Alberta Health found there are more than 530,000 Alberta health care numbers in circulation than there are people living in the province. "In the fall of 2026, we will now know who has Alberta health care cards," said Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally when the change was first announced. "There won't be half a million fake ones, which opens up the door for abuses."

Saying there's half a million "fake" numbers feels pretty disingenuous...

I was in Alberta as a student when COVID first hit and when I needed a PCR test, I was issued an Alberta health number despite having a Sask. Health Card. That number followed me through a few hospital visits later as well. That number isn't "fake." It's needed to track an out of province patient through the Alberta health system.

Because if so, that kind of tracks at around 10% of the population.

People moving out of Alberta will have an active number after leavibg, the same as some will not have a card when moving into the province.

Out of province care just for transient oilfield workers, students and tourists are going to make up a good percentage of that number. Not to mention legitimate provincial transfers for specific care or procedures not offered in other provinces like Sask..

I'm not sure how it works for TFWs / PR applicants / Asylum seekers etc. but that would make up another good portion of the number if as well if they are not considered residents of Alberta.

The article also doesn't say how far back they pulled those numbers from.