1. Is my medication covered?
If you have private insurance, we invite you to contact your insurer and provide the DIN;
If you need to turn to RAMQ, you can check on the RAMQ website or ask your community pharmacist.
2. My cancer medication is too expensive. Who can help me?
Check with your drug access coordinator or physician for a referral.
3. My pharmacy tells me that my private insurance won’t cover my cancer medication. What can I do?
We invite you to contact your insurer to find out why, and then contact your Access to Medication Coordinator.
4. I’ve lost my job and my private insurance. What happens to my drug coverage?
You must register with RAMQ, then contact your drug access coordinator to request authorization from RAMQ.
5. What is the difference between original, generic and biosimilar drugs?
Brand-name or innovator drugs are products patented by pharmaceutical companies. Generic drugs are copies of these and are less expensive. They contain the same medicinal ingredients and are approved by Health Canada to the same quality standards.
A biosimilar is a drug similar to the original with equivalent clinical effects.
6. I’ve just moved to Quebec. Will my medications be covered?
- For a change of province: Yes, by the province of departure, until a change of membership is obtained;
- For a change of country: You must first register with RAMQ and then contact a drug access coordinator;
- or First Nations and Inuit clients: if you do not have access to private insurance, you must register for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program;
- or refugees, asylum seekers: If you don’t have access to private insurance or RAMQ, an Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP ) offers limited and temporary health care coverage.
7. What is the reimbursement system for Quebec’s healthcare system?
Private insurance and/or RAMQ.
8. What is the difference in cancer drug coverage (private and public) if I have oral and/or intravenous treatment?
- The oral medication will be purchased from an external pharmacy;
- An intravenous medication, if it is on the RAMQ list, will be administered in hospital for private insurance and RAMQ, and in a private infusion clinic for those with private insurance, depending on the indication in certain cases;
- For combined oral and intravenous treatment, the hospital will provide;
- For a compassionate drug, according to the patient support program for private insurance and RAMQ.
9. The RAMQ no longer covers my medication. What can I do?
If the authorization has expired, your pharmacist can request a temporary extension from RAMQ, while the physician applies to RAMQ for authorization to continue treatment.
10. The RAMQ and my private insurance have sent me a letter. What can I do? Who can explain its contents to me?
Usually, there’s a number on the letter to contact them for more information, then contact your drug access coordinator or treating physician to provide the information and make the necessary follow-ups.
11. Is there a subsidy program for travel to medical appointments?
Yes, there’s the transportation subsidy program: One kilometer at a time. The program provides one-time travel assistance of $400 to help people diagnosed with blood cancer cover the following expenses:
- Gas and parking
- Parking fees at cancer centers
- Meals on the road
- Urban transport by bus, cab or Uber
You are eligible if :
- You live in Canada
- You are 18 or over
- You’re in financial difficulty
- You have been diagnosed with or relapsed from blood cancer in the last three months, or have started treatment.
- You’re in financial difficulty
- Within the next 60 days, you have at least four medical appointments related to the treatment of your blood cancer at a recognized cancer center.
- You provide a medical appointment schedule or an e-mail/letter from a nurse or social worker confirming that you will have at least four medical appointments within the next 60 days.
Find out more about the program here: https: //www.cancersdusang.ca/jai-un-cancer-du-sang/nous-pouvons-vous-aider/un-kilometre-la-fois-programme-de-subvention-pour-le
