Elimination of Alberta Provincial Health Insurance Premium

Date: November 4 2008

To: Compensation Managers, Heads of Human Resources, Participating Separate Employers

Information to Plan Members

The purpose of this notice is to inform you of required changes to the Government of Canada's monthly rates of contributions to provincial health insurance premiums in Alberta.

The Government of Canada, as employer, contributes towards its employees' provincial health insurance premium costs in accordance with the Provincial Health Insurance Plans directive. The Government of Canada currently contributes 50% of the cost of its employees' provincial premiums in Alberta and British Columbia.

On April 22, 2008, the Province of Alberta announced that it will be eliminating premiums under the Province's publicly-funded health care program, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).  This change will take effect on January 1, 2009. Monthly premiums for the AHCIP are currently set at $44 for single coverage and $88 for family coverage.

As employer, the Government of Canada currently makes the following monthly contributions on behalf of its employees in Alberta: $22 for single premiums and $44 for family premiums. As of January 1, 2009, the Government of Canada will cease making contributions toward its employees' provincial health insurance premiums in Alberta.

Persons responsible for processing the employer's share of contributions toward Alberta's provincial health insurance premiums will be required to ensure that contributions cease once the Province of Alberta has eliminated AHCIP premiums as of January 1, 2009.

Additional Information for Compensation Community

Should you have any questions regarding this notice, you may contact

Yann Malara, PSHCP Program Manager at Treasury Board Secretariat at 613-954-9703 or Yann.Malara@tbs-sct.gc.ca.

Original signed by

Phil Charko
Assistant Secretary
Pensions and Benefits Sector