Basic healthcare services are free to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary foreign workers in Alberta. Health care in Canada is publicly funded, and the cost of health and medical is shared by taxpayers. This single-payer system means that eligible users often do not have to pay for most health care and hospital services in Canada. Items such as prescription medicines, dental care, physiotherapy, prescription eyeglasses may not be covered by this plan, and this will be a cost to you if you do not have other private medical insurance plans, sometimes known as extended health benefits.

If you have a current Alberta Health Care Card (AHC) the following services are free.  You must always keep this card with you.

• Doctor’s and nurse’s appointment including emergency doctor visits
• Public Surgery
• Laboratory
• X-Ray
• Ultrasounds

Extended health benefits might be included in your employment, or partially paid by your employer or at a full cost to you. These health benefits can assist you in paying for certain services, such as vision care, dental, and specific therapies. Should your employer not offer extended health benefits, you may purchase them.

There are many extended health benefit providers: Alberta Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, AMA as examples – Research the services of each, compare monetary charges, and select a provider that will meet the needs of your family.

If you need help with choosing an Extended Health Benefit provider, please ask your employer for more information.