Canadians and permanent residents in Canada have access to government-funded healthcare by each province. The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) pays for medically necessary services as well as some dental care.
Though residents don’t have to pay a monthly or annual premium to receive coverage with AHCIP, the plan does not pay for all medical, dental, or vision care treatments. However, an extended health care plan in conjunction with employer-based group benefits provides affordable access to a wide range of medical services and treatments.
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What Services Does Health Insurance in Alberta Cover?
In Alberta, provincial health insurance will cover treatments in whole or in part. Fully covered services include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Oral surgery
- Psychiatric appointments
- Medically necessary laboratory and diagnostic procedures
- Standard level accommodations and meals for hospital stays
To be covered, treatments, services, and supplies must be medically necessary, which a physician must determine. The Alberta government also has funding to cover home care, cancer services, addiction treatments, and mental health services.
AHCIP partially covers podiatry and vision care services. Under the province’s health care plan, dental coverage allows for partial payments for specialized oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgeries. The patient or a supplementary insurance company must pay the difference of any expenses that exceed AHCIP’s coverage limits.
Services Excluded from AHCIP Coverage
Even with the full and partial coverage options, there are some services, treatments, and supplies that AHCIP does not cover, which include:
- Elective surgeries
- Eye exams for anyone between 19 and 64 years old
- Mobility devices, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and prosthetics
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Semi-private and private hospital rooms, unless medically necessary
Introduction to Group Health Insurance
Learn here all the important things that you need to know about group health insurance in Canada from benefits, costs, types of coverage, faq and more.
What Is Extended Health Care?
Extended health care as part of a group benefits package supplements Alberta’s health care insurance. The plan provides compensation for medical services and treatments for your employees, effectively filling the gaps within provincial health care.
Your company’s group benefits may not offer sufficient coverage for medical expenses. Instead of participating in the company’s benefits plan, employees may turn to AHCIP coverage, which leaves them responsible for fees beyond basic medical treatments and emergency care.
By adding an extended health care plan to your group benefits, employees will have access to more services without paying for additional health insurance. They will have upfront assistance in paying for:
- Prescription drugs
- Paramedical services such as naturopaths, acupuncturists, and psychologists
- Medical supplies like canes, hospital beds, and insulin syringes
- Vision care
- Semi-private and private hospital rooms
- Out-of-province emergency services
Decrease Quebec Health Care Cost With Extended Health Care Benefits
Participating in the Ontario health insurance plan is an excellent way to reduce costs for many medical expenses. However, the coverage does come with conditions, limitations, and exclusions that can leave your employees with higher out-of-pocket expenses than you may expect.
At Group Enroll, we partner with major insurance companies throughout Canada and help businesses find insurance plans with benefits to fill in the gaps provincial health care plans create.
We specialize in providing quick quotes from leading insurance agencies that offer group benefits to employers for health care spending accounts, extended health care plans, and more. Our knowledgeable and dedicated team will help you find the proper medical, vision care, and dental coverage for your workers while helping your company save money.
Contact us to learn more about group benefits and how they can supplement provincial health care. You can also fill out our quick quote form to compare quotes from multiple Canadian insurance providers.
