Best Health Insurance in Alberta (2026): Top Plans, Costs & Coverage

Written by: Jasmine Kanter
Insurance Writer
Edited by: Jessica Barrett
Content Marketing Manager
Updated
March 11, 2026
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Key Takeaways
  • Unless you qualify for social assistance, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) doesn’t cover drugs, dental, or vision for children and adults.
  • The best health insurance in Alberta is the Guaranteed Issue Classic plan by PolicyMe.
  • Based on the average household’s health expenses in Alberta, PolicyMe’s Classic health insurance can save you around $1,800 per year.

Best health insurance in Alberta: Top plans compared

We analyzed over 1,700 quotes covering 50+ private health insurance products from the biggest providers in Canada to select the best private health insurance plans in Alberta. We ranked the plans based on monthly premiums, first-year coverage value, prescription drug coverage, dental and vision benefits, mental health support, ambulance coverage, and eligibility requirements. We only compared plans designed for Albertans buying individual private health insurance rather than replacing employer group benefits.

Rating
Company
Plan
Premiums*
Coverage**
★★★★★ (5.0)
PolicyMe
Classic
$132/month
21% above industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
ScotiaLife
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
$107/month
30% below industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Manulife
ComboPlus Basic Plan
$116/month
29% below industry average
★★★★☆ (4.0)
GMS
ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care
$119/month
21% below industry average
★★★☆☆ (3.0)
Canada Life
Freedom to Choose Select Plus
$170/month
58% above industry average

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta as of March 2026.

** Comparison reflects the total amount of prescription drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health, accidental dental, and ambulance coverage versus the industry average for comparable plans.
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PolicyMe’s rankings are based on an independent, data-driven review of Canada's leading health and dental insurance products and providers. Our analysis draws on 1,700+ quotes covering 50+ health and dental insurance products from the seven biggest providers in Canada, sourced from official product websites and supplemented with customer ratings from Google.

Rankings are determined first by star rating (highest to lowest) and then by premiums (lowest to highest). To ensure fairness and accuracy, we only make cost and coverage comparisons between plans with the same type of coverage, pricing tier, and eligibility requirements. The premiums shown in this article are based on publicly available rates as of December 2025. Our pricing comparisons always compare quotes for the same age groups within the same region.

Our findings are entirely data-driven and do not include paid placements, but should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial or health advice.

About coverage and total coverage comparisons

Our analysis examines the coverage provided by each plan across eight benefit categories during the first year of enrollment: prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, paramedical services, mental health services, accidental dental services, ground ambulance transportation, and air ambulance transportation. To get an accurate picture of each plan’s value, we calculated the net amount of coverage provided by subtracting out-of-pocket costs (including deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments) from stated coverage limits.

Because dental definitions and coverage limits vary by provider, readers should always consult their policy documents to confirm the specific dental services covered. 

Disclaimer

PolicyMe’s findings are based on unaltered data and are free from paid placements or sponsored influence. While we strive to keep our information current, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of third-party data. These rankings are intended as a general reference and should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial or health advice.

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How health insurance in Alberta works

Health care in Alberta comes from two sources: the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) and private health insurance plans. AHCIP covers medically necessary hospital and physician services, but it doesn’t cover many everyday health expenses like prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, and mental health support. 

Some Alberta residents may qualify for additional coverage under the provincial plan. For example, seniors can access prescription drug support through the Coverage for Seniors program, and other income-based programs may offer limited dental and vision assistance. For all other Albertans, the cost of everyday health care must be paid out of pocket, or through employer benefits or a private health insurance plan.

The best health insurance in Alberta depends on your budget, age, and coverage needs. PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic strikes a good balance between drug, dental, vision, and mental health coverage to fill the gaps that AHCIP typically does not cover. For those without employer benefits, private coverage like this can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
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Quick summary

AHCIP covers essential medical services like doctor visits and hospital care, but most Albertans need private or employer-sponsored insurance to pay for expenses like prescription drugs, dental and vision care, and other extended health benefits.

What does the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) cover?

By law, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) must cover necessary medical care in Canada. As long as you have a valid provincial health card, you’re covered for 100% of:

  • Hospital services, including nursing, administering drugs, performing diagnostics, performing surgery, and providing standard meals and accommodations
  • Physician services, including consultations, examinations, diagnostics, treatments and psychiatric treatments
  • Dental, psychological, and vision services performed in a hospital, including eye trauma treatment, jaw surgery, and crisis counselling

Although they aren’t covered under the AHCIP, ambulance services are heavily subsidized in Alberta. For medically necessary trips, Alberta residents are typically billed a standard ground ambulance user fee (commonly $385); air ambulance is billed at full cost. Actual charges can vary by circumstance (e.g., assessed but not transported).

Outside of the country, you may be covered for some emergency and non-emergency physician and hospital services, but only up to the amount the AHCIP would normally pay if you’d received them in Canada. It’s highly recommended to seek travel insurance before going abroad.

Check the table below for a quick overview of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, what it covers, and for whom:

 
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
Prescription Drugs

* Seniors (65+) receive 70% of prescription drug costs (with a maximum $35 co-payment per prescription) (Coverage For Seniors)
Dental

* Seniors (65+) receive 100% of select basic dental services (up to $5,000/5 years) (Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors)
Extended health

* Seniors (65+) receive 100% of diabetic supplies (up to $2,400 per year) and up to $200/year of in-home nursing care (CFS)

The province also offers the following extended health benefits for Albertans with low income:

  • Children (0-17) from low-income families receive 100% of prescription drug costs, 100% of basic and preventative dental services, one pair of eyeglasses/year, 100% of diabetic supplies and 100% of ambulance transportation costs through the Alberta Child Health Benefit
  • Adults (18-64) with low income are covered by the Alberta Adult Health Benefit for certain prescription drugs, dental, and optical services — but coverage levels vary and are not universally 100%.
  • Adults (18-64) and their dependents who elect to pay for Non-Group Coverage receive 70% of prescription drug costs (with a maximum $35 co-payment per prescription), $60 per visit to a registered chartered psychologist (up to $300/year), 100% of diabetic supplies (up to $2,400/year), 25% of the cost of prosthetics and orthotics (up to the maximum allowed), $200/year of in-home nursing care and the difference in cost between public and private or semi-private hospital accommodations
  • All Canadians with low income may receive 40-100% of basic, restorative, endodontic, periodontic, and major dental services (up to maximum limits) through the Canadian Dental Care Plan

Depending on your income, you could also meet the eligibility requirements for subsidized premiums to the Non-Group Coverage plan. This will reduce the monthly cost from $63.50/month to $44.45/month for individuals, and $118/month to $82.60/month for families.

Who needs private health insurance in Alberta?

Private health insurance is most useful for Albertans who don’t have access to employer benefits or who want more coverage than is available through public programs. It helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for common everyday health expenses like prescriptions, dental care, vision care, and paramedical services.

Private health insurance in Alberta is especially helpful for:

  • Individuals and families without employer benefits: If your employer doesn’t provide health insurance, private coverage helps cover prescriptions, dental, vision, and paramedical care.
  • Seniors: Even with public programs like Coverage for Seniors, seniors face limits on drug, dental, and vision coverage that private insurance plans can supplement.
  • People who pay for prescriptions: If you regularly take medication, private plans can pay for a large chunk of drug costs that AHCIP doesn’t fully cover—but be sure to confirm that pre-existing medications are covered.
  • People who need dental or vision care: Routine checkups and procedures can be expensive without coverage. Private insurance helps cover the recurring costs to protect your oral and vision health.
  • People who want mental health or physiotherapy coverage: Services like therapy, counseling, or physiotherapy visits are often not fully covered by AHCIP, if at all. Many private plans offer 70–90% coverage for paramedical services.
  • People who are self-employed or retired early: If you don’t have access to employer benefits, private insurance plans protect your health and wallet by covering gaps in government coverage.

Put simply, anyone who wants broader coverage and greater financial protection beyond what AHCIP provides should consider buying private health insurance in Alberta.

How much does private health insurance cost in Alberta?

In Alberta, private health insurance typically costs about $50 to $250+ per month, depending on your age, plan tier, and level of drug, dental, and vision coverage.

According to Statistics Canada, Albertan households spent an average of $3,377 on out-of-pocket medical expenses in 2023, including private medical insurance premiums. Nationwide, the average Canadian household spent $3,087 in the same year. 

With a private health insurance plan from PolicyMe, the same household could save an estimated $1,807 per year on drugs, dental, vision, paramedical visits, and medical equipment with our top pick, the Guaranteed Issue Classic Plan. 

As for what you’ll pay, here’s a comparison of monthly health insurance quotes for PolicyMe’s top-rated health insurance policies in Alberta:

 
Guaranteed Issue Economic
Guaranteed Issue Classic
Guaranteed Issue Advanced
Kids 0–4
$50.20
$56.27
$82.17
Kids and youth 5–20
$77.47
$91.63
$133.50
Adults 21–44
$118.29
$132.37
$179.27
Adults 45–54
$125.91
$157.41
$217.41
Adults 55–59
$146.36
$171.35
$233.91
Adults 60–64
$160.07
$185.26
$249.77
Seniors 65–69
$124.19
$141.11
$190.20
Seniors 70+
$131.04+
$142.79+
$205.15+

* Prices reflect the approximate costs for residents in the relevant age group in Alberta. They were last updated December 20th, 2025.

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The 5 best health insurance plans in Alberta

1. Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe

Best for: Albertans who want the strongest balance of price and everyday health coverage

PolicyMe
Classic
Rating
★★★★★ (5.0)
Premiums*
$132/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
80% of visits to 9 paramedical professionals (up to $750 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $100 per visit and $800 combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta.

Our expert take: PolicyMe’s Classic plan offers the best balance between coverage and cost savings, with especially generous offerings in the areas of mental health and paramedical services. For Albertans in search of basic supplementary health coverage at a competitive price, this plan is easy to get and reasonably affordable. 

  • Includes access to online health forums
  • Includes coverage for breathing equipment/oxygen, diabetic supplies, durable medical equipment, hearing aids, in-home nursing, mobility aids, orthotics/orthopedic shoes and prostheses
  • No medical questionnaire required
  • No extra features

Available products from PolicyMe: 

  • Guaranteed Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more
  • Dental Care: A guaranteed health insurance plan with no coverage for prescription drugs
  • Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of replacement health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more

2. Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan from ScotiaLife

Best for: Senior Scotiabank customers looking for strong prescription drug protection 

ScotiaLife
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$107/month
Drug coverage
75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery, including a $50 limit for eye exams)
Paramedical coverage
75% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $25 per visit and 12 visits per profession each year)
Mental health coverage
75% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per year, and $800 combined per year, including visits to paramedical professionals)
Accidental dental coverage
75% of accidental dental services (up to $2000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
75% of ground ambulance transportation (unlimited) and 100% of air ambulance transportation (up to $10000 per year)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta.

Our expert take: It’s not the best option for seniors or those with urgent dental and vision needs, but ScotiaLife’s health and dental coverage is a low-priced, straightforward option for many Scotiabank customers. 

  • 1 optional add-on available (dental coverage)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Includes semi-private hospital accommodations
  • Only available to customers 64 and under
  • 3-month dental waiting period
  • 1-year waiting period for vision care

Available products from ScotiaLife: 

  • Health Insurance Plan: A guaranteed no-dental health insurance plan with a single dental option available only to Scotiabank customers, their spouses, and dependent children

3. ComboPlus Basic Plan from Manulife

Best for: Families who want solid everyday coverage and strong emergency protection

Manulife
ComboPlus Basic Plan
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$116/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $5000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $70 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
60% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $500 per profession and $4000 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 15 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $2000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta.

Our expert take: Manulife offers a wide range of private health and dental insurance plans. We think the ComboPlus Basic plan offers the best value for money for families in Alberta, with a surprisingly long list of customization options to tailor your coverage to your personal needs. 

  • 7 optional add-ons available
  • Includes access to TELUS Health Virtual Care and survivor benefit
  • Includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance and travel insurance
  • Small net gain on dental coverage

Available products from Manulife: 

  • Flexcare ComboPlus Starter, Basic, and Enhanced Plan: A series of complete health insurance plans with guaranteed options.
  • Flexcare DentalPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans.
  • Flexcare DrugPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of no-dental health insurance plans.
  • FollowMe Basic, Enhanced, Enhanced Plus, and Premiere Plan: A series of complete replacement health insurance plans.
  • Guaranteed Issue Enhanced: A complete, premium health insurance plan with guaranteed acceptance.

4. ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care from GMS

Best for: Self-employed or contract individuals needing basic supplemental coverage

GMS
ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care
Rating
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Premiums*
$119/month
Drug coverage
100% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $3500 per year) with a maximum co-payment of $6 per prescription
Pre-existing prescription coverage
No
Dental coverage
Up to 75% of preventative and major dental services (up to $500 per year)
Vision coverage
80% of vision services every 2 years (up to $250 combined for eye exams and prescription lenses and frames)
Paramedical coverage
80% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $350 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 10 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $2000 per injury)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta.

Our expert take: GMS’s highly customizable ExtendaPlan gives Albertans a ton of options at a reasonable price. The caveat: waiting periods and limits may make this coverage less usable than other plans and might not be a good fit if you’re trying to use your coverage immediately. 

  • 5 optional add-ons available
  • Direct billing and online claims
  • Includes access to the GMS Care Network
  • $6 deductible per prescription
  • 3-month waiting period may apply for dental care

Available products from GMS: 

  • BasicPlan, ExtendaPlan, and OmniPlan: A series of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans with complete coverage options.
  • EssentialPlan, ChoicePlan, and PremierPlan: A series of replacement health insurance plans with no-drug and complete coverage options.

5. Freedom to Choose Select Plus from Canada Life

Best for: Healthy individuals who want strong paramedical coverage

Canada Life
Freedom to Choose Select Plus
Rating
★★★☆☆ (3.0)
Premiums*
$170/month
Drug coverage
80% of generic, birth control, cannabis, and other prescription drugs (up to $10000 per year)
Pre-existing prescription coverage
No
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $75 for eye exams and $200 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
100% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $40 per visit and $400 per profession)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $40 per visit and 10 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (unlimited)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta.

Our expert take: Canada Life’s Freedom to Choose Select Plus plan offers 100% paramedical coverage—a rare benefit with excellent value to some shoppers, though this coverage is subject to limits of $40/visit and $400/profession. The plan also includes generous prescription drug coverage and is an overall good (if a little pricey) choice for an underwritten healthcare plan. 

  • 31-day missed payment grace period
  • 20% off at Rexall with Preferred Perks
  • Above-average drug, dental, and vision coverage
  • Below-average premiums for children
  • Includes second opinion services from Teledoc Medical Experts
  • 3-month dental waiting period
  • Above-average premiums for adults and seniors

Available products from Canada Life:
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  • Freedom to Choose Guaranteed, Guaranteed Plus, and Guaranteed Elite: A series of guaranteed and replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental coverage options.
  • Freedom to Choose Select, Select Guaranteed, Select Plus, and Select Elite: A series of health insurance plans with guaranteed, underwritten, complete, and high-drug options.

See how affordable health insurance can be with PolicyMe.

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Compare the top 3 health insurance plans in Alberta 

 
PolicyMe
ScotiaLife
Manulife
Plan
Classic
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan
ComboPlus Basic Plan
Rating
★★★★★ (5.0)
★★★★☆ (4.0)
★★★★☆ (4.0)
Medical questions required
No
Yes
Yes
Premiums*
$129/month
$102/month
$119/month
Drug coverage
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year)
75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year)
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
Pre-existing prescriptions coverage
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dental coverage
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year)
Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year)
Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
Vision coverage
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery, including a $50 limit for eye exams)
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $70 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
Paramedical coverage
80% of visits to 9 paramedical professionals (up to $750 per year combined)
75% of visits 10 paramedical professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per profession, and $800 combined per year, including visits to mental health professionals)
60% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $500 per profession and $4000 per year combined)
Mental health coverage
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $100 per visit and $800 combined per year)
75% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per year, and $800 combined per year, including visits to paramedical professionals)
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 15 visits combined per year)
Accidental dental coverage
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
75% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
100% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
Ambulance coverage
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)
75% of ground ambulance transportation (unlimited) and 100% of air ambulance transportation (up to $10000 per year)
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)

* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Alberta. 

How to choose the best health insurance plan in Alberta

The secret to buying health insurance is to know your needs and do your research. Here are 5 steps to success and the most important questions at each stage:

  1. Find your existing coverage: Take a look at your province’s public healthcare plan and your employer’s group health benefits to identify the coverage you already have. Are you using it completely?
  2. Tally your existing costs: Add up your health out-of-pocket expenses during the past year (including the receipts for prescription drugs, dental work, and medical equipment) and any successful health insurance claims. Is there anything left over? How much?
  3. Identify coverage gaps: These could be leftover expenses from successful claims or services that aren’t covered by public or group health care. How much money did you lose to coverage gaps last year? If you divide the total by 12, what’s the monthly cost?
  4. Request health insurance quotes: Now that you know your coverage gaps, you can start to look for plans to address them. Do you need supplemental health insurance, vision, dental, paramedical services, or do you want to maximize your covered services? Are your expenses eligible? Are the premiums lower than the monthly cost of your coverage gaps? Speak with some insurance advisors if you want help.
  5. Calculate your savings: Read the fine print regarding each plan’s maximums, covered services, and fees. If you had bought it last year, how much money would you have paid in premiums? How much money would you have saved?

Don’t forget to take a hard look at the customer reviews for different health insurance companies. Good customer service is a necessity for making efficient use of your coverage—not to mention getting reimbursement when you need it!

Finally, consider whether you might also need life insurance, disability insurance and critical illness coverage (and double check whether you have any of these through a group plan). Many insurers offer discounts on a bundled policy.

FAQ: Best health insurance in Alberta

Jasmine specializes in converting complex insurance data into actionable guidance. Her background includes auto, life, and health insurance and financial planning. Lately, she’s leveraging AI to extract insights from the numbers and help Canadians make better decisions.

Jasmine specializes in converting complex insurance data into actionable guidance. Her background includes auto, life, and health insurance and financial planning. Lately, she’s leveraging AI to extract insights from the numbers and help Canadians make better decisions.

Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of March 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.