The provincial government of Alberta has announced that it will no longer cover for citizens’ elective, non-urgent health services and routine lab tests performed out-of-country.
The change takes effect April 01, 2020. Following the move, Alberta will join the majority of provinces in not offering the coverage. Only Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador still provide coverage for out-of-country elective, non-urgent services.
Although that coverage will be dropped, Alberta will still continue to partially cover emergency health services.
“Unlike the recent change in Ontario, Albertans will continue to be partially reimbursed for insured emergency health services needed when traveling outside Canada,” a media release from the province explained.
The government also said in its release that the change is expected to save the province about $1 million annually; the savings will be reinvested into enhancing Alberta’s health system.
Lethbridge News Now reported that the province’s independent Out-of-Country Health Services Committee will continue to accept applications for funding of insured, medically-necessary services not normally available in Canada.
