Special benefits

Health

• Prescription drugs
• Dental care
• Optometry services
• Health and safety equipment and accessories
• Medical care - transportation and accommodation costs
• Special health needs

Prescription drugs

Under the Basic Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), recipients of last-resort financial assistance and people who have been issued claim slips can obtain prescription drugs free-of-charge.

If you belong to one of these categories, when you go to the drugstore, you have to present the claim slip that you receive each month with your benefit cheque or direct deposit notification.

Dental care

For free dental care:

• You must have received employment-assistance benefits for at least 12 consecutive months.
• Your claim slip must have “YES” marked in the “Dental care covered” box. If “YES” is not marked, the date on which you are entitled to begin receiving dental care free of charge will be indicated on the slip.

RAMQ pays the dental care costs directly to the dentist.

Dental prostheses

To receive these prostheses free of charge:

• You must have received last-resort financial assistance for at least 24 consecutive months.
• You must have your CLE officer complete the form authorizing the purchase or replacement of the dental prosthesis and bring it with you when you consult your dentist or denturist.

RAMQ pays the costs incurred for dental prostheses directly to the dentist or denturist according to the rates in effect.

Optometry services

Eye test

To be eligible for this special benefit:

• You must have been receiving last-resort financial assistance for at least 12 consecutive months.
• To obtain these services free of charge, you must present the claim slip, which must have “YES” marked in the “Message” section. If “YES” is not marked, the date on which you are entitled to begin receiving optometry services free of charge will be indicated on the slip.

RAMQ pays the costs incurred for optometry services directly to the optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses

The costs incurred for the purchase or replacement of eyeglasses or contact lenses are paid according to the rates stipulated in the Regulation respecting individual and family assistance. However, to be eligible for this special benefit:

• You must have been receiving last-resort financial assistance under the Social Assistance Program for at least 6 consecutive months.
• If you are a Social Solidarity Program recipient, you are eligible for this special benefit as soon as you are admitted to the Program.
• Before purchasing eyeglasses or contact lenses, you must have your CLE officer complete the form entitling you to do so and authorizing payment according to the prescribed conditions.

If the total cost of the eyeglasses or contact lenses exceeds the amounts stipulated in the Regulation, you must pay the difference.

The Department pays the costs incurred for eyeglasses or contact lenses directly to the optometrist or optician, up to the amounts stipulated in the Regulation.

Health and safety equipment and accessories

Various special benefits exist to help you purchase or rent prostheses, ortheses, equipment (e.g. hospital bed, bathtub safety bars) or accessories (e.g. dressings, diapers for incontinence).

However, before purchasing or renting this equipment or these accessories, ask your CLE officer whether you are eligible for a special benefit to help pay for these products. Written confirmation of your need by a doctor, dentist or a person designated by the Department is required.

Medical care - transportation and accommodation costs

Transportation and accommodation costs incurred to receive medical care may be reimbursed or paid directly to the supplier (e.g. ambulance service). However, you must use the least expensive means of transportation possible under the circumstances.

Since transportation services differ among regions, you should ask your CLE officer about the means of transportation and the cost authorized in your region and how to have the costs reimbursed. A medical certificate from a doctor, midwife (in the case of pregnancy), or dentist, confirming your need, is required.

Special health needs

If your physical condition requires special care for which you regularly incur costs, other amounts may be added to your monthly benefit to help you pay for these additional expenses.

You may be entitled to this special benefit if, for instance:

• You are diabetic.
• You have undergone an ileostomy.
• You have undergone a urostomy.
• You have undergone a temporary colostomy.
• You use oxygen for medical purposes.

A medical certificate from a doctor, confirming your need, is required.

Form

• Application for the payment of funeral expenses (Dynamic , 48 KB)
  

Infant formula

• Purchase infant formula
• Information on infant formulas

Purchase infant formula

• If you are a last-resort financial assistance recipient and the parent of an infant under 9 months of age, you can purchase regular, soy-based, or lactose-free liquid concentrate formulas. You need not produce a medical certificate.
• If your baby is between 9 months and 1 year of age and suffers from cow’s milk intolerance or other specific problems, you must provide a medical certificate or statement indicating the need in order to receive assistance for the purchase of soy-based or lactose-free formulas.

Purchasing infant formula

As soon as your baby is born, contact your local employment centre (CLE) officer in person or by telephone. Proof confirming your baby’s birth should be provided as soon as possible if you wish to receive this assistance rapidly.

• If your officer declares you eligible for this assistance, you will be given an authorization number at your pharmacy. A notice of decision confirming the number will be issued a few days later. You will also receive new claim slips bearing the new authorization number, which will apply for the full duration of your eligibility.
• Once you have received your authorization number, go to the pharmacy of your choice to obtain the formula. When you give this number to the pharmacist, he or she will enter it and, after checking, will tell you which formulas are authorized and how much they cost.

Information on infant formulas

Types of formula authorized

For babies under 9 months of age (no medical certificate required)
Liquid concentrate formulas Soy-based liquid concentrate formulas Lactose-free liquid concentrate formulas
For babies between 9 months and 1 year of age (A medical certificate is required.)
Lactose-free liquid concentrate formulas Soy-based liquid concentrate formulas

Total quantity authorized for the entire eligibility period

For babies under 9 months of age	For babies between 9 months and 1 year of age
385-ml cans: 35 cases of 12 cans of liquid concentrate	385-ml cans: 9 cases of 12 cans of liquid concentrate

Monthly quantity authorized

For babies under 7 months of age	For babies between 7 months and under 1 year of age
Minimum quantity per purchase: 1 case of 24 cans or 2 cases of 12 cans of liquid concentrate  Maximum quantity per month: 2 cases of 24 cans or 4 cases of 12 cans of liquid concentrate	Minimum quantity per purchase: 1 case of 12 cans of liquid concentrate  Maximum quantity per month: 3 cases of 12 cans of liquid concentrate

Quantity not covered

For babies under 7 months of age	For babies between 7 months and 1 year of age
$17.50 per purchase of 24 cans (385-ml each)	$8.75 per purchase of 12 cans (385-ml each)

Eligibility period

For babies under 9 months of age	For babies between 9 months and 1 year of age
From the date of birth to the last day of the month in which your baby turns 9 months of age. For example, if your baby was born on March 8, the eligibility period extends from March 8 to December 31 of the same year.	From the date on which your baby turns 9 months of age to the last day of the month in which your baby turns 1 year of age. For example, if your baby was born on March 8, the eligibility period extends from December 8 to March 31 of the following year.