Patient accounts

Confused about healthcare coverage and how to pay your hospital bill? Find out more here!

Who is charged for hospital services?

• For Quebec residents with a valid Medicare card from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), most hospitalization charges* and outpatient services are fully covered.
   
• Patients from other provinces with a valid Medicare card from their home province are also fully covered for most services*. 
   
• If you are a patient from another country, or a Canadian resident without a valid Medicare card, you are responsible for all hospitalization expenses and professional fees for services received at the hospital.

*Certain medical treatments and services are not covered by Medicare. In these cases you will be informed. It is up to you to contact your insurance company regarding possible reimbursement of associated costs if applicable. The hospital is not responsible for decisions made by insurance companies about reimbursement of services not covered by Medicare.
 

How much do hospital services cost for patients not covered by Canadian provincial health care?

The Quebec Government Ministry of Health and Social Services decides the following rates for hospital visits to the McGill University Health Centre for patients not covered by RAMQ. These rates are revised annually by the MSSS and are subject to change. Visit their website to learn more about these set rates.

Please note that the MUHC provides health care services to patients without a valid provincial health care card only in emergency situations. It does not support medical tourism of any sort and does not take out-of-country requests for health care.

Note: Physicians charge separately for their services, which are not included in the hospital fees listed below.

Prices are effective until March 31, 2025

Rates for uninsured patients

For more information on invoicing, call 514-934-1934 x42732 or email [email protected].

To settle your payment, please visit one of our Patient Account offices, open Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

I do not have health care coverage in Canada. Can I still visit the MUHC?

The MUHC provides health care services to patients without a valid provincial health care card only in emergency situations. It does not condone medical tourism. In order to become a patient at the MUHC, you must first register with RAMQ then be referred to the MUHC by another physician.

How do I get a RAMQ card?

Visit the RAMQ website or call 514-864-3411 to learn more about eligibility criteria and the registration process.

Can I still visit the hospital if my RAMQ card is expired?

Yes but without a valid RAMQ card, you will have to pay for the services you are provided at the Patient Accounts office or the Emergency Department.  However, you will be reimbursed by the MUHC as soon as your RAMQ is renewed. When the card is renewed, you must bring the card to one of the Patient Accounts offices to update your file and to be reimbursed. Please bring your original receipt of payment. If your RAMQ card has been expired for less than 6 months, you will be sent to Admitting Services to get an attestation from the RAMQ during regular business hours.

What if I forgot or lost my valid RAMQ card but I need to go to the hospital?

You can call the RAMQ during regular business hours (514-864-3411) and they will provide you with an attestation. The RAMQ charges $20 for an attestation depending on the situation. If you need to visit the hospital outside of RAMQ business hours, you will have to pay for the services you are provided at the Patient Accounts office. All payments must be made at the Patient Accounts office during their opening hours. You will be reimbursed by the MUHC as soon as your RAMQ is renewed.

I am visiting from another country and am in need of emergency care. Will I have to pay even if I am covered by travel insurance?

Yes, all patients seen at the MUHC who are not covered by Quebec medicare (RAMQ) must pay for the services they are provided. If you have travel insurance, you will be able to reclaim the fees paid with your insurance company afterwards.

I am a Canadian citizen with proof of health care coverage from another province. Am I covered for treatment at the MUHC?

Yes, if you visit the hospital presenting a valid health care card from another Canadian province, you are covered for your first three months in Quebec. After that time, you will have to pay for the services you are provided at the Patient Accounts office then file the paperwork to be reimbursed by your province.

I am a Canadian citizen but do not have proof of health care coverage from another province. Am I covered for treatment at the MUHC?

No, as a patient that is not a resident of Quebec who is not able to provide proof of health care coverage from your province, you are technically “non-insured”. You will have to pay for services at the Patients Accounts office then reclaim the amount from your province of origin.

Since babies born in Quebec are automatically eligible for Canadian citizenship, do they receive free healthcare?

No. Although the baby is eligible to be Canadian, he/she is not automatically covered by RAMQ. The baby’s healthcare status is the same as the mother and the rules apply accordingly.

What happens if the father has a valid RAMQ card and the mother does not?

The father must call the RAMQ during regular business hours (514-864-3411) to establish where the baby will reside.

If my partner and I attend the same therapy session but only one of us has a RAMQ card, does it cover the treatment for us both?

No, even though you as a couple are attending the same therapy session, each person counts as an individual patient for medicare billing. Each of you will be processed as individuals, meaning the patient who does not have a RAMQ card will be charged accordingly.

Why are patients charged an administration fee? What does this cover?

Patients are not charged an administration fee. The costs are for services for the care being provided, since the patient is not covered by RAMQ that normally covers these fees.

Why do I have to pay for a physician’s fee on top of a hospital fee? Isn’t it understood that I am coming to the hospital to see a doctor?

In Quebec, physicians work and bill separately from the hospital. When you pay the hospital fee, you are paying the costs associated with your visit. A doctor fee is set by the physicians themselves and will charge for the medical advice and care they provide. 

How come I was charged a separate fee for the ambulance I took to the hospital? Shouldn’t ambulances be included in the cost of healthcare?

Ambulance services in Quebec are run by an organization called Urgences Santé which operates independently from health care institutions. For this reason, it charges separately (similar to how you would pay separately for a taxi if it brought you to the hospital).

For more information, visit www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca or call 514-864-3411. To communicate with the MUHC, please contact [email protected].