Quebec

Quebec list of medications: The List of Medications constitutes a regulatory list of the medications covered by Québec’s basic prescription drug insurance plan.

Financial Support – Ruban Rose: Breast cancer can interfere with the budget of those affected due to increased out of pocket expenses and a reduced income. The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation offers a financial assistance program. Eligible individuals can receive financial support. For more information, consult this website.

Financial and legal assistance: The Quebec Cancer Foundation offers a financial assistance support program for daily living activities. This program is a last-resort financial assistance measure for people with cancer who are living below the low income threshold and are not eligible for other financial assistance programs. The annual amount offered under this program can be up to $1,000/individual.

Application for financial assistance: Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for last-resort financial assistance. You could also be eligible for special benefits covering the cost of medication, optometric services, dental care and other specific needs. The eligibility criteria varies based on if you are 18 years of age or older,  or 18 years of age or younger. For more information, including details on the forms to be completed to make an application, click here.

Food Banks of Quebec: Food Banks of Quebec is an efficient and unified network bringing food donations to people who need it most throughout Quebec. To find food assistance, click here. 

Shelter Allowance Program | Revenu Québec: The Shelter Allowance Program is for low-income individuals and families who spend a significant amount of their budget on housing. It is open to homeowners, tenants and boarders.

Aid programs | Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ): The aid programs offered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) include financial assistance or technical assistance such as the provision of a prosthesis. Certain services or prescription drugs are available free of charge. Note that each program has its own eligibility criteria and procedure.

Low-income household | Hydro-Québec: If your household is considered a low-income household, and you have fallen behind on your payments, you are able to contact customer services to keep your file in good standing. You may also have the possibility of being referred to a help center for low-income households so that you can reach a payment agreement with more manageable installments.

Disability benefits under the Québec Pension Plan: Disability benefits under the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) are payments that you could receive each month if you:

• Are deemed to have a severe and permanent disability by Retraite Québec’s medical advisors;
• Have sufficiently contributed to the Québec Pension Plan;
• Are under age 65;
• Are not entitled to an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
• Are not receiving a pension under the Canada Pension Plan.
• Type of benefits – Disability benefits include:
  • The disability  pension, which is paid to a person deemed to be disabled by Retraite Québec;
  • The pension for a disabled contributor’s child, which is paid for a disabled person’s child under age 18. It can also be paid for children who are living with a disabled person for at least one year as of the moment he or she is deemed to be disabled. 

Please note that as of January 1 2024, the additional amount for disability is no longer paid to new beneficiaries. Persons who currently receive it will continue receiving it until they turn 65.

Canadian Cancer Society Travel Treatment Fund: The travel treatment fund offers short-term help to cover some costs of travelling to cancer treatments. This includes expenses like fuel and taxi or public fares. It is available to people in Canada who are currently or will soon be undergoing cancer treatment and are traveling less than 200km. For more information on how to apply, click here.

Reimbursement of Medical Transportation Expenses for Individuals Receiving Benefits Under a Social Assistance Program | Gouvernement du Québec: You can get reimbursement for medical transportation costs. A written medical certificate may be required, in addition to other information like written confirmation of a medical examination obtained from the facilities staff, as well as the mode of travel, mileage etc.

Financial assistance | Let’s Fight Cancer Together: This financial assistance program works to support patients in Gaspesies-Îles-de-la-Madeleine who at their physician’s request must travel long distances to receive care and services not available locally. Payment is provided as an allowance to alleviate the costs associated with travel and accommodation costs.

Financial assistance program – CISSS de l’Outaouais: This program is for CISSS de l’Outaouais patients who, at their physicians request, must travel outside the region to receive healthcare or social services not available in the Outaouais region. This program reimburses patients for a portion of their travel and accommodation costs, including meals.

RAMQ: External Breastforms Program: The External Breastforms Program is meant for persons having undergone mastectomy or displaying a total absence of breast formation (aplasia). The program provides for a reimbursement of the purchase or replacement cost of external breast forms. To qualify for the program, you must be covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan and be in one of the following situations:

• Have undergone a total, radical or partial mastectomy
• Be aged 14 or over and have received a diagnosis of breast aplasia

 

For more information, including reimbursement details and how to obtain financial assistance, click here.

Financial Assistance – Leucan: Leucan is a charitable organization that provides families with financial assistance to help them deal with unforeseen expenses that arise during their child’s illness.