, or fill in our expat interview form to be featured.