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Step 3. Compulsory Health Insurance

The Quebec government requires international students to obtain medical insurance that is valid in Quebec for the duration of their stay.

All international students are automatically registered for the HEC Montréal health insurance offered by Cowan and the premium billed appears in their HEC en ligne account under the heading “tuition fees”.

You must be covered by this insurance unless you are exempted because of your eligibility to the insurance from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

+ Cowan: compulsory health insurance from HEC Montréal

Payment by card (debit or credit) at HEC Montréal or by CIBC bank transfer upon your arrival. Wait approximately 2 weeks after paying the insurance premium to access your Cowan card.

See details of fees, coverage and card printing guide here.

+ RAMQ: exemption from Cowan, under certain conditions

If your country has signed a social security agreement with Quebec, you may be eligible for exemption from Cowan insurance. If you are not covered by the "social security insurance" in a country on the list below, you must keep and pay the Cowan insurance (HEC Montréal do not accept any other insurance plan).

For eligible students:

Before your arrival in Québec: have the appropriate form completed by the authorities in your country (see the list below):

Belgium	Form BE/QUE 128
Denmark	Valid Danish health card, obtained before you leave
Finland	Form SF/Q 4, FIN/Q 1 or F1/Q1, produced by the Finnish Social Insurance institution
France	Form SE-401-Q-106, “Attestation of affiliation to the social security system of the country of origin: inter-university exchanges”
Greece	Form GR/QUE 6 (ΚΕΜΠΕΚ-ΕΛΛΑΣ 6)
Luxembourg	Lux-Que Form 4
Norway	Certificate issued by HELFO (Health Administration) or the NAV (National Office for Social Insurance Abroad), or the certificate of coverage under Nowegian social security (form N/Q 1 or N/Q 5), obtained before you leave
Portugal	Form POR/QUE4
Serbia	Form SRB/QUE 14 completed by competent authorities
Sweden	Certificate issued by Försäkringskassan
Romania	Form ROU/QUE 106

As soon as you arrive in Quebec: send your request to the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
- The following documents are required:
  - Form completed in your country,
  - CAQ and study permit, if you are studying two semesters at HEC Montréal,
  - Proof of registration from HEC Montréal (available in HEC en ligne)
  - Copy of passport.
- You will also need to provide an address in Quebec.
Upon reception of the RAMQ card (sent by post, please check your mailbox): upload your card to HEC en ligne so that the Cowan insurance fees can be withdrawn from your account.
If you need to speak with a RAMQ representative regarding your application (missing documents or incomplete applications), you may do so by booking a telephone appointment: Make an appointment (selected «country with an agreement : register»).

Please note that medication, ambulance transport, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of the body in the event of death and any trip outside Quebec are not covered by the RAMQ health insurance plan.

+ Additional Insurances

In addition to the RAMQ or the Cowan insurance, we strongly recommend that you take out additional insurance according to your needs (baggage insurance, cancellation, etc.) or to extend your coverage for a longer stay in Canada.

Find out in your country of origin before you leave, as you cannot take out such insurance from Canada.

If you arrive in Canada before the HEC Montréal Cowan insurance coverage period (August 16 for the fall term or January 1 for the winter term), you must obtain medical insurance covering this period. Find out in your country of origin before you leave.

See list of medical and dental clinics in Montreal

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