01/22/2026
In light of recent changes to Alberta Health Care coverage for IEC work permit holders, our clinic will be offering reduced visit fees to individuals with valid proof of Bow Valley employment who wish to see a physician.
Please contact our clinic to book or with any questions!
⚠️ Important Update for IEC, Working Holiday & Young Professionals Visa Holders and Co op Work Permit holders⚠️
This message is for employers and individuals on “Case Type 58” visas, including International Experience Canada (IEC), Working Holiday, and Young Professionals visas and “Case Type 59” Co-op Work Permits.
As of January 7, Alberta Registries were notified that Case Type 58 visa holders are no longer eligible for Alberta Health Care coverage. Case Type 59 Co op Work Permit Holders need to show their fulltime enrollment paperwork. This information has been shared with registries across the province, but no public guidance has been released yet.
As far as we know, these changes only impact NEW applications for Alberta Health care coverage from January 7th, 2026.
If your Alberta Health care application was approved before this date, you should still have provincial health care coverage while your work permit is still valid, and your Alberta Health Care card is valid.
If you are not sure or need help, please reach out to Foreign Workers Bow Valley
Email tfw@banff.ca or visit https://banff.ca/860/Foreign-Worker-Support
⚕️ What you need to know right now:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires all Case Type 58 visa holders to have private health insurance to enter and stay in Canada.
If you have private health insurance, do NOT cancel it. If you participate in high-risk sports, check that your insurance includes this coverage.
If you are an employer, please share this information with your staff.
BVIP is actively gathering information from partner organizations and will share verified updates on our website and social media as soon as they are available.
We know this change may cause stress and uncertainty. Support is available.
🏥 Mental health support — no Alberta Health Care required
Accessing these services does not affect your immigration status.
Walk-In Mental Health Clinics
Language support: English + interpretation in over 240 languages
Available Daily, 2:00–9:00 pm
Where:
🏥 Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, 305 Lynx St, Banff, AB T1L 1H7
🏥 Canmore General Hospital, 1100 Hospital Pl, Canmore, AB T1W 1N2
📲 Free Phone & Online Support (24/7)
📞 Su***de Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8
📞 Distress Centre Helpline: 403-266-4357
📞Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
📞Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
📞National Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
Translation support is available for languages beyond English.
Multilingual mental health resource sheets are available from the See The Signs website here: https://www.seethesigns.ca/partners-toolkit/
To learn more, please visit: https://bvipartnership.com/resources-blog/albertahealth-2026-update
