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Alberta Health Care Coverage

IMPORTANT NEWS: Alberta Health cuts funding for eye care services effective Feb 1, 2025

Effective Feb 1, 2025, the Alberta Government reduced or eliminated funding for many optometric services. Coverage has been eliminated for some services, and reduced by as much as 32% from 2017 levels for others. Optometrists have not received any funding increase from government since 2017, despite cumulative inflation of over 21% during this period.

We have tried our best to control costs and subsidize low reimbursement levels in order to allow everyone to have access to quality eye care. However, with reduced funding for testing, imaging and the elimination of previously funded services, it is no longer sustainable to provide eye care services at no cost to our patients.

Alberta Health Care Coverage for Eye Exams

Alberta Health provides only partial coverage towards eye examinations for patients ages 18 and under, and 65 and over. There is no longer coverage for follow up eye exams. There will be additional fees above what is funded by Alberta Health depending on the services provided.

We will continue to subsidize visits for children 5 and under at no cost. We believe strongly in removing any barriers to a childs’ access to quality eye care.

For ages 19-64, routine comprehensive eye examinations are not covered under Alberta Health, but may have funding through 3rd party insurance plans.

Alberta Health coverage for medical Eye Care visits

Alberta Health provides provides only partial coverage for visits for medical eye problems. There will be an additional fee for these visits:

Eye or eyelid infections, abrasions, red or pink eye, pain or sudden vision loss
Foreign body requiring assessment and/or removal
Retinal examination and diagnostic imaging for diabetic patients
Monitoring and treatment for chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye disease, uveitis, keratoconus and others
Pre-and Post-operative surgical care
Diagnostic imaging more than once per year

Note that routine eye care including eyeglass prescriptions and all contact lens fittings are still uninsured services for ages 19-64. You may be eligible for coverage of these services under your personal or employer health care plan. Browse our list of insurance companies that we can submit to on your behalf. Fittings for medically necessary contact lenses (patients with corneal disease) are also likely eligible for extended coverage through most employee benefit plans.

Alberta Health Care Coverage

IMPORTANT NEWS: Alberta Health cuts funding for eye care services effective Feb 1, 2025

Alberta Health Care Coverage for Eye Exams

Alberta Health coverage for medical Eye Care visits

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