There was a time in Alberta when most people were required to pay an annual fee to contribute to the provincial run Alberta Health Care Program.

How Much Are Alberta Health Care Premiums?

There are no Health Care Premiums in Alberta, Canada. Albertans stopped paying health care premiums in 2009.

The Alberta Health care system is referred to as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). There is no monthly cost to be part of this government funded plan.

This plan is full coverage for everything that is deemed medically necessary, with few exceptions.

It can be complicated to navigate what specific health services are covered by AHCIP, and which are not. So here is a simplified way to think about it.

The idea is to cover medically necessary services and urgent care with no cost to Albertans.

However, it does not cover everything medical in general. For example, drugs you receive in a hospital when you have surgery are fully covered, including the surgery itself.

Prescription drugs outside the hospital, or a medically unnecessary surgery, like cosmetic surgery, would be paid by you out of pocket.

There are other more nuanced examples that depend on the situation. For instance, dental care in general is a private service, and not covered by Alberta Health Care.

However, there may be a special circumstance that requires very serious, medically necessary surgery. A physician may deem this medically necessary and it becomes covered.

Overview of What is Covered by Alberta Health Care

There are options to help with the cost of out of pocket services that are not covered by Alberta Health Care

• Alberta Blue Cross
• Private Health Insurance (Usually a benefit provided by your employer)

Alberta Blue Cross is a not for profit organization that picks up where the Alberta Health Care system leaves off.

You pick the plan that works for your situation then pay a monthly fee, just like private insurance. In some cases, they can help lower income people in times of need.

Alberta Blue Cross: Help me choose a plan

There are private health insurance options in Alberta such as Manulife.

These companies will cover some things in full, but usually a co-pay situation. For example, they pay %80 and you pay %20.

In Summary

There have not been health care premiums in Alberta since they were removed in 2009.

You can break Alberta Health Care coverages into 3 categories:

• Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). Covers almost everything medically necessary, including most things that take place in a Hospital or other Alberta government contracted facility.
• Alberta Blue Cross. Not for profit health insurance plan you can join for extra coverage and benefits. Some extra assistance for low income Albertans
• Private Health Insurance. Provides some full coverage, but usually co-pay. Typically provided as a benefit from your employer.