Alberta Health FAQ

Where do I apply for the Alberta health care insurance?

You can apply for the Alberta Health Care insurance card at Registries Plus, located at Memorial Drive and 52 Street N.E. Calgary.

How do I apply for the Alberta Health Care insurance card?

In order to apply, you need to fill out the required application form along with the required documents. A list of the required documents can be found on the back of the application form. These application forms can be found onlinehttps://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/forms.html or in our office.

Why should I apply for the Alberta Health Care insurance card?

If you have the Alberta health care insurance card on you then your visits to your doctor or clinics are free.

What do I need in order to apply?

You must provide identity/citizenship or legal entitlement to be or remain in Canada and proof that you are an Alberta resident ex: current Alberta DL or ID, bills and rent or lease agreement.

Who can apply for the Alberta Health Care insurance card?

Any individual who is an Alberta resident and has their identity, residence and legal entitlement on them can apply for the Alberta health care insurance card. If you are coming from another province, there may be a waiting period, but you can apply as soon as you arrive.

Can a person on a refugee status apply for the Alberta health care insurance card?

Yes, a person on a refugee status can apply if they have a “Positive Notice of Decision” or first stage approval letter for their “Permanent Residence”.

Can a visitor apply for the Alberta health care insurance card?

Visitors are not allowed to apply for the Alberta health care insurance card with the exception of spouses that are being added to their partners account, clergy/religious workers on a visitor permit between 10 and 12 months, athletes that have their visitor records for 12 months, or members of the British Army including accompany family members that have visitor records for 12 months.

When can I apply for the Alberta Health Care insurance card?

Our office is open from Monday to Friday 7:30am-6pm and Saturday 9:30am-5pm. We have subject matter expertise in our office to clarify your questions about the Alberta health care insurance card.

Do you have a person who speaks our language?

Yes, we have clerks who speak Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Polish, Siberian, Bosnian, Croatian, Iranian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Kurdish, Kutchi, Guajarati, Urdu, Cantonese, Spanish, French, Tagalog, and Mandarin.

How long do I have to wait to get my health care card?

You need to wait at least two weeks from the time it is mailed out to your address. If you are subject to a waiting period, the card will be mailed out by Alberta Health at the end of the waiting period.

Can I get my Alberta health care insurance card mailed to another province?

No, you can only get it mailed to an Alberta address.

Can I get my Alberta health care insurance card number right away after I apply?

Yes, however it depends on the time taken to process the previous pending applications. If it is an emergency situation, please let our clerk know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

How long do I have to wait to get coverage from the Alberta health care insurance card?

If you are applying within 90 days of becoming an Alberta resident then the criteria is split into two ways, as listed below:

If you are coming from another province to apply, then the coverage date is the first day of the 3rd month from arrival (ex: arrive January 20-coverage date April 1st)
If you are coming from another country to apply, then the coverage date is the date you became a permanent resident of Alberta or the date of the Canadian entry documents, whichever is later.

Do I have to update my information for the Alberta health care insurance?

Yes, if there is a change in name, address, marital status or citizenship status you need to notify Alberta health within 30 days. We can do any of these changes in our office and there is no cost to you. It’s a good idea to update your Health account whenever you change the information on your driver’s licence.

How can my family apply for the Alberta health care insurance card?

If the partner has Alberta health care insurance card already, then the family has to go under the head of the family, this process is called “addition of family”. All the family members have to be physically present in Alberta along with their legal entitlement in order to apply for an Alberta Health Care insurance card.

Can I delete any of my family members from my Alberta health care insurance?

Yes, you can delete family members from your Alberta health care insurance if you are the main account holder. You have to be present in the office and fill out a deletion form to delete a family member.

I lost my Alberta health care insurance card.

You can get a replacement of Alberta health care insurance card by filing out an update form. The Alberta health care insurance card will be mailed out to your address within two weeks. Alternatively, you may call 310-0000 and then 780 427-1432.

There is a limit to the number of replacement cards you can receive. After a certain number of cards, you will be required to complete a Statutory Declaration to affirm that the cards have been lost. We do charge $17.60 (with tax) in our office for our Commissioner of Oaths to witness and stamp a Statutory Declaration.

For any other questions related to your Alberta Health Card, please call our office at 403 272-5513 and ask for the Health Care Specialist. We look forward to helping you.