Our quality of life is determined, at a very fundamental level, by our health. Thus, it follows that our quality of life depends on the healthcare policies and the way the state takes care of its citizens. Currently, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) administers healthcare plans in Quebec, which students coming from out of province or overseas are not eligible for unless they choose to take up residence in Quebec. This means that although healthcare is technically available to all, having residency status or not could lead to discrepancies in attitudes towards access. 

The Quebec Health Insurance plan covers a wide range of procedures in various types of facilities. Aside from medical care, some dental care and optometry is also covered by the Health Insurance Plan. However, when using doctors that are not part of the scheme, patients must pay for the care they receive. Moreover, the RAMQ refunds costs for care outside of Quebec, as long as said care is covered by the plan. Another part of the medical insurance plan is the drug insurance plan, the cost of which varies depending on net family income; anyone covered by RAMQ is required to have it, or have private supplementary insurance. 

People born in Quebec, Canadian residents living in Quebec, and people from other countries staying in Quebec temporarily are all eligible for this insurance. It is also available to work permit holders who live in Quebec more than 183 days a year. The process for new residents to register for the Quebec Health Insurance Plan includes filling out the RAMQ’s registration form and typically receiving a medicare card 3 months later (although some new residents coming from certain countries in Europe may receive it sooner). These eligibility requirements can result in students from other provinces or from overseas using their out of province insurance or some form of international health insurance. 

The impact of this policy on students is can be palpable. Non-Quebec resident students’ lack of Quebec health insurance could prove to be a in accessing healthcare; urgent cases can be treated in the emergency room, but at a high cost, averaging about $615 for uninsured Canadian residents, and $930 for international students. Alternatively, just seeing a physician at a drop-in clinic will also cost money and time, despite numerous options. These costs can typically be reimbursed by international student health insurance or out-of-province healthcare insurance, but this may only be partial and is not immediate. 

Of course, university clinics are also an option for students, but in case of emergency, illness, or injury extending beyond the university clinic’s capacity, the care available to non-Quebec students may seem limited. In the university context, many students may end up either with financial constraints or having to postpone treatment due to their residency status. This potentially creates a paradox where the most urgent or severe ailments requiring hospital visits may be more likely to be ignored, since this type of care would cost the most, even after reimbursement.

This raises questions about the very meaning of healthcare, and how much of a right or privilege it should be. Theoretically, it is available to all students, but in practice, it may be most easily accessed by those who are either from Quebec or willing and able to pay upfront for the services they require. This could make a huge difference in students’ quality of life, as the initial cost may be the reason some decide to let their illness worsen. In the long run, the effects of this ‘paradoxical’ behavior could spread to the general population, with potential outcomes like longer healthcare wait times.

Quebec’s approach to healthcare, as with other provincial policies, has its pros and cons. However, the possible attitudes towards healthcare access in the Quebec system could potentially affect a lot of students’ health, and may limit the alternative options available.