To be eligible for insured health services in Alberta, you must obtain a health care card and be registered with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). Here’s an overview of what you need to know about this process.
Eligibility Requirements
You’re eligible for an Alberta health card and AHCIP coverage if:
You’re legally entitled to be in Canada and make your permanent home in Alberta
You commit to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days within 12 months
You aren’t claiming residency or receiving benefits from another province, territory, or country
You’re considered a resident or temporary resident of Alberta, and not a tourist, transient or visitor
If you move to Alberta from another country and have an immigration document from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, you may be eligible for AHCIP coverage.
Application Process
Once you’ve determined that you’re eligible for an Alberta health card, you can complete the Application form for AHCIP Coverage online and print it off. You can also go to a participating registry office to fill out the form in person.
Supporting Documents
Next, you must gather the necessary supporting documents. When you apply for AHCIP coverage, you must provide supporting documents that prove:
Your Alberta residency. Eligible documents include an Alberta driver’s licence, a mortgage or rental agreement or a vehicle registration. Residency documents must be current, issued within the last 90 days.
Your identity. Acceptable documents include a passport, permanent resident card, government-issued driver’s licence, government-issued ID card or Canadian citizenship card. All documents must be valid.
Your legal entitlement to be in and remain in Canada. Suitable documents include a Canadian passport, permanent resident card, Canadian birth certificate, Canada entry document or a Canadian citizenship card or certificate. All documents must be valid.
Make sure to have all these documents, including the completed Application form ready. This paperwork is crucial for processing your application.
Submit the Application
Once you’ve completed the application form and gathered all the necessary supporting documents, you can submit your application by bringing everything to a registry office, like Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. Alternatively, you can mail in your application form along with photocopies of your supporting documents to the AHCIP office.
Processing times can take up to five days if you submit in person, while mail-in applications can take up to six weeks. Once approved, your health card will be mailed to your home by the AHCIP office within 2-3 weeks. Mailing times may vary if you are moving from another province.
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan Services
If you need to apply for an Alberta health card, Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. can walk you through the process step by step. Whether you’re a new Albertan applying for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) coverage or a current resident needing to change your coverage information, our agents are happy to help. Contact us today in Calgary for more information.