Alberta’s health plan is referred to as AHCIP, which stands for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.

- for full details go to the Alberta government's health plan web site -

Note: All residents of Alberta must register themselves and their dependents with AHCIP!

Health Services in the Province of Alberta:

• Full coverage for health services that are medically necessary and administered by a physician.
• Partial coverage for certain dental services.
• Partial coverage for services from chiropractors, podiatrists and optometrists.

 Excluded Services:

ACHIP does not cover all medical services. The following is a partial list of excluded services, please refer to the ACHIP website for a more detailed list.

• Cosmetic surgery.
• Experimental procedures.
• Transportation costs.
• Medical advice by phone.
• Medical legal services.
• Routine eye exams for Albertans aged 19-64.
• Routine dental care, dental appliances, dentures, eyeglasses.
• Hearing aids, medical appliances.
• Third-party medical services (i.e. medical documentation for insurance, employer’s, etc.).
• Clinical psychologist, acupuncturist, midwife, licensed massage therapist, nutritionist, social worker.

Health premiums will be eliminated as of January 1, 2009; until then Albertans must continue to register for ACHIP and pay the premiums. This does not extend to any supplementary insurance plans, i.e. prescription drugs, dental; these will still require payments as scheduled. There are prescription drug programs available for those who need financial assistance.

On May 15, 2008 the Alberta Health Services Board replaced the nine regional health authority boards (RHAs) as well as the Alberta Mental Health Board, the Alberta Cancer Board and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Alberta Health Services is now the provincial health authority that is responsible for the planning and delivery of health supports and services for the province. This change in administration does not change the quality and delivery of health services that RHAs provide, i.e. acute care, long term care, community rehabilitation services, emergency medical services, home care and public health services.

Last updated October 2008