{"id":12734,"date":"2026-10-07T15:13:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/?p=12734"},"modified":"2026-10-07T15:18:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:18:02","slug":"private-clinic-vs-public-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/private-clinic-vs-public-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Private Clinic or Public Health Care in Vaudreuil-Soulanges: What Changes When You Need a Quick Appointment"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.cll-article{max-width:820px;margin:0 auto;padding-bottom:80px;color:#113d59;font-family:\"forma-djr-text\",\"Lato\",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7}\n.cll-article h2{font-family:\"New York\",Georgia,serif;font-size:clamp(28px,3vw,34px);font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;color:#113d59;margin:46px 0 18px}\n.cll-article p{margin:0 0 20px}.cll-article ul{margin:0 0 24px;padding-left:24px}.cll-article li{margin:0 0 8px}.cll-article a{color:#3f7f79;text-decoration:underline}\n.cll-article-byline{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:15px;margin:12px 0 36px;padding:0 0 24px;border-bottom:1px solid #dce6ea;font-family:\"forma-djr-text\",\"Lato\",Arial,sans-serif}\n.cll-article-byline img{width:54px;height:54px;flex:0 0 54px;object-fit:cover;object-position:center 20%;border-radius:50%}\n.cll-article-byline p{margin:0;line-height:1.35}.cll-article-byline .name{font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#113d59}.cll-article-byline .name a{color:#113d59;text-decoration:underline}.cll-article-byline .role,.cll-article-byline .date{font-size:13px;color:#70858d}.cll-article-byline .wp-block-post-date{display:inline;margin:0}.cll-article-byline time{color:inherit}\n@media(max-width:700px){.cll-article{padding:0 20px 56px}.cll-article-byline{align-items:flex-start}}\n\nbody.postid-12734 .page-header .entry-title{box-sizing:border-box;max-width:820px;margin:44px auto 18px;padding:0 20px;font-family:\"New York\",Georgia,serif;font-size:clamp(32px,3vw,44px);font-weight:600;line-height:1.16;letter-spacing:0;text-align:left}\n.cll-article-cover{margin:0 0 38px}.cll-article-cover img{display:block;width:100%;height:auto;aspect-ratio:3\/2;object-fit:cover;border-radius:14px}\n.cll-article .cll-article-cta{margin:30px 0 0}.cll-article .cll-article-cta a{display:inline-block;padding:13px 24px;border-radius:10px;background:#3f7f79;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.3;transition:background-color .2s ease}.cll-article .cll-article-cta a:hover,.cll-article .cll-article-cta a:focus{background:#113d59;color:#fff}\n.cll-article-sources{margin-top:64px;padding-top:22px;border-top:1px solid #dce6ea;color:#617480;font-size:13px;font-style:italic;line-height:1.6;overflow-wrap:anywhere}\n.cll-article .cll-article-sources h2{font-family:\"forma-djr-text\",\"Lato\",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:600;font-style:italic;line-height:1.4;margin:0 0 14px;color:#617480}\n.cll-article .cll-article-sources ul{font-size:13px;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 28px;padding-left:20px}\n.cll-article .cll-article-sources li,.cll-article .cll-article-sources a{font-size:13px;font-style:italic}\n@media(max-width:700px){body.postid-12734 .page-header .entry-title{margin:32px auto 16px;padding:0 20px}.cll-article-cover{margin-bottom:28px}.cll-article-sources{margin-top:48px}}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"cll-article\">\n<div class=\"cll-article-byline\" aria-label=\"About the author\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Tatiana_web-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Tatiana L\u00e9vesque\" width=\"54\" height=\"54\">\n<div><p class=\"name\">Article by <a href=\"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/blogue\/tatiana-levesque\/\">Tatiana L\u00e9vesque<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"role\">Clinical nurse and co-founder of Clinique Sant\u00e9 Lambert &amp; L\u00e9vesque<\/p>\n<div class=\"date\">Published <div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-07T15:13:06-04:00\">October 7, 2026<\/time><\/div> \u00b7 9 min read<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"cll-article-cover\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Journee-Mondiale-1.jpg\" alt=\"Waiting room at Clinique Sant\u00e9 Lambert &amp; L\u00e9vesque in \u00cele-Perrot\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"eager\"><\/figure>\n<p>You need a medical appointment quickly and are weighing a public walk-in clinic against a private clinic. The difference is not the building or even the quality of care. It is the physician&#x27;s status under Quebec&#x27;s public health insurance plan, and that directly affects what you pay and how long you wait. Here is what sets the two options apart and what it means for your budget and your timeline.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Private or public clinic: the real difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A clinic&#x27;s address or appearance does not determine whether your visit falls under the public or private system. What matters is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca\/fr\/professionnels\/medecins-omnipraticiens\/evenements-carriere\/Pages\/participation-ramq.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the status of the physician who sees you<\/a>. In Quebec, a physician may participate in the public plan (and bill the RAMQ, so you pay nothing), be non-participating, or be opted out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmoq.org\/guide-pratique-fmoq\/lexique\/medecin-non-participant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(and bill the patient directly, without RAMQ reimbursement)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Since April 2025, a new law has placed further conditions on this choice. <a href=\"https:\/\/sante.quebec\/documents-et-autres-ressources\/medecins-devenir-non-participant-au-regime-d-assurance-maladie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Physicians who want to practise outside the public plan must obtain authorization from Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec, and newly licensed physicians must practise in the public system for five years before becoming non-participating<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What it means for your budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At a public clinic, a consultation with a participating physician costs you nothing when you show your health insurance card. At a private clinic, you pay the full bill, and the RAMQ does not reimburse it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmq.org\/fr\/faq\/qr-consultations-medicales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A non-participating physician&#x27;s fees are not subject to an official fee schedule<\/a>: each physician sets their own rates, which must be displayed where the public can see them in the waiting room. That is why the cost of a private consultation can vary considerably from one clinic to another. To find out the exact cost, contact the clinic directly.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why do prices vary so much between private clinics?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Two private clinics may offer similar consultations at very different prices. The difference may reflect the appointment length, services offered, facilities, type of consultation, or how the clinic operates. Price is therefore not the only factor to consider.<\/p>\n<p>Before choosing a private clinic, it helps to ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How much does the consultation cost?<\/li>\n<li>How long is the appointment?<\/li>\n<li>Which services are included in that price?<\/li>\n<li>Could additional fees apply?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Can group insurance reimburse a private consultation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It depends entirely on your insurance policy. Some group plans reimburse part or all of a consultation with a physician or nurse practitioner, often through a health spending account, while others do not cover it at all.<\/p>\n<p>Before booking, ask your insurer whether private consultations are eligible, how much it may reimburse, whether you need a prescription or referral, and what annual limits apply. Always keep your receipt: if your plan allows reimbursement, your insurer can tell you how to submit a claim.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can you claim a tax credit for a private consultation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.revenuquebec.ca\/fr\/citoyens\/credits-dimpot\/frais-medicaux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medical expense tax credits are available at both the Quebec and federal levels when eligible medical expenses exceed a certain percentage of your net income<\/a>. Paying for a private clinic visit does not, however, mean the entire bill qualifies. Tax rules determine which expenses are eligible. Keep your receipts and consult official tax guidance or a professional to understand what applies to your situation.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can you visit a private clinic if you have a family doctor?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. You can visit a private clinic even if you already have a family doctor. Your regular physician may be unavailable, the next appointment may be too far away for your needs, or the service you need may not be available when you need it. A private clinic visit can complement your usual care.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Quick access to a walk-in doctor: what really changes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In the public system, a walk-in consultation is free, but an appointment is not guaranteed. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/sante\/trouver-une-ressource\/guichet-acces-premiere-ligne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Primary Care Access Point (GAP)<\/a> helps direct people without a family doctor to care, but it does not always result in an appointment: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/nouvelles\/actualites\/details\/echecs-du-guichet-acces-premiere-ligne-gap-41-des-demandes-sans-rendez-vous-en-gaspesie-iles-de-la-madeleine-monsef-derraji-denonce-labandon-des-patients-71211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in some Quebec regions, as many as 41% of requests end without an available appointment<\/a>. Our article about the GAMF and GAP explains these steps in more detail.<\/p>\n<p>At a private clinic, you pay to remove that uncertainty. You are not buying a better physician; you are securing a specific appointment time. How much time do you actually save? It depends on what you are comparing it with. Compared with a wait list measured in months, the difference can be substantial. Compared with a public clinic that happens to have an opening that day, there may be no difference at all.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Does the RAMQ cover a private clinic visit?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. If the physician you see is non-participating or opted out, the RAMQ does not reimburse the consultation, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmoq.org\/guide-pratique-fmoq\/lexique\/medecin-non-participant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">private insurance cannot cover a service that would otherwise be insured by the RAMQ<\/a>, as the law prohibits it.<\/p>\n<p>What remains the same, regardless of the physician&#x27;s status, is the validity of their medical acts. A prescription or test requisition written by a private clinic physician is just as valid as one written elsewhere. Some related services, such as blood tests performed at a public laboratory, may still be covered depending on your circumstances. Check with the clinic before your appointment.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can a private clinic physician prescribe like a family doctor?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, for the most part. Prescribing authority comes from a physician&#x27;s licence with the Coll\u00e8ge des m\u00e9decins du Qu\u00e9bec, not from their RAMQ status. A private clinic physician can prescribe medication, renew a prescription, or refer you to a specialist like any other physician, although a one-time visit does not replace a long-term relationship with a regular physician.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How much does a private clinic visit cost in Quebec, and when is it worth it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A private clinic can be worth the cost when time matters more than money: for a concern that should not wait several days but does not call for an emergency department visit. The public system, whether or not you have a family doctor, remains a good option for ongoing care of a chronic condition, an issue that can wait a few days, or when your budget is tight. There is no universal answer; the right choice depends on your circumstances at the time.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Book a private clinic appointment quickly in Vaudreuil-Soulanges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Clinique Sant\u00e9 Lambert &amp; L\u00e9vesque, in \u00cele-Perrot, offers private medical consultations to people across Vaudreuil-Soulanges who need to be seen quickly, whether for a specific concern, a prescription renewal, or basic follow-up care. Need a private clinic appointment soon? Contact our team to ask about availability and rates.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Frequently asked questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Can a private clinic physician refer me to a specialist in the public system?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes. A referral written by a physician has the same value whether the physician participates in the public plan or not. A private clinic physician can refer you to a specialist in the public system, just as a physician in any other setting can.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is it true that more and more family doctors are leaving the public system?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A minority of physicians do choose to practise outside the public system each year. Since April 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/sante.quebec\/documents-et-autres-ressources\/medecins-devenir-non-participant-au-regime-d-assurance-maladie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a law has governed that choice: physicians must obtain authorization from Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec, and newly licensed physicians must practise in the public system for five years before becoming non-participating<\/a>. The vast majority of Quebec family doctors still participate in the public plan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If my family doctor becomes non-participating, do I lose my RAMQ coverage?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No. Your health insurance card remains valid for all other covered services. What changes is your access to free care from that particular physician: you would have to pay to keep seeing them privately or register again with the GAMF to obtain a new family doctor who participates in the public plan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cll-article-cta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qc.pomelo.health\/cliniquelambertlevesque\/portal#\/patient-triage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book an appointment<\/a><\/p>\n<section class=\"cll-article-sources\" aria-labelledby=\"sources-title\"><h2 id=\"sources-title\">Sources:<\/h2><ul><li>RAMQ, official page on participation in Quebec&#x27;s public health insurance plan: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca\/fr\/professionnels\/medecins-omnipraticiens\/evenements-carriere\/Pages\/participation-ramq.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca\/fr\/professionnels\/medecins-omnipraticiens\/evenements-carriere\/Pages\/participation-ramq.aspx<\/a><\/li><li>F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des m\u00e9decins omnipraticiens du Qu\u00e9bec, glossary entry on non-participating physicians: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmoq.org\/guide-pratique-fmoq\/lexique\/medecin-non-participant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.fmoq.org\/guide-pratique-fmoq\/lexique\/medecin-non-participant\/<\/a><\/li><li>Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec, authorization to become non-participating and the five-year rule: <a href=\"https:\/\/sante.quebec\/documents-et-autres-ressources\/medecins-devenir-non-participant-au-regime-d-assurance-maladie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sante.quebec\/documents-et-autres-ressources\/medecins-devenir-non-participant-au-regime-d-assurance-maladie\/<\/a><\/li><li>Coll\u00e8ge des m\u00e9decins du Qu\u00e9bec, questions and answers on medical consultations and fees: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmq.org\/fr\/faq\/qr-consultations-medicales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.cmq.org\/fr\/faq\/qr-consultations-medicales<\/a><\/li><li>Revenu Qu\u00e9bec, medical expense tax credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revenuquebec.ca\/fr\/citoyens\/credits-dimpot\/frais-medicaux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.revenuquebec.ca\/fr\/citoyens\/credits-dimpot\/frais-medicaux\/<\/a><\/li><li>Government of Quebec, official GAP information page: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/sante\/trouver-une-ressource\/guichet-acces-premiere-ligne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/sante\/trouver-une-ressource\/guichet-acces-premiere-ligne<\/a><\/li><li>Government of Quebec, news release on regional GAP requests without an available appointment: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/nouvelles\/actualites\/details\/echecs-du-guichet-acces-premiere-ligne-gap-41-des-demandes-sans-rendez-vous-en-gaspesie-iles-de-la-madeleine-monsef-derraji-denonce-labandon-des-patients-71211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/nouvelles\/actualites\/details\/echecs-du-guichet-acces-premiere-ligne-gap-41-des-demandes-sans-rendez-vous-en-gaspesie-iles-de-la-madeleine-monsef-derraji-denonce-labandon-des-patients-71211<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/section>\n<p><em>Important note: This article is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. Fees, coverage and access to services may vary by situation and change over time.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Private or public clinic? Compare costs, wait times and RAMQ coverage when you need a medical appointment quickly in Quebec.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classifiee"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12734"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12737,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12734\/revisions\/12737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliniquelambertlevesque.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}