A couple living in Quebec City could be left with a $20,000 bill for the birth of their child after work‑permit delays threatened to strip them of provincial health coverage. The potential out‑of‑pocket expense stems from the province’s requirement that residents maintain a valid work permit to qualify for the public health insurance plan.
In Quebec, eligibility for the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) is directly tied to immigration status. When a work permit is not renewed on time, the holder’s health card can be suspended, leaving the individual responsible for any medical services received during the gap. The couple, who are expecting a baby in the coming months, learned that the administrative backlog could keep their permits from being processed for several months, a period that would coincide with the delivery and immediate post‑natal care.
If the permits remain pending, the family would have to cover costs for hospital stay, obstetric services, newborn screening and any complications that arise, all of which are normally absorbed by the provincial plan. The estimated $20,000 figure reflects typical charges for a standard delivery in the province’s public hospitals. The situation underscores how immigration paperwork delays can have immediate financial consequences for families, especially when health coverage is contingent on work‑permit status.