Is Mounjaro covered by RAMQ? Where Quebec stands.

The short answer: no, not yet. Quebec's drug-evaluation agency, INESSS, recommended against adding Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to the RAMQ list for type 2 diabetes, and the health minister put the decision on hold on July 30, 2026. Weight-loss use is excluded from the public plan either way. Here is what Quebec's own documents say, and what could change.

Last reviewed October 15, 2026against Health Canada's Drug Product Database and INESSS and RAMQ documents (Quebec status re-checked October 17, 2026).

GLP-1 coverage in Quebec at a glance

Sources: INESSS's Mounjaro file and Wegovy notice. The RAMQ list is updated monthly; the next scheduled edition is October 22, 2026 (schedule).

What INESSS decided, in plain English

• Recommendation:refuse listing, “taking into account all aspects provided for by law”. That wording means the problem was mainly value for money, not that the drug doesn't work.
• Effectiveness: INESSS accepted that tirzepatide lowers HbA1c at least as well as semaglutide in the SURPASS-2 trial. Clinicians it consulted said only the highest strength stood out in a clinically meaningful way, and that strength is rarely used.
• Cost: at the strengths most used in practice, INESSS found Mounjaro cost much more than semaglutide for benefits it judged comparable, and estimated that a very large price cut would be needed to match.
• If an agreement is reached: INESSS proposed the same payment indication as semaglutide: type 2 diabetes, with metformin, when a sulfonylurea is contraindicated, not tolerated or ineffective.
• Minister's decision:“surseoir à la décision” (defer the decision), dated July 30, 2026. That leaves room for a later listing if price talks succeed.

How Quebec compares with the rest of Canada

Nationally, Canada's Drug Agency recommended in August 2026 that public plans cover Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes using their existing GLP-1 criteria, but only with a price reduction. Quebec runs its own review through INESSS, which reached a stricter conclusion. Elsewhere, Ontario's formulary listed no tirzepatide when we checked in October 2026 (Ontario), and BC's 2026 diabetes drug table lists Mounjaro as a non-benefit (BC coverage). Other provinces: Mounjaro coverage across Canada.

If you're prescribed Mounjaro in Quebec now

• Group insurance: Quebec residents with access to a group plan must generally be covered by it. Those plans must include at least the RAMQ list and many cover more, sometimes Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes. Ask for a test claim at the pharmacy.
• Public plan only: for type 2 diabetes, ask your prescriber whether a listed option such as Ozempic or generic semaglutide fits. RAMQ's exceptional-patient measure exists for rare situations; your prescriber would have to request it.
• Weight management: not covered by the public plan for any GLP-1. See Zepbound coverage in Canada.
• “Research” tirzepatide sold online is unauthorized and covered by nothing; Health Canada warned against it in April 2026.

What tirzepatide users report

• 93 published anonymous tirzepatide confessions; 27 mention at least one side effect.
• 10 mention Mounjaro or Zepbound by name.
• Among confessions that state a weight change in pounds, the median reported is 50 lb. Self-reported, unverified.

Most-mentioned side effects (share of tirzepatide confessions):

• Heart rate or palpitations: 11.8% (11)
• Anxiety or panic: 5.4% (5)
• Burping: 4.3% (4)
• Insomnia or poor sleep: 3.2% (3)
• Libido: 3.2% (3)

Counts are phrase mentions in anonymous accounts, not diagnoses or clinical rates. Full breakdown and methodology: tirzepatide side-effects report.

By province and city

• Ontario · Toronto · Ottawa · Mississauga
• Quebec · Montreal
• Alberta · Calgary · Edmonton
• British Columbia · Vancouver · Kelowna
• Manitoba · Winnipeg
• Saskatchewan · Saskatoon
• Nova Scotia · Halifax
• New Brunswick

Related

• Peptides and Ozempic in Quebec · Montreal
• Is Ozempic covered in Quebec?
• Is Mounjaro covered in Canada?
• Is Mounjaro covered by OHIP?
• Is Wegovy covered in Canada?
• Mounjaro vs Ozempic in Canada
• Mounjaro side effects in Canada
• Peptides in Canada hub

Frequently asked questions

Is Mounjaro covered by RAMQ?

Not as a listed drug. In its June 2026 notice (published July 28, 2026), INESSS recommended against adding Mounjaro to the RAMQ List of Medications for type 2 diabetes, and on July 30, 2026 the minister deferred the decision. Mounjaro is therefore not a regular or exception-drug benefit of the public plan while that decision is pending.

Why did INESSS refuse Mounjaro?

INESSS judged the evidence on all the aspects the law requires, including cost. It found Mounjaro's blood-sugar benefit similar to semaglutide at the doses most used in practice, but at a much higher cost to the public plan, so it recommended refusal unless the minister and the manufacturer reach a listing agreement.

Could RAMQ cover Mounjaro later?

Yes. If a listing agreement is reached, INESSS proposed the same payment criteria used for semaglutide: type 2 diabetes, with metformin, when a sulfonylurea is contraindicated, not tolerated or ineffective. Canada's Drug Agency also issued a conditional positive recommendation in August 2026. Watch the monthly RAMQ list updates.

Is Mounjaro covered for weight loss in Quebec?

No. Drugs prescribed to promote weight loss are excluded from Quebec's public prescription drug plan, so neither Mounjaro nor Zepbound would be covered for that use even if Mounjaro is listed for diabetes.

Is Wegovy covered in Quebec?

No. In February 2026 INESSS recommended against listing Wegovy for cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with a BMI of 35 or more, and weight-loss drugs are excluded from the public plan. Some private plans may cover it.

Do Quebec private plans cover Mounjaro?

Some do. Group plans in Quebec must cover at least the drugs on the RAMQ list, but many cover more. Check your plan booklet or ask your pharmacist to run a test claim.

Does this page recommend a clinic, product or dose?

No. We don't list clinics, sellers, prices or doses, and nothing here is medical advice. Talk to a Quebec prescriber or pharmacist.

Sources

1. INESSS: Mounjaro (diabète de type 2), recommendation and minister's decision (inesss.qc.ca)
2. INESSS notice to the minister on Mounjaro, June 2026 (inesss.qc.ca, PDF in French)
3. INESSS notice to the minister on Wegovy, February 2026 (inesss.qc.ca, PDF in French)
4. RAMQ: List of medications (ramq.gouv.qc.ca)
5. RAMQ: List of medications update schedule (ramq.gouv.qc.ca, French)
6. RAMQ: Know the conditions for coverage (ramq.gouv.qc.ca)
7. Canada's Drug Agency recommendation: tirzepatide (Mounjaro), August 2026 (Canadian Journal of Health Technologies)
8. Drug Product Database (health-products.canada.ca)