If you are unlucky enough to get sick while in Montreal, your host family will take care of you and ensure that you receive proper medical care and assistance. If necessary, they will also notify your family.

All Montreal universities have mandatory health care insurance programs. Any medical expenses incurred here will be refunded by the insurance company upon presentation of receipts. Claim forms are available at your university's student services counter.

If you are coming to a private school, then you should take out medical insurance before you come, or make sure your own plan covers care abroad. While a few countries have mutual agreements with Canada for medical care, most countries do not.

If you need to see a doctor, you can just walk into any clinic or CLSC. The cost of a consultation will be about $50. At a hospital, they will ask you for your credit card and charge $500 for the visit. Your interview with the doctor and any tests or x-rays needed will be deducted from the $500 charged. Unused money will be credited back to your account and a statement mailed to your home. You can then present the statement to the insurance company for a refund.