Who is eligible for RAMQ assistance for glasses in Quebec?
Any child is eligible for the program if they meet the following conditions:
- Be under 18 years old on the date the glasses or contact lenses are purchased
- Be insured under the health insurance plan
- Have received a prescription for corrective glasses or contact lenses during an eye exam performed by an optometrist
Note: If you had an eye exam done by an optometrist, your health insurance should already cover the cost of the exam.
How to apply for reimbursement
You can get the $250 RAMQ reimbursement by filling out the online application on the RAMQ website.
Required information
- The child’s or applicant’s health insurance number
- Applicant’s postal code
- Type of purchase (glasses or contact lenses)
- Date of purchase
- Cost of purchase
- Quebec sales tax (QST) number.
(If this number doesn’t appear on your invoice, you’ll need to get it from the optician or optometrist where you made your purchase.)
Conditions for reimbursement
Place of purchase: Only purchases made from an optician or optometrist in Quebec are eligible. Purchases can be made online or in-store, as long as the optician is based in Quebec.
Amount granted: A $250 amount can be reimbursed for each child under 18. This is a fixed amount that doesn’t vary based on the purchase price.
Eligible purchases: You can get a reimbursement for the purchase of glasses (lenses and frame), lens replacement (keeping the same frame), frame replacement (keeping the same lenses), or the purchase of contact lenses.
Application frequency: You must wait 2 years before submitting a new application for the same child. This period is calculated from the purchase date that led to a reimbursement. For example, if you received a reimbursement for glasses purchased on October 1, 2019, the next eligible purchase can be made starting October 1, 2021.
Receiving the cheque: The person who submitted the online reimbursement request (the child’s parent or guardian) will receive a $250 cheque by mail, no later than 3 weeks after the request is sent.
Application deadline: You must submit your application within 12 months of the purchase date.
Supporting documents: We may ask you for supporting documents during a verification following a reimbursement. In case of non-compliance, we may recover the reimbursement amount. As such, you must keep for 5 years:
- The invoice for the glasses or contact lenses
- The prescription
Glasses and contact lenses not covered
- Glasses and contact lenses purchased outside Quebec
- Used glasses and contact lenses
- Glasses and contact lenses purchased without a prescription
- Glasses and contact lenses without correction, including sunglasses
- Reading glasses and magnifying glasses available without a prescription, for example in pharmacies, big-box stores, and convenience stores
- Glasses designed for a sport or leisure activity (e.g. swimming, skiing)
- Glasses that protect against blue light from digital devices
