A look at the current Alberta health card.--NEWS PHOTO
The recent UCP budget noted a plan to switch Alberta health cards to something more substantial, but details are scarce.
The press secretary for Service Alberta told the News on Thursday that modernizing health cards was a promise the UCP made during the provincial election a couple of years ago.
“We know that Albertans are frustrated with their paper health cards, which have no security features and are more than a few decades old,” said an emailed response to questions. “Service Alberta has been working closely with our colleagues in Health to explore options to modernize the paper cards using some of the same security, technology and innovation that led to Alberta having some of the most secure driver’s licences and ID cards in North America.”
The spokesperson declined to answer any questions about the potential costs involved and what stage the government is at.
When the NDP government was in power there was discussion about changing the health card but in the end nothing was done. The current paper card still requires anyone presenting it to provide other government photo ID as well.
