Alberta Health Coverage - Soft Landing

[shazfa]

Guys,

If i do a soft landing in Alberta for 6-7 days, Can i apply for the Alberta Health card because i have read that for Alberta residents, the health insurance coverage starts from the 1st day of landing. So can i claim the coverage during soft landing and get the health Card.

Please advice on this.

Thanks and Regards

 

[Buletruck]

The important thing to remember is that it states "Alberta Resident". If you are only staying 7 days, you are not a resident. How long before you intend to return to Alberta?

 

[Leon]

The eligibility requirements for health care in AB state that you are a resident of AB and commit to residing in AB at least 183 days per any 12 month period, basically 6 out of 12 months.

Doing a soft landing, you are not yet a resident. You are a visitor basically. Once you move to AB, you become a resident and can apply for a health card. At this time you commit to staying in AB at least 6/12 months. If you move to another province before 6 months have passed, you risk that they could cancel your health care retroactively and back charge you for services you received. Cancelling retroactively basically means that you were never eligible for health care in the first place and they un-do it, making you owe them for everything they had paid on your behalf.