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Preventative health testing

Providing more choice for preventative health testing through self referral and patient pay options.

Overview

Starting July 31, 2026, you can start booking preventative health tests at participating private diagnostic clinics without a doctor referral. 

You pay for the test up front. If the test leads to a new diagnosis of cancer, you will be reimbursed up to the established reimbursement rates.

Preventative testing is a choice and may not be appropriate for everyone. Speak with a qualified health professional at the clinic about whether a test is right for you.

Eligibility

You can get testing if you:

  • are 18 years or older
  • want to book a test without a doctor referral

For children under 18, a parent or guardian can arrange testing on their behalf.

Preventative health testing is available through self‑referral and patient‑pay options, including for individuals who do not live in Alberta.

For reimbursement eligibility, you must be covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). Non-Alberta residents are not eligible for reimbursement.

Available tests

The following diagnostic imaging tests are available for preventative health testing:

  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
  • CT scan (computed tomography)
  • Ultrasound
  • X-ray

Availability may vary by clinic.

How to book a test

Keep all your records, including receipts and details about the test.

Follow these steps:

  1. Confirm coverage
    • Ensure you have AHCIP coverage if you plan to apply for reimbursement.
  2. Choose your test
    • Select the type of imaging you want.
  3. Contact an accredited clinic
    • Book directly with a private diagnostic imaging provider. Healthcare providers and clinics may need additional time to implement the processes required to offer preventative health testing services. Availability of preventative health testing may vary.
  4. Review safety and consent
    • A regulated health professional at the private diagnostic imaging provider will confirm the test is appropriate and ask you to provide informed consent.
  5. Pay for your test
    • You pay the full cost of the tests at the time of service.
  6. Complete your test and review results
    • A regulated health professional will interpret your results and advise if follow-up is needed at the time of your test.

After your test

Your provider will securely add your results to your electronic health record. You should also be able to view your results in your MyHealth Alberta account.

If your results show a possible concern:

  • you will be referred for follow-up care
  • and cancer is detected, you will be referred to the most appropriate provider for follow up care within the publicly funded health system for next steps

Testing reimbursement

If no cancer is diagnosed, the cost of the test is not reimbursed.

You may be reimbursed only if all the following conditions are met:

  • the test results lead to a new, previously undiagnosed cancer diagnosis
  • the test was completed on or after July 31, 2026
  • the test was done at an accredited clinic
  • you apply for reimbursement within 365 days of diagnosis

Reimbursement is based on the established reimbursement rates.

Government pays last, after any other insurance.

  • Before applying reimbursement

    Prepare these documents before applying:

    Test results

    • diagnostic imaging results from the clinic

    Confirmation of diagnosis

    • documentation from a regulated health professional confirming a new cancer diagnosis
    • documentation must show the date of diagnosis

    Proof of payment

    • receipt must show: 
      • who paid
      • how much was paid
      • who was paid (for example, name of the diagnostic imaging provider)

    Insurance information (if applicable)

    • details of any coverage that paid part of the cost

  • How to apply for reimbursement

    There are 2 ways to apply for reimbursement.

    Online

    1. Sign in to your MyHealth Alberta account.
    2. Follow the steps to submit your claim.
    3. Upload all required documents.

    Submit by paper

    1. Download the claim form.
    2. Complete the form and attach all required documents.
    3. Do not send original documents. Send copies only. We will not return documents you submit.
    4. Submit by:
      • Mail: Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Provider, Relationship & Claims, 12th Floor, 10025 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2N3
      • Email: [email protected]
      • Fax: 780-422-3552

Benefits

Understand how paying for preventative testing improves the public health system.

  • Taking an active role in your healthcare

    • Taking proactive control of your health with preventative testing will result in better health outcomes, avoiding the physical and emotional toll of more aggressive and longer-term treatments.
    • An Ipsos poll from April 2025 on behalf of the Montreal Economic Institute showed that 62% of Albertans are most likely to want increased access to privately supplied health care.
    • Building the preventative health testing sector encourages the private sector to acquire and build diagnostic equipment and infrastructure in Alberta for both public and private use. This doesn’t require any tax dollars and frees up resources to strengthen the public health system. 
    • By offering more options for non-urgent care, private clinics can help ease pressure on the public system, reducing waiting times for everyone.

  • Responding to an overstretched workforce

    • We will actively monitor screening uptake and work with clinical and medical partners to adjust as needed.
    • We are making record investments to grow and support the health workforce across all roles, including physicians, nurses, and diagnostic staff.
    • Private diagnostic imaging clinics manage their own staffing and scheduling and will adjust to meet demand within the broader, publicly funded system.

  • Guaranteeing public system is prioritized over private clinics

    • All doctor-referred tests will continue to receive preferential treatment in all facilities, whether private or public, so public system patients are never disadvantaged.
    • Medically necessary diagnostic testing will continue to be publicly funded and prioritized.
    • Publicly funded cancer screening programs are not changing.
    • Preventative health testing is not a replacement for insured public services but is an optional pathway for Albertans seeking more choice.
    • This approach complies with the Canada Health Act and maintains a strong public system.
    • Our Public Health Care Guarantee remains in full force, meaning medically necessary services will continue to be publicly funded and provided without charge to patients.
    • Private diagnostic imaging clinics will place priority for physician ordered scans in their daily patient scheduling. 

  • Other countries with preventative screening

    • Nations with strong public health systems like Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland, have seen a significant number of private preventative clinics being established to handle an increased demand for these services.
    • By giving their residents increased choice for preventative services, it has helped to detect health problems early and accurately, and improved health outcomes for millions of people around the world.

  • Impact of preventative screening in cancer detection

    • Generally, evidence indicates that expanded screening results in more cancer cases detected, especially in the short term, because it detects cancers earlier and identifies cases that might not have been diagnosed.
    • The main benefit of screening is not fewer cancer cases, rather it is that cancers are found earlier at a more treatable stage and mortality/morbidity is significantly reduced.
    • For more on regular cancer screening available to everyone in Alberta, visit Screening For Life.

Resources

Contact

For questions about the reimbursement process, email [email protected].

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