A health and dental plan for retirees
Planning your retirement? Or recently retired? Chances are, you have been thinking about what you can do to support your health in the coming years. Whether you're leaving your employer-sponsored group plan or looking to convert a personal plan, we can help you take your next steps.
Retirement benefits your way
The journey ahead looks different for everyone. Choose from 4 levels of coverage for extended health benefits and prescription drug with optional dental to build a customized plan tailored for your retirement.
Are you eligible for the Retiree plan?
You or your spouse must be:
- at least 50 years old
- applying within 90 days of your existing benefits plan ending
Discount for existing Alberta Blue Cross® members
Alberta Blue Cross® group plan members qualify for a discount on the Retiree plan. When you apply, make sure to enter your group and ID number to receive the discount.
Retirement resources
Retiree plan FAQ
Review the Retiree plan FAQ for more information about eligibility, pricing, terms and conditions, and travel benefits.
Retirement guide
Explore the guide for a closer look at retirement health and dental benefits. Learn about what’s covered by the provincial government and what happens when your employer-sponsored group plan ends.
Retiree travel benefits explained
Learn more about our travel benefits with our videos.
Extended health
The total for all extended health claims is $7,500 per year (excluding Accidental Death and Dismemberment and travel insurance).
The Retiree plan now includes Flight Delay Service.Retiree plan members of all levels now have access to Flight Delay Service at no extra cost. Traveling is important to retirees, so we included extensive travel insurance in this plan.
Hospital
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred hospital accommodations (per year; semi-private or private rooms) | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Hospital cash (per day/per year) | - | $20/$400 | $20/$600 | $25/$800 |
| Hospital beds (per lifetime) | - | $1,000 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Home nursing (per year) | - | $2,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Auxiliary care (per year) | - | - | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Paramedical practitioners
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assistance Program (IAP) | 12 sessions | 12 sessions | 12 sessions | 12 sessions |
| Ambulance services (ground and air) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Accidental dental care (per incident) | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Psychologist (including iCBT) (per visit/per year) | $75/$450 | $75/$600 | $75/$750 | $225/$1,800 |
| Chiropractor (per visit) | - | $35 | $35 | $75 |
| Physiotherapist (per visit) | - | $50 | $50 | $120 |
| Massage therapist (per visit) | - | $50 | $50 | $100 |
| Combined maximum (chiropractor, physiotherapist and massage therapist) | - | $500 | $750 | $1,400 |
| Podiatrist and chiropodist (per visit) | - | $25 | $25 | $105 |
| Combined maximum (podiatrist and chiropodist) | - | $300 | $300 | $500 |
| Acupuncturist (per visit) | Basic - |
- | $50 | $105 |
| Homeopath (per visit) | - | - | $50 | $180 |
| Osteopath (per visit) | - | - | $50 | $150 |
| Naturopath (per visit) | - | - | $50 | $190 |
| Dietitian (per visit) | - | - | - | $175 |
| Combined maximum for acupuncturist, homeopath, osteopath and naturopath (dietitian included in Premium) | - | - | $650 | $650 |
| Speech language pathologist (per visit/per year) | - | - | $80/$500 | $150/$600 |
Medical device supplies
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure monitor (per five years) | - | - | $150 | $150 |
| Custom braces (per two years) | - | 70%;$750 | 70%;$750 | 70%;$1,000 |
| Foot orthotics (per two years) | - | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| Wheelchair (per three years) | - | $1,500 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Medical aids (per year; crutches, canes, casts, cervical collars, walkers, splints, trusses and traction kits) | - | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| CPAP sleep apnea appliance (per five years) | - | $500 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Hearing aids (per four years) | - | $500 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Ileostomy/colostomy, urinary catheters and supplies (per year) | - | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Surgical stockings (per year) | - | $200 | $200 | $250 |
| Mastectomy prosthesis (per two years) | - | $200 (single) | $200 (single) | $200 (single) |
| Mastectomy prosthesis (per two years) | - | $400 (double) | $400 (double) | $400 (double) |
| Maximum per brassiere (maximum two per years) | - | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Prosthetics (per year, including maximum six stump socks) | - | $300 | $300 | $3,000 |
| Oxygen and equipment (per year) | - | - | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Wigs and hairpieces (per five years) | - | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Vision care
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision care including eye exams (per two years) | $150 | $300 | $500 | $600 |
Travel
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Care coverage per trip | $5 million | $5 million | $5 million | $5 million |
| Trip length | 30 days | 60 days | 90 days | 120 days |
| Discount on Emergency Medical Care applied to the extra days you need | 15% | 20% | 25% | 25% |
| Discount on Trip Cancellation or Interruption | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Access to Flight Delay Service | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Length of time pre-existing conditions must be stable before departure date | 90 days | 90 days | 90 days | 90 days |
Life
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)** | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
**Underwritten by Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada®.
Wellness
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance® — online program that promotes wellness and helps you live a healthier lifestyle. | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Blue Advantage® — discount program for health and wellness products. | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Care navigation — lifestyle and chronic disease management through our website. | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Virtual Care — telemedicine program that offers 24/7 access to physical and mental health care professionals. | - | - | - | Included |
Optional dental*
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (per year) | $750 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Basic and preventive care includes checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions and root canals | 70% | 75% | 80% | 90% |
| Dentures | - | 50% | 50% | 60% |
| Periodontics | - | 50% | 80% | 90% |
| Extensive includes crowns, bridges and implants | - | - | 50% | 60% |
*Alberta Blue Cross® Individual Health Plan Usual and Customary Dental Fee List.
Prescription drug
| Coverage | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced+ | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (per year; includes diabetic supplies and Glucose Monitoring Systems (GMS), contraceptives, smoking cessation and vaccines) | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Weight loss drugs, hair loss and sexual dysfunction drugs (per year combined maximum; with overall $5,000 maximum) | - | - | - | $1,000 |
| Coverage level (direct bill) | 70% | 75% | 80% | 90% |
Additional features
Balance®
Your Retiree plan includes exclusive access to Balance®, our online wellness program to support and promote your health.
Blue Advantage®
You will also enjoy access to Blue Advantage®, a program that enables Alberta Blue Cross® plan members to save on medical, vision care and many other products and services regardless of whether the item is covered under your benefit plan or not.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Retiree plan
Browse by topic to find the information you need.
Featured topics
Browse FAQ by topic
Eligibility rules
Find out who's eligible to apply and review key enrolment details.
Pricing
Learn more about plan rates.
Coverage details
Get answers to coverage-related questions.
Travel
Explore common questions about the travel coverage included in the Retiree plan.
Privacy
Learn how we keep your information safe and secure.
Retirement guide
Whether you’re retiring, leaving your employer-sponsored group benefits plan or assisting aging parents, this guide is designed to help you understand the complexity of retirement health benefits.