Starting Nov. 22, 85% of Quebec’s optometrists will stop participating in the province’s public health insurance system, following the collapse of fee agreement talks between the Association des optométristes du Québec (AOQ) and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS).
The decision means that patients who currently receive optometry services under the Régie de l’Assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ)—including children under 18, seniors over 65, and social assistance recipients—will have to pay for their eye care out-of-pocket.
“We regret that services will no longer be covered for these individuals,” said AOQ President Dr. Guillaume Fortin. “However, our operating costs have risen at a rate three times faster than the fees we receive from the government, leaving us with just $3.50 per patient visit under RAMQ.”
The fee structure had been in place under a five-year agreement, which expired in 2020. Despite years of negotiation, no new deal was reached. The AOQ has been advocating for an increase in compensation based on an independent study conducted with the government, according to Fortin.
“We are asking for reasonable and fair treatment so we can continue to play our role throughout Quebec and help relieve pressure on the healthcare system,” said Fortin, noting that optometrists handle approximately 180,000 eye emergencies annually.
The association estimates that 55% of patients seen by Quebec optometrists are covered under the public system, a number that has been growing in recent years. As negotiations stalled, the majority of AOQ members opted to leave the RAMQ system.
Reimbursements to optometrists account for 0.16% of the province’s total health budget, or roughly $11 per resident per year, according to the AOQ.
Founded in 1966, the AOQ represents 1,500 members and advocates for the social, economic, and professional interests of optometrists across the province.