Paying for care and equipment
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) covers the cost of many basic health services for residents of Alberta. A resident is someone who is lawfully entitled to remain in Canada, make their home in Alberta and live there for a period of time.
Most Albertans pay monthly premiums through their employers or directly to AHCIP. You must register with AHCIP within three months of your arrival in Alberta.
If you decide not to participate in AHCIP, you will have to pay the full cost of all the hospital and health care services you use. Because this can be extremely expensive, most Albertans choose to participate in AHCIP.
To register, you must submit a completed application form and a copy of your Canada Entry Permit. AHCIP application forms are available:
- On-line in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan/Forms section of the Alberta Health and Wellness website.
- By phone from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. In Edmonton, call (780) 427-1432. From elsewhere in the province, dial 310-0000 toll-free, then enter (780) 427-1432 after the prompt.
- By mail from the following mailing address:
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N3.
- By fax from (780) 422-0102.
- In person at an AHCIP office from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Edmonton: 10025 Jasper Avenue
- Calgary: 727-7th Avenue SW
AHCIP coverage is available from the first day you arrive in Alberta, provided your Canada entry papers are in order and you apply within three months of your arrival.
Separate Alberta Personal Health Cards are issued for each member of the family. These cards must be presented when you visit doctors' offices, laboratories, hospitals and health clinics. Only the person named on the card may use it.
AHCIP pays for medically required services that are provided by physicians in their offices or at hospitals. The cost of some treatments provided by chiropractors, podiatrists or optometrists may be partially covered by AHCIP. AHCIP does not cover the cost of medication or ambulance services, or the cost of treatments provided by acupuncturists, naturopaths or dentists. When you apply, you will be given a brochure describing the types of services covered.
If you cannot afford to pay AHCIP premiums and you have been a resident of Alberta for 12 consecutive months, you can apply to AHCIP for a subsidy. A subsidy allows you to pay a lower premium.
For more information about AHCIP, see the Health Care Insurance Plan section of the Alberta Health and Wellness website or contact an AHCIP office.
Alberta Child Health Benefit
If your family has a low income, you may be eligible for the Alberta Child Health Benefit (ACHB). This is a health insurance plan that covers the costs of basic dental, optical, emergency ambulance, prescription drugs and essential diabetic supplies for children in low-income families under 18 years of age and children 18 or 19 who are attending high school and live at home with their parent or guardian.
It does not cost anything to be enrolled in this plan. The following chart shows how family income and the number of children affects whether you may be eligible for financial assistance.
| Household Type | Maximum Qualifying Income |
| Single Parent - 1 Child | $24,397 |
| Single Parent - 2 Children | $28,327 |
| Single Parent - 3 Children | $33,180 |
| Single Parent - 4 Children* | $38,328 |
| Couple - 1 Child | $28,539 |
| Couple - 2 Children | $33,470 |
| Couple - 3 Children | $37,969 |
| Couple - 4 Children* | $41,240 |
* For each additional child, add $4,345
Children whose parents are not permanent residents of Alberta, including Family Class Immigrants, are not eligible for the Alberta Child Health Benefit.
For more information:
- see the Alberta Employment and Immigration website
- call (780) 427-6848 in Edmonton or 1-877-4MY-KIDS (1-877-469-5437) toll-free from elsewhere in the province
Alberta Aids to Daily Living
The Alberta Aids to Daily Living program provides financial assistance for people who have a long-term disability or are terminally ill. Assistance is provided to obtain authorized basic medical equipment and supplies so people can function more independently in their homes. Benefits include equipment such as wheelchairs, oxygen, hearing aids and artificial limbs.
To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Have a long-term disability lasting six months or more, or a chronic illness or terminal illness.
- Be a resident of Alberta.
- Have a valid Alberta Personal Health Number.
If you believe you could benefit from this program, contact the home care office in your health region and request an assessment.
To find your health region, see the Health Regions/Map section of the Alberta Health and Wellness website or look in the blue pages or white pages of your telephone book under the name of your community.
For more information about Alberta Aids to Daily Living, see the Alberta Aids to Daily Living section of the Alberta Seniors and Community Supports website or contact your regional health authority.
Private medical insurance
Many people supplement Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) coverage with a private medical insurance plan. Private health insurance plans pay for some services not covered by AHCIP. For example, private health insurance plans may pay for ambulance services, prescribed medications, home nursing, dental care needed as the result of an accident, hearing aids or hospital charges for private and semi-private rooms.
Most private insurance companies sell medical insurance only to groups of people, not individuals. For example, people working for a particular company may obtain group coverage through their employer.
Individuals can buy Alberta Blue Cross supplementary health insurance coverage through AHCIP. For information:
- See the Alberta Health and Wellness website and click on Health Care Insurance Plan. Select Forms and then choose Optional Health Plans or contact the nearest AHCIP office.
- Look in the blue pages or white pages of your telephone book under the name of your community to find regional office locations.
Date Updated: Nov 27, 2007
RDP-589