Dear Members,
Today, government announced that Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan cards would be transitioning to a fully digital format called the Mobile Health Card. This will be the first document loaded to a new Alberta Wallet. Paper cards will still be accepted but it’s expected that most Albertans will make the shift. I was briefed on this move yesterday afternoon and wanted to prioritize getting information to physicians both for patient care and personal purposes. Below this letter you will find highlights from today’s news release, including links to the card and wallet.
I think this is a logical move. In 2018, Statistics Canada data showed that Alberta has the highest rate of cell phone ownership per household among all Canadian provinces. Patients can expect to always have their AHCIP information with them, versus arriving at appointments and realizing that the card was left at home. Phones are less likely to be lost. Password measures on phones will make this important health information more secure than paper format.
Albertans who establish a MyHealth Records account to obtain their digital AHCIP card will then have access to all the features of the platform, including lab test and diagnostic reports and medications filled at Alberta pharmacies.
Government is anticipating and preparing for about one million new MHR signups as this transition advances. It will be a heavy lift. I wanted to equip physicians, both as individuals and to answer questions you may receive from patients. Please see the information currently available below.
For those who are taking a short break on this Labour Day weekend, enjoy late-summer time with family and friends. For those who will be on the front lines dealing with the usual holiday volume, thanks for all you do!
Sincerely,
Shelley Duggan, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association
Excerpts from Alberta Government News Release
August 29, 2025
Alberta’s government is launching the Alberta Wallet, giving Albertans the option to carry their Government of Alberta-issued documents on their phones.
Leading the way in Canada, the Mobile Health Card will be the first document available for Albertans to add to the Alberta Wallet. This is part of the province’s health card modernization initiative and commitment to delivering better, faster and smarter services.
With security and privacy at the core, the Alberta Wallet and Mobile Health Card are protected by strong encryptions, ensuring that Albertans’ personal information stays private and accessible only to them. Albertans will also be in control of their personal information as nothing is shared with third parties without their consent.
The Mobile Health Card will serve as valid proof of health insurance coverage throughout Alberta and can be presented at hospitals, clinics and other medical settings – just like the current paper card. The Mobile Health Card will offer a more secure, convenient and durable alternative to the paper document.
The Mobile Health Card will be available to eligible Albertans aged 14 and older. Parents and guardians will be able to add their children’s Mobile Health Cards to their own Alberta Wallets. Spouses and interdependent partners can also add each other's Mobile Health Cards to their Alberta Wallets.
The new Alberta Wallet and Mobile Health Card are optional, and while they are a smarter and faster alternative to the physical cards, Albertans who prefer paper health cards can still use them.
To access the wallet, Albertans will need a Verified Alberta.ca account and a MyHealth Records account to add their Mobile Health Card. More documents will be added over time and Albertans will be able to access them through the mobile application or online through their Verified Alberta.ca account.
As part of the health care card modernization initiative, Alberta will also introduce an integrated driver’s license and health care card in 2026.
Quick facts
- The Alberta Wallet builds on the Alberta.ca account, which has 1.8 million verified users.
- Alberta is among the first provinces in Canada to launch a Mobile Health Card.
- The Alberta Wallet is available through the Alberta.ca account and has an application on Apple and Android devices.
- The Mobile Health Card will be the first document available, with more to follow.
Related information
We have elderly parents (in their 90\') who don\'t have cell phones or other digital platforms. What are their options?