{"id":36426,"date":"2023-02-09T16:01:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T21:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/diabetes\/living-with-diabetes\/finance-and-insurance\/couverture-ramq\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:47:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:47:47","slug":"couverture-ramq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/diabetes\/living-with-diabetes\/finance-and-insurance\/couverture-ramq\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes equipment and medication refund"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This article informs you on the <strong>prescription drug insurance coverage of Quebec (RAMQ)<\/strong> of the different treatments and equipment used in diabetes management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Private insurance has to offer a coverage at least equal to the one RAMQ offers<\/strong>. Some insurances sometimes offer more coverage than RAMQ. To learn more, check the terms of your insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n  <section  class=\"block-accordions-group theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\" >\n        \n    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e56e65id\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e56e65\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Differences between RAMQ and private or group insurance&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Differences between RAMQ and private or group insurance<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e56e65\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e56e65id\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>In Qu\u00e9bec, it is mandatory to be covered, at all times, by a drug plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you are eligible for private or group insurance, you must register for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Otherwise, you have to be registered to the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan of the Qu\u00e9bec health insurance plan (RAMQ).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>RAMQ<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When medication is covered or refunded by RAMQ, it does not mean it is free. You must pay a contribution of the prescribed price. Contribution includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A monthly deductible (a maximum of 23$ per month)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A part of the co-insurance (a maximum of 100$ per month or 1200$ per year).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Exceptions are to be made for people under 18, on social insurance or those who receive the guaranteed income supplement. See RAMQ website for more information.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Private or group insurance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Every private insurance plan has to <strong>at least offer a coverage equal to the public plan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some private insurance plans offer <strong>more<\/strong> coverage than RAMQ and refund partially or the full amount of the monthly deductible and the co-insurance part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taxes deduction for medical fees<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, you can register the unrefunded portion of your medication on your tax report, whether you are insured by RAMQ or a private or group insurance. You could be allowed a tax deduction for medical expenses. Therefore, keep your receipts.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e5741cid\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e5741c\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Capillary blood glucose monitoring&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Capillary blood glucose monitoring<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e5741c\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e5741cid\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strips<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Strips reimbursement changes depending on your diabetes treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Treatment<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Stips coverage per year<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Insulin<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3 000*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Insulin secretagogue**<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">400<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Other antihyperglycemic drugs or simply lifestyle habits<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">200<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">People using a Dexcom G6 ou G7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">100 per 18 months<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>*<\/strong> Aloso applicable in cade of pregnancy <br>** Gliclazide (Diamicron<sup>MD<\/sup>), glimepiride (Amaryl<sup>MD<\/sup>), glyburide (Diabeta<sup>MD<\/sup>), repaglinide (GlucoNorm<sup>MD<\/sup>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An added number of <strong>100 strips <\/strong>can be prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist in the kind of situations where you need a more frequent follow-up such as a change in medication, blood sugar targets not reached during more than 3 months, an acute disease or a surgical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Glucose meter (glucometer) and lancing device<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The glucose meter and the lancing device are provided by your pharmacist when you buy <strong>100 strips or more<\/strong>, whether they are refunded or not. If you do not buy strips, you will have to pay for the glucose meter and the lancing device. Some companies offer a test kit that you can directly order on their website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your equipment breaks, some companies offer the replacement for free. Contact them for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lancets<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Lancets are not refunded. The cost of 100 lancets is around 10 to 20$.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e576a4id\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e576a4\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Medication&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Medication<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e576a4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e576a4id\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p><strong>Almost every diabetes management medication is covered.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Il existe des crit\u00e8res pour le remboursement&nbsp;de certains m\u00e9dicaments. Votre m\u00e9decin en tient g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement compte avant de vous prescrire ces m\u00e9dicaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">There are criteria for the reimbursement of certain medication. Your doctor usually takes this into account before prescribing you these medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Some medicines are considered as \u201cexceptional medication\u201d, your doctor will need to fill a refund application. The reimbursement can take a few weeks to be accepted.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e57e01id\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e57e01\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Continuous glucose monitoring&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Continuous glucose monitoring<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e57e01\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e57e01id\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>Two continuous glucose monitors are reimbursed in Qu\u00e9bec. However, <strong>there are some requirements to be allowed a reimbursement<\/strong>. Your doctor will have to fill a form to justify the refund application. Private or group insurance plans sometimes have a wider coverage than the RAMQ concerning continuous glucose monitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Freestyle libre &amp; Freestyle libre 2<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the following eligibility criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Living with diabetes and being 18 years old or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having 3 insulin injections per day or wearing an insulin pump<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And fill one or several of the following criteria:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Did not reach the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) targeted even with an adequate follow-up of the treatment plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Living frequent hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes even with an adequate follow-up of the treatment plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having difficulties to recognise or notify hypoglycemic symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Freestyle libre 2 is available for every <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-grey-800-color\">child who is 4 years old and more and living with type 1 diabetes<\/mark>, without any eligibility criterion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dexcom G6 et G7<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Eligibility criteria are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Living with type <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-grey-800-color\">1 diabetes<\/mark> and being 18 years old or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And fill one or several of the following criteria:<ul><li>Did not reach the blood glucose (sugar) level (HbA1c) targeted even with an adequate follow-up of the treatment plan<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Living frequent hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes even with an adequate follow-up of the treatment plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having difficulties to recognise hypoglycemic symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Dexcom G6 and G7 is also available to <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-grey-800-color\">every child from 2 to 17 years old with type 1 diabetes<\/mark>, without any eligibility criterion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other systems\/device\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Other continuous glucose monitors are not covered.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e583faid\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e583fa\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Insulin et glucagon&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Insulin et glucagon<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e583fa\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e583faid\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Insulin and associated equipment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Most <strong>insulins<\/strong> are reimbursed, except:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rapid-acting insulin Fiasp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insulins that were replaced by biosimilar insulins, like Lantus, Novorapid and Humalog. For more information, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/news\/are-you-using-novorapid-humalog-or-lantus-the-transition-to-biosimilars-is-upon-us\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/news\/are-you-using-novorapid-humalog-or-lantus-the-transition-to-biosimilars-is-upon-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">article on the subject<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Needles<\/strong> are reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When insulin is reimbursed, the <strong>refunded equipment<\/strong> includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pre-filled pens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reusable pen cartridges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vials for insulin pump or syringe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reusable pens<\/strong> are not reimbursed. They can however be offered by your pharmacist when buying insulin cartridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some products may be exceptions, ask your pharmacist for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Glucagon<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Intranasal glucagon is reimbursed.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    \n<section class=\"accordion\">\n  <div class=\"accordion__table\">\n    <div class=\"accordion__accordion\">\n          \n      <button class=\"accordion__header-row accordion-toggle\" id=\"accordion69f42a8e5a692id\" aria-controls=\"sect69f42a8e5a692\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\n        aria-label=\"Open or close accordion &quot;Insulin pump&quot;.\">\n                  <span class=\"accordion__header__title\">Insulin pump<\/span>\n                <span class=\"accordion__header__icon\" role=\"presentation\">\n          <i class=\"icon icon-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/button>\n    \n        \n      <div class=\"accordion__sub-rows wysiwyg\" id=\"sect69f42a8e5a692\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion69f42a8e5a692id\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>There is a <strong>program available for people under 18, living with type 1 diabetes<\/strong>, that gives them access to insulin pumps. This program refunds the purchase of an insulin pump and the necessary equipment to use it. To be eligible to this program, you need to meet several clinical criteria and be reassessed every year. For more information, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/en\/health\/health-issues\/a-z\/diabetes\/insulin-pump-access-program\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/en\/health\/health-issues\/a-z\/diabetes\/insulin-pump-access-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">access program to insulin pumps<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>People admitted to this program can still participate in it after the age of 18<\/strong> if they still meet the clinical eligibility criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adults with diabetes who never participated in the insulin pump access program cannot be refunded of their pump and associated equipment<\/strong>. Diab\u00e8te Qu\u00e9bec is working to advance the issue of pump coverage with the government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<\/div> \n  <\/section>\n  \n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article informs you on the prescription drug insurance coverage of Quebec (RAMQ) of the different treatments and equipment used in diabetes management. Private insurance has to offer a coverage at least equal to the one RAMQ offers. Some insurances sometimes offer more coverage than RAMQ. To learn more, check the terms of your insurance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31776,"parent":24323,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"7256,9530,274,9690,12763,10616","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-36426","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36426"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36430,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36426\/revisions\/36430"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabete.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}