Healthcare in Calgary

Expats moving to Calgary will be delighted to know that – by virtue of being legal, permanent residents of Alberta – they are entitled to free healthcare for the duration of their stay in the country. The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) – under the mandate of the Canada Health Act of 1984 – provides universal coverage to permanent residents of Calgary, from the first day of their arrival in the country.

It is fair to say that Canada prides itself on the quality, universality and accessibility of its healthcare system, and expats moving to Calgary from countries that operate on private healthcare systems (the USA, South Africa, etc.) will soon find themselves amazed by the level of coverage they are entitled to receive at the government's expense.

Rules, regulations and coverage

As a foreigner moving to Alberta from outside of Canada, your AHCIP coverage will start from the date of your arrival in the province. However, please note the following:

• In order to qualify for AHCIP coverage, you must be a legal permanent resident of Alberta. As an expat, this means that you must possess a valid working permit, and must be physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days of the year.
• Although your coverage technically begins from your first day of arrival in Alberta, you will not be officially covered – i.e. you will not have your all-important AHCIP card – until your documents have been submitted, and your application has been processed and approved. This can take up to a month. Never fear, however – if you are forced to pay for any medical expenses incurred in this time out of your own pocket, you will be reimbursed as soon as your coverage kicks in. It might be a good idea to have some private medical insurance for the first month following your arrival in Canada, in case of emergencies.
• Note that, even if you decide to opt out of AHCIP coverage at a later point – as a permanent resident of Alberta, it is compulsory that you apply for it.
• If you do not apply for AHCIP coverage within 90 days of arriving in the country, the Alberta Heath and Wellness department will determine the effective dates of your coverage. This will mean that you might be ineligible for reimbursements, and this might cause you problems if you're faced with a medical emergency and need urgent hospital care. You are therefore strongly advised to apply for coverage as soon as you arrive in Calgary.

How to apply for healthcare in Calgary

Applying for AHCIP coverage is very easy. Simply download an application form from the Alberta Health and Wellness department's website, complete it, sign it, and mail it off with the following supporting documents:

• Proof of Alberta residency (such as a rental agreement, or utility bill)
• Government-issued photo ID (such as a copy of your passport)
• Proof of legal entitlement to reside in Canada (such as a copy of your working visa)

Coverage and types of care

The coverage offered by the AHCIP is extensive, and includes the following services: doctor visits,
tests that a doctor orders (x-rays, blood tests, etc.), hospital stay in a public ward (usually consisting of four beds per ward), doctor-recommended surgery, drugs administered during your hospital stay, standard children's immunisations, palliative care drugs for people receiving treatment at home, drugs for the treatment of cancer (regardless of where they are administered), limited community-based rehabilitation services (such as physiotherapy), eye exams for children under the age of 18, and eye exams and prescription drugs for seniors over the age of 65.

The following services are not covered by the AHCIP – and if you think you'll need them, you might want to supplement your coverage with some private health insurance: prescription drugs administered outside of a hospital setting (i.e. a doctor's prescription that is filled at a pharmacy – notably for diabetics, this includes insulin), dental care, routine eye exams for adults between 19 and 64 years old, eyeglasses, ambulance transport, private hospital rooms, psychological counselling, acupuncture, massage therapy, midwifery, homeopathy, cosmetic surgery and sex change surgery .

Expats should note that another great feature of Calgary's healthcare system is the existence of what are known as 'Walk-In Clinics'. There are 52 of these establishments in the greater Calgary area, most of which are open in the evenings and on weekends. Staffed by committed professionals, these clinics can supply you with basic drugs and treatments in a pinch.

Private healthcare companies in Calgary

Leading, reputable private healthcare companies selling medical insurance to supplement AHCIP coverage include Manulife, Sunlife, Greenlife and Great West Life. It might be necessary to engage the services of one of these companies to help you pay for dental care, psychological counselling, physiotherapy and the like.

Problems with Calgary's healthcare system

Although the standard of healthcare in Calgary (like the rest of Canada) is excellent, there remain, however, some lingering concerns over its practical implementation. Most of these concerns stem from the simple fact that, as Calgary's economy has boomed – and the ensuing suburban development has seen migrant labourers flood into the city – there is now a real shortage of healthcare professionals in Calgary. This means that it can be difficult for expats – at least initially – to find a family doctor, as most of them have too many patients on their books already, and can't take any more on. It can also prove difficult to make hospital or specialist appointments, due to long waiting-lists.