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Alberta

Provincial disease support groups

It is usually possible to get a great deal of assistance and guidance by contacting the not-for-profit organization associated with your condition. Here is a list of the major groups in Alberta.

• Canadian Cancer Society Alberta website.
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Asthma Society of Canada Education centre locator.
• Heart and Stroke Foundation Alberta news and events.
• Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities Contact them toll free at 1-800-387-2514.
• Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta website.

 

HEALTH SERVICES

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)

The public health insurance plan in Alberta is called AHCIP. Coverage under the AHCIP is available to all eligible permanent residents and their dependants, as long as they are not covered by one of Canada’s other public insurance plans.

Most necessary medical care is covered under AHCIP. Here are some of the services not covered by AHCIP. This list should not be considered comprehensive. (For possible exceptions, contact AHCIP.)

• cosmetic surgery
• experimental procedures
• transportation costs
• medical advice by telephone
• medical-legal services
• anesthetic charges for services not covered by the AHCIP
• hospital charges not covered by the plan, e.g. private room
• routine eye exams for residents ages 19 to 64 years of age
• routine dental care, dentures and eyeglasses
• hearing aids, medical and surgical appliances/supplies
• clinical psychologist services
• prescription drugs
• third-party medical services (e.g. for employment, insurance or sports purposes; and for driver’s licences for individuals under the age of 74.5 years)
• immunizations
• services provided by an acupuncturist, licenced massage therapist, midwife, homeopath, social worker or nutritionist

For more information on AHCIP, visit the AHCIP website.

AHCIP forms

Contact AHCIP:

Mail:
Alberta Health and Wellness
PO Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2N3

Phone: (780) 427 1432 (Edmonton)

Toll-Free in Alberta: dial 310-0000 then (780) 427-1432
E-mail: health.ahcipmail@gov.ab.ca

In person: Visit the new Alberta Registry Agent near you.

AHCIP coverage outside Canada

Albertans travelling out of Canada can have their doctor bills covered up to the amount of equivalent service in Canada, or what is billed, whichever is less. Hospital in-patient fees will be covered up to $100 per day, and out-patient fees at a rate of up to $50 per day. These amounts are much less than what you can expect to be charged in many parts of the world, so it advisable to purchase travel insurance.

You can claim your out-of-country medical expenses by filling out the appropriate form (requires Adobe Reader) and submitting it to Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) by mail, fax or in person.

Fax: (780) 422 0102 (Edmonton)
Mail: Alberta Health and Wellness
PO Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 2N3

In person:
Visit the new Alberta Registry Agent near you.

Allied health professionals

Albertans have access to several allied health services free of charge through the Health Zones. To get information about services in your area, visit your Health Zone website.

Here are some alternate links to allied health professionals in Alberta:

• Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
• Dentists
• Dietitians
• Chiropractor
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist
• Massage Therapist
• Midwives
• Occupational Therapist

Prescription drug coverage

You may be able to get some or all of your prescription drug costs covered in Alberta if you are in one of the following groups:

• receiving income assistance from the Alberta government, or a dependant of someone who is
• over 65
• receiving palliative care through your Health Region
• admitted to a hospital or a public long-term care facility
• receiving cancer care through the Cancer Board
• receiving Alberta Widows’ Pension, or a dependant of someone who is
• receiving treatment through Disease Control and Prevention for tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease
• have a rare disease

Find out more about the Alberta Prescription Drug Program.

What drugs are covered?

Cancer care

Cancer services in Alberta are coordinated by Alberta Health Services. Alberta Health Services has brought together 12 provincial health entities that were formerly separate, including nine health authorities, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental health Board and the Alberta Cancer Board.

View a list of cancer services available in Alberta here.

For general inquiries, complete the online form.

Alberta Health Services corporate mailing address:

Alberta Health Services Corporate Office
Seventh Street Plaza
14th Floor, North Tower
10030 – 107 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4
Phone: (780) 342-2000
Toll-Free: 1-888-342-2471
Fax: (780) 342-2060

Flu shot

See our Flu Vaccination Guide for information about seasonal flu vaccine availability by province or territory.

Mental health care

Alberta Health Services has brought together 12 provincial health entities that were formerly separate, including nine health authorities, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental health Board and the Alberta Cancer Board.

View a list of mental health services available in Alberta here.

For general inquiries, complete the online form.

Alberta Health Services corporate mailing address:

Alberta Health Services Corporate Office
Seventh Street Plaza
14th Floor, North Tower
10030 – 107 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4
Phone: (780) 342-2000
Toll-Free: 1-888-342-2471
Fax: (780) 342-2060

Palliative care

If you have been referred by your doctor to palliative care, you can receive that care in your home under your Health Region’s home care program. Palliative care patients are exempted from the $3000 per-month limit.

If you are receiving palliative care, you can apply for coverage of your drug costs under the Palliative Care Drug Coverage program. Under the plan, you pay 30% of the cost of each drug to a limit of $25. Once you pay $1000 for your drugs, your further costs are covered 100%.

Wait times

Alberta Health Services has information on wait times for publicly funded surgery and services in public facilities in Alberta. Contact Alberta Health and Wellness for questions regarding wait times.

See the article on wait times on this website for helpful advice and information on how to receive faster service for surgical procedures, certain diagnostic tests (such as an MRI) and appointments with a specialist doctor.

Workplace injuries

The Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) will replace your income if you are injured in the course of doing your job, subject to many conditions and restrictions. It is critical to report your injury right away – WCB requires a report from your employer within 72 hours of the injury, and a report from your doctor or chiropractor within 48 hours. If you are found to be eligible for WCB benefits, WCB may supply you with occupational therapy, assistive devices or retraining in order to get you back to work.

WCB - Alberta
Edmonton
Mailing address:
PO Box 2415
Edmonton, AB T5J 2S5

Street address:
9912 - 107 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 1G5

Calgary
Mailing address:
PO Box 2415
Edmonton, AB  T5J 2S5

Street address:
150-4311 - 12 Street NE
Calgary, AB T2E 4P9

Telephone: (780) 498-3999 (Edmonton)
Telephone: (403) 517-6000 (Calgary)
Toll-Free in Alberta: 1-866-922-9221
Outside Alberta: 1-800-661-9608
Fax: (780) 427-5863 or 1-800-661-1993 (in Alberta)

Telephone support

Albertans can access health advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Health Link Alberta. This telephone service connects you with highly trained registered nurses who can help you with your symptoms or health concerns.

Mail:
Health Link Alberta
510, 10216 - 124 Street
Edmonton, AB T5N 4A3
Toll-Free in Alberta:1-866-408-5465
Calgary Health Region: (403) 943-5465
Capital Health Region: (780) 408-5465
Website: www.healthlinkalberta.ca

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Assistive devices

The Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports offers the Alberta Aids to Daily Living program, which will share the cost of assistive devices and medical equipment. An approved health professional assesses your needs and authorizes you to receive help from the program. Then you pay 25% or $500 (whichever is less) of the cost of the supplies, and the program covers the rest. You are not allowed to shop for the devices or supplies yourself – they come from suppliers that are contracted by the program. If you are unable to afford the 25% share of the cost, you can apply to have it covered as well.

Alberta Aids To Daily Living
10^th Floor, Milner Building
10040 - 104 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0Z2

Edmonton and area: (780) 427-0731
Toll-Free in Alberta: 310-0000, then (780) 427-0731

Employment support for people with a disability

The Alberta Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Industry offers Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES) to help Albertans with disabilities find and succeed at jobs. DRES will supply education, assistive devices and support personnel such as sign language interpreters and mentors.

Contact information for DRES.

Financial support for people with disabilities

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is a program offered by the Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports that will pay up to $1,188 per month (as of April 1, 2009) to Albertans who cannot work due to a permanent disability. In addition, AISH clients are eligible for coverage of the following expenses:

• prescription drugs
• premium-free Alberta Health Care Insurance
• eyewear
• eye exams
• dental work
• emergency ambulance services
• essential diabetic supplies
• co-payment fee waived for Alberta Aids to Daily Living

Contact information for AISH (requires Adobe Reader). If the disability is due to an injury incurred on the job, you may not be eligible for AISH but could instead receive benefits through the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board.

You can get help with the cost of modifying your home for wheelchair access through the Residential Access Modification Program (RAMP).

RAMP
Phone: (780) 427-5760 in Edmonton
Toll-Free in Alberta: 1-877-427-5760
E-mail: RAMP@gov.ab.ca

Alberta families with disabled children can get help from their regional Child and Family Services Authority (CFSA) through the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program. FSCD will reimburse parents for expenses related to counselling, extraordinary clothing and footwear costs, travel costs for medical appointments, meals while traveling to medical appointments, accommodation costs associated with attending medical appointments and respite services. In addition, FSCD directly provides a number of child-focused services such as respite services, aide supports, child care supports, health-related supports, specialized services for children with severe disabilities and out-of-home living arrangements. FSCD services are available at the discretion of the regional CFSA director for children that have been diagnosed, or are awaiting final diagnosis of, a disabling disease or condition.

Contact information for FSCD.

Assisted living for people with a disability

For help locating housing with the specific level of care you need, contact Community Care Access. Housing may be supplied by one of many funding and service sources, including government and contracted providers.

Community Care Access
Plaza 124 Building
10216 - 124 Street, Suite 520
Edmonton, Alberta
T5N 4A3

Phone: (780) 496-1300
Fax: (780) 496-8438

Assisted living for seniors

Continuing Care Services offers home living, supported living and residential long-term care. Contact your local Seniors Information Services Office to find out what programs and services are available in your area. Supported living is provided on a fee-for-service basis; long-term care is subsidized by the provincial government.

Home care

Disabled or elderly Albertans are eligible for home care if the cost of professional services and personal support they require does not exceed $3,000 per month. Home care offers professional support services like nursing and rehabilitation, and personal support services like homemaking and care-giving practices, including assistance with meal preparation and bathing. Home care is delivered through the Health Regions following an assessment to determine needs and eligibility. To ask for a home care assessment, contact your Health Region.

Respite

The Child Care Respite Program assists families of Albertan children with disabilities by providing short-term care.

Family Support for Children with Disabilities
Phone: (780) 427-4354
Toll-Free in Alberta: 1-866-346-4661

Mail:
Family Support for Children with Disabilities
500 ING Western Union Building
10130 - 103 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 3N9

Caregivers needing respite assistance with elderly patients can make reservations to place them in a long-term care facility for up to one month at a daily rate. Families in financial hardship may be exempted from the fees.

Many Albertan long-term care facilities offer day programs. For more information, you can search for a local long-term care facility using The Care Guide.

There are a number of organizations offering respite day programs for disabled adults. Here is a short list:

• Parkland Community Living and Support Society
• Club 36 – The Alzheimer Society of Calgary
• Calgary Family Services
• McMan

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Access to medical records

The Alberta Health Information Act sets out what medical information is considered confidential, who may see it, when and why. The Act is explained in lay terms in this brochure: The Health Information Act At a Glance for Individuals. (requires Adobe Reader)

Your privacy is protected in Alberta by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. If you have a complaint about any health professional’s handling of your information, you should contact the Office.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (Edmonton)
# 410, 9925 - 109 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2J8
Phone: (780) 422-6860
Toll-Free in Alberta: 1-888-878-4044
Fax: (780) 422-5682
Email: generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca

Power of Attorney and other legal relationships

Please note: The information provided here is provided for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Alberta law recognizes two different types of Power of Attorney relationship: the Power of Attorney and the Enduring Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney is empowered to act on your behalf to handle your property while you are still mentally competent but perhaps bedridden or out of the country. An Enduring Power of Attorney has the power to handle your property if you become incompetent for any reason. Enduring Powers of Attorney may be immediate, meaning they take effect while you are still competent, or springing, meaning they take effect only in the event that you become incapable of making your own decisions. If a court appoints someone to look after your property, that person is called a trustee.

It is important to note that both kinds of Powers of Attorney relate only to property and financial matters. There is a different legal relationship in which you can appoint someone to manage your personal matters should you become incapacitated. This is called a Personal Directive. Agents acting under a Personal Directive may make decisions about broad personal choices such as your health care and where you live. Court-appointed agents are called guardians. In any case where you are creating the legal relationship, the document may stipulate strict limits on when and how your agent can act on your behalf, or it may grant the agent very broad powers. You don’t need a lawyer to prepare Powers of Attorney or Personal Directive documents, but it is highly advisable to use one.

There are online services which will prepare Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney documents for you.

For more information about Alberta Power of Attorney legislation, visit Alberta Justice.

To find our more about Personal Directives and Guardianships, visit the Alberta Office of the Public Guardian website.

Regulatory and administrative bodies

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) is responsible for licensing physicians, administering standards of practice and conduct, and resolving physician-related complaints. The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta performs the same function for nurses.

Alberta Health Zones
Health programs and services are offered through health zones.

Alberta Health and Wellness
Alberta Health and Wellness provides provincial leadership and sets public health policy for the province.

Alberta health legislation
There are many laws and regulations governing all aspects of health care in Alberta. Alberta Health and Wellness offers a comprehensive compilation of everything from the basic law establishing the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to the regulations governing the activities of allied health professionals.

Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Alberta Health Services plans and delivers health supports and services to Albertans. The formation of AHS brought together 12 formerly separate provincial health entities, of which nine were geographically-based health authorities, as well as the Albertal Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, the Alberta Mental Health Board, and the Alberta Cancer Board.

Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
The HQCA monitors patient safety and health service quality, develops standards and collects patient feedback on the system’s performance.