🍁 Quebec Fertility Program 2026: Full IVF Coverage Explained

Quebec was the first jurisdiction in North America to publicly fund IVF, launching a comprehensive program in 2010. The program was scaled back in 2015, then re-expanded in November 2021 as the Programme québécois de procréation assistée (PQPA). In 2026, the program remains one of the most generous in Canada, covering a meaningful chunk of in vitro fertilization (IVF) costs for eligible Quebec residents.

What the PQPA Funds

The relaunched Quebec program funds one IVF cycle per eligible patient through the public Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) system. Coverage includes the medical procedures: ovarian stimulation monitoring, egg retrieval, embryology lab work, embryo transfer, and one subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) using embryos from the funded cycle.

Additionally, Quebec funds artificial insemination (IUI) procedures and provides a generous refundable tax credit for fertility expenses not covered under the public program. The tax credit can return up to 80 percent of eligible expenses for lower-income households, scaling down based on family net income to a minimum of 20 percent.

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility requires Quebec residency and a valid RAMQ card. The age cap for the funded IVF cycle is 41 for patients using their own eggs and 43 for patients using donor eggs. Single intended parents and LGBTQ+ families are eligible, and the program has been explicitly designed to be inclusive of diverse family configurations.

You cannot have already had a funded cycle under the previous (2010–2015) iteration of the program. If you completed a self-funded IVF cycle privately, you remain eligible for the publicly funded cycle.

Waitlist Reality in 2026

Waitlists vary significantly by clinic. Montreal-area public clinics report waits ranging from 8 to 18 months for the funded cycle. Private clinics offering self-pay options have shorter waits but at full out-of-pocket cost ($10,000–$15,000 CAD per cycle plus medications).

A practical tip: ask your family doctor to refer you to multiple participating clinics simultaneously. There is no provincial rule against this, and accepting the first reasonable intake appointment can save many months.

What's Not Covered

The public program does not cover most medications, which typically add $3,000–$6,000 CAD per cycle. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), donor sperm, donor eggs, and gestational surrogacy arrangements are all patient-pay. Embryo storage beyond the first year is typically charged separately.

The refundable Quebec fertility tax credit can offset many of these out-of-pocket costs. Keep every receipt and consult with a tax professional or use credible tax software that supports Quebec-specific credits.

How to Enroll

Step one: see your family doctor and request a fertility referral. The standard guidance is 12 months of unsuccessful trying, or 6 months if you are 35 or older.

Step two: choose participating clinics. RAMQ maintains a list of designated clinics. Quebec City, Montreal, Sherbrooke, and several smaller centres have participating sites.

Step three: complete intake and pre-cycle workup. This typically includes cycle day 3 bloodwork, AMH, hysterosalpingogram (HSG), transvaginal ultrasound, and semen analysis.

Step four: enroll formally in the funded cycle once your clinical team confirms you are ready to proceed.

How Quebec Compares

Quebec is structurally similar to Ontario in funding one IVF cycle, but Quebec's refundable tax credit is more generous on a percentage basis for lower-income households. The Fertility Link Navigator (/navigator) can help you compare your options across jurisdictions if you are weighing a move or have flexible residency.

Confirm Before You Act

Program details, age caps, and clinic participation can change. Always confirm current eligibility and coverage with RAMQ (https://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca) and your fertility clinic before making treatment decisions.