Healthcare in Montreal is of an excellent standard, and expats will have access to first-class doctors and facilities in the city.

The language barrier won't be much of a concern either, as most doctors in Montreal are multilingual.

Health insurance in Montreal

Universal healthcare in Canada means all residents receive free or low-cost medical care, though expats should note that each province’s healthcare system differs slightly.

In Quebec, the system is administered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Under the RAMQ, most expats who live in the region qualify for subsidised healthcare. However, expats with employer-specific work permits valid for less than six months will likely be ineligible. We recommend expats visit the official RAMQ website to determine their eligibility.

To receive subsidised healthcare in Montreal, expats must first register with RAMQ and receive a medical insurance card. It’s important to note that there is then a three-month waiting period, during which expats should take out private health insurance. The exceptions to this are cases of pregnancy, childbirth, victims of violence and patients with infectious diseases, which pose a danger to public health.

Expats from countries with a healthcare agreement with Quebec will also be exempt from the waiting period. These countries include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Sweden.

In addition to regular health insurance, it is required for every resident of Quebec to have prescription drug insurance, as the province’s universal healthcare system does not cover this. Expats can choose between taking out public or private prescription drug insurance through RAMQ or a policy arranged by their employer.

Hospitals in Montreal

Below are some of the most prominent hospitals in Montreal.

Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Website: www.chumontreal.qc.ca
Address: 1000 Rue Saint-Denis

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine

Website: www.chusj.org
Address: 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine

Hôpital de Réadaptation Villa Medica

Website: www.villamedica.ca
Address: 225 Rue Sherbrooke Est

Hôpital Marie-Clarac

Website: www.hopitalmarie-clarac.qc.ca
Address: 3530 Boulevard Gouin E

Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal

Website: ciusss-estmtl.gouv.qc.ca
Address: 7401 Rue Hochelaga

Further reading

►Getting Around Montreal provides an overview of transport in the city

Expat Interviews

"We are both pretty healthy so fortunately, we haven’t had the need to use the healthcare system and don’t have any personal experience to comment. From what we’ve been told, Canada's public health system is of high quality and funded by the government. It appears to be very well structured. Most of the basic healthcare expenses are covered by public insurance with a few exceptions. Dental care is generally funded privately through employment-based insurance." 

Read about South African and Slovak expats, Tim and Kamila's experiences in Canada in our interview.

Are you an expat living in Montreal?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Montreal. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.