Advice on drug reimbursement
If you buy drugs from a pharmacy without consulting a doctor (over-the-counter drugs), you will not be covered by your Globe PVT contract.
If you buy drugs prescribed by the pharmacist, this can be covered if the pharmacy issues you a full invoice (doctor's name, patient's name, etc.).
If you go to a pharmacy after a consultation with the doctor, do not be surprised if the pharmacist does not return the prescription to you, as in France. Instead, they give you an itemized bill showing your name and the attending physician. We recommend that you take a photo of your prescription before giving it to the pharmacy, so that the ACS medical service can process your request.
The private clinic: your first option for a medical consultation in Quebec
In Quebec, some private physicians are not affiliated with the public health system. They are therefore easier to access than doctors in public clinics, and can take care of you as a patient. The consultation with a doctor in a private clinic is what most resembles a consultation with a general practitioner in France or Belgium. For PVTists, this is therefore the preferred solution.
You can call a private clinic and request an appointment for the same day or the next day. The clinic will then assign you a doctor who you can return to see if you need another consultation during your stay in Quebec. He will keep your medical file and offer you follow-up throughout your experience in Quebec.
Find the nearest private clinic
Our advice on private clinics:
1. The notion of private clinic in France can be synonymous with amazing prices. In Quebec, the price of a consultation in a private clinic is 120 to 400 CAD, much cheaper than going to the emergency room.
2. Private clinics charge an annual subscription fee. Some private clinics agree not to charge the annual subscription fee to PVTists and charge an additional $ 10 to $ 20 for the consultation. You just have to ask.
3. If your total care is less than $ 500, you can request reimbursement from ACS directly via the online platform.
The public walk-in clinic
If you are in an area without a private clinic then the walk-in clinic is your 2nd option. In such clinics, you can see a doctor the next day or sometimes the same day.
As the name does not indicate it, you must make an appointment to see a doctor. To do this, most clinics use an automated telephone system that only works with the RAMQ card (equivalent to the carte vitale in Quebec), which PVTists do not have. To get around this, you have to call the clinic the day before and explain your status as a visitor to Quebec. It will then be possible to request an appointment for the next day.
Find the nearest walk-in clinic
Our advice on public walk-in clinics:
1. Doctors can charge whatever amount they wish for patients who do not have a RAMQ card, as there is no regulation in place to protect PVTists. To avoid unpleasant surprises, remember to ask for rates before making an appointment.
2. Receptionists tend to hang up very quickly. Explain your situation as a visitor before requesting an appointment.
Understanding the walk-in consultation
A walk-in consultation in Quebec is different from taking charge of a doctor. During this consultation, the doctor will only be able to deal with one medical concern with you. They will not follow up and the consultation will likely last less than 5 minutes. It is therefore important to prepare well for your consultation, by bringing your list of medications and your health record.
To obtain a consultation similar to what you are used to in France, you will need to make an appointment in a private clinic.
Our advice on the walk-in consultation:
1. Walk-in doctors tend to quickly redirect to a specialist. Seeing a medical specialist can take several weeks and generate additional costs. If you are referred to a specialist, ask how you can relieve your symptoms while you wait.
2. If your total care is less than $ 500, you can request reimbursement from ACS directly via the online platform.
You are now ready for your first medical consultation in Quebec, hoping that this does not happen to you too often!
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