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Part of Coverage and benefits

Alberta Child Health Benefit

Low income families can apply to this program to get eyeglasses, prescription drugs, and dental care for their kids.

Overview

The Alberta Child Health Benefit covers health benefits for children in low-income households. This health plan is for children up to 18 years of age. Children who are 18 or 19 years old also qualify, if they are living at home and attending high school.

Adults may be eligible for health benefits through the Alberta Adult Health Benefit program.

This program provides coverage for:

  • dental care
  • prescription drugs
  • eye glasses
  • essential diabetes supplies
  • emergency ambulance services
  • essential over-the-counter medications

Coverage through other benefits plans

If you or other household members have coverage through another health benefits plan, you must use that plan first. The Alberta Child Health Benefit plan may cover your remaining costs. Talk to your dental provider, optical provider or pharmacist about how this works.

What is covered

Talk to your doctor, dental provider, optical provider or pharmacist to learn which items are paid for by this health benefit plan.

  • Dental care

    • basic and preventative services like fillings, x-rays, examinations and teeth cleaning

  • Optical benefits

    • Eye glasses every year

  • Prescription drugs

  • Ambulance services

    • Emergency ambulance trips to the nearest hospital

  • Diabetes coverage

    • Diabetes supplies such as injection supplies, testing strips and lancets
    • Plan members with diabetes will receive coverage for blood glucose test strips purchased from a licensed pharmacy, up to a maximum of 3000 per eligible person depending on the method of diabetes management. The benefit year for diabetes coverage is from July 1 to June 30. (Read the Coverage Maximums for Diabetes Supplies fact sheet).
    • Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are available to Albertans living with diabetes who meet certain eligibility criteria. See the CGM Fact Sheet for more information about CGM coverage and eligibility criteria.
    • The use of a CGM reduces or eliminates the need for blood glucose test strips. Albertans who receive funding for a CGM will have adjusted limits for blood glucose test strips, which will still provide for occasional use. Albertans who do not receive funding for a CGM will continue to have the same limits for blood glucose test strips. See the Coverage Maximums for Diabetes Supplies fact sheet for more information.

Eligible applicants

Families qualify based on income.

To be eligible for the Alberta Child Health Benefit, you and members of your family must:

Your total net household income must fall below these maximum income guidelines based on family size.

Table 1. Maximum income guidelines based on family size

FamilyMaximum income
1 adult + 1 child$26,023
1 adult + 2 children$31,010
1 adult + 3 children$36,325
1 adult + 4 children*$41,957
Couple + 1 child$31,237
Couple + 2 children$36,634
Couple + 3 children$41,594
Couple + 4 children*$46,932

*For each additional child, add $4,973

How to calculate your income

You can calculate your income by looking at your last income tax return.

  1. Look at Line 23600 to find out your basic income.
  2. Add any child support you receive, which is on Line 15600.
  3. Subtract the amount you were taxed, which is on Line 12800.

The amount left is your income. If you have trouble calculating your income, contact us.

How to apply

If you are leaving the Income Support or AISH program, speak to your case worker.

Step 1. Fill out the application form

Alberta Child Health Benefit application form AEHB2939

  • Sign and date the sections marked My Declaration and Consent for Canada Revenue Agency.

The declaration section is important. By signing it, you are saying that you understand everything in your application. The consent section is also important because you are giving the Alberta government permission to review your income tax information from Canada Revenue Agency in order to verify your income. Your information will not be shared anywhere else for any other reason.

Step 2. Email, mail or fax your application form

Contact us

After you apply

  • Alberta Child Health Benefit Card

    If your application is approved, you will receive a health benefits card in the mail. The card will list each child’s name and identification number.

    You need to show this card to your child’s doctor, dental provider, pharmacist, optician or ambulance attendant each time your child receives a service that can be paid for by the Alberta Child Health Benefit plan.
     

  • Annual review

    Every September, we will confirm with the Canada Revenue Agency that your household income is under the qualifying income level for your family size. If it is, your household will be automatically enrolled for another year. Children 18 and 19 years old must be still living at home and attending high school (up to grade 12).

  • Alberta Child Health Benefit – 18 or 19 years old

    In order for Alberta Child Health Benefit coverage to remain active for children who are 18 or 19 years old, living at home and attending high school, you must complete the following declaration form:

    Declaration of 18 and 19 Year Old Dependent form AEHB3654
     

  • Change of Information

    If there is a change to the applicant’s, spouse/cohabitating partner or child’s personal information, you must inform the Alberta Child Health Benefit program area by completing the following form. Failure to update personal information may impact your eligibility for the program.

    Alberta Adult/Child Health Benefit Change of Information form AEHB3002

  • Consent to the release of information

    Applicants who wish to allow the Alberta Child Health Benefit program to communicate with any third party (including family members, social workers or health care professional) on their behalf, you must complete the following declaration form:

    Consent to the Release of Information form AAS13391

Reassess application denial

In certain circumstances, an income reassessment can be requested if your application was denied based on the income used to determine eligibility. In order for your income to be reassessed, you must have applied and received a rejection letter.

The current benefit year is October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025 and program eligibility is based on your 2023 income assessed by the Canada Revenue Agency. Before you can request an income reassessment, your application must have already been denied based on your 2023 income taxes.

  • Applying for reassessment between October 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025

    If your Alberta Child Health Benefit application was rejected between October 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025, you can apply for an income reassessment based on your estimated 2024 income. If your estimated income is projected to be below the income guidelines, you may be eligible for coverage.

    An estimated income reassessment requires the following:

    1. Income verification from January 1, 2024 to present day. This may include the following:
      • gross employment earnings (pay stub showing year-to-date income or at least 3 months’ worth of pay stubs)
      • Employment Insurance Claim Statement (My Latest Claim)
      • Canada Pension Plan or private plan benefits
      • taxable student funding (payments as listed on Notice of Assessment, not including tuition fees)
      • cashed in RRSPs
      • workers compensation benefits
      • child support payments
    2. Evidence to support your estimated income from present day up to December 31, 2024. This may include:
      • the remaining weeks of Employment Insurance you are eligible to receive
      • a current pay stub
      • a copy of denied Income Support decision

    To apply for an income reassessment

    You must follow these steps:

    1. Complete the Request for Reassessment of Eligibility for Health Benefits form AEHB4008.
    2. Write a cover letter explaining your current income situation and why it differs from your 2023 income.
    3. Collect appropriate income verification/estimated income documents as stated above.
    4. Email, mail or fax all reassessment documents:

  • Applying for reassessment between March 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025

    If your Alberta Child Health Benefit application was denied between March 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025, you can re-apply using your 2024 income as submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency. If your 2024 income is below the income guidelines, you may be eligible for coverage.

    To apply for an income reassessment

    You must follow these steps:

    1. Complete the Alberta Child Health Benefit application as before.
    2. Attach a copy of your 2024 CRA Notice of Assessment.
    3. Email, mail or fax it.

Exception committee

The Health Benefits Exception Committee reviews requests for drugs, optical, dental, ambulance services or diabetes supplies that are not covered in the optical agreements, dental agreements or drug benefit lists. To submit a request for an exception, complete the Request for a Health Benefit Exception form AEHB3487 and follow the instructions contained in the form.

If your request is for drugs or nutritional products that are not covered on the drug benefit lists, your doctor must provide a detailed medical rationale using the Request for Prescription Drugs and Nutritional Products form AEHB3810.

If your request is for optical services that are not covered in the optical agreements, have your optical services provider (ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician) complete the Request for Optical Services form AEHB4001.

Contact

Connect with the Health Benefits Contact Centre:

Phone: 780‑427‑6848
Toll free: 1‑877‑469‑5437
Email: [email protected]

Fax: 780‑415‑8386 (Edmonton)
Toll free fax: 1‑855‑415‑8386

Mailing address:
Health Benefits Contact Centre
PO Box 2222 Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 5H3

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