HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PLAN
About Alberta Health Care Insurance
No changes to health care premiums for 2008
As announced in the 2008 budget, health premiums will be eliminated January 1, 2009. Until then, there will be no changes for Albertans in the way they pay and register for publicly-funded health care.
- Read the information bulletin – April 23, 2008
- Read Common Questions about the elimination of premiums
Payment and collection of health care premiums will operate under these same guidelines until January 1, 2009:
- All Albertans are responsible to pay premiums unless they qualify for premium assistance, government-sponsored income support programs, or are senior citizens.
- Employers and benefit administrators who register and pay premiums on behalf of their employees will continue to do so.
- Alberta Health and Wellness will continue to pursue collections from those who fail to pay premiums.
- Contributors to Alberta Blue Cross or other supplementary insurance plans that provide prescription drug, dental, and other extended coverage, will still pay those premiums, as they have not been eliminated.
- New Albertans must register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan within three months of their arrival.
To update your personal information or to register, contact AHCIP.
Information and posters available for download
- Read Group Administrator Bulletin and Administrator Common Questions about premiums elimination.
- Information Poster – Tabloid size (11" X 17")
- Information Poster – Legal size (8.5" X 14")
- Information Poster – Letter size (8.5" X11")
AHCIP benefits and services
In accordance with the Canada Health Act, Alberta has a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services.
Alberta Health and Wellness provides health care benefits in addition to the services required by the Canada Health Act.
- Chiropractic, podiatry and optometry are examples of additional services partially covered through the AHCIP.
- Specialized procedures, such as organ transplants and major heart surgeries, known as Province Wide Services, are available to all Albertans in addition to basic health services.
Through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), the ministry provides residents of Alberta with full coverage for medically necessary physician and specific dental and oral surgical health services provided by dentists.
For more information, read –
- Schedule of Medical Benefits
- Schedule of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Benefits
- Practitioner Information and Resources
Important Notice: One provincial governance board, called the new Alberta Health Services Board, has replaced Alberta’s nine regional health authority boards, the Alberta Mental Health Board, Alberta Cancer Board and Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) to ensure the provincial health system is patient-focused and provides equitable access to all Albertans. This change took place on May 15, 2008.
Drug coverage
Government supported supplementary coverage is available through Alberta Blue Cross to cover a variety of health services not covered by the AHCIP.
More information
- Forms, brochures and information are available on the AHCIP Forms pages.
If you have questions about health care and insurance coverage or need to update information, go to the AHCIP contact page for contact information and instructions.
