UCP leadership hopeful Danielle Smith says every Albertan will be provided with access to a personal Health Spending Account (HSA) to use for health expenses not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan..On Friday, Smith released a few details of the plan..“As our parents always taught us, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In health care, every dollar we spend on staying healthy and avoiding illness and injury will save many times that amount in acute and chronic care costs," Smith said.."More importantly, good preventative health practices extend life, improve quality of life and save families from so many unnecessary tragedies.".Details of Smith’s plan for HSAs are as follows:.• Each Albertan will be able to register an HSA, including one for each of their children..• The account will operate similarly to Uber or Airbnb in that it will connect patients with service providers directly through an app on your phone or device. This will ensure there's no unnecessary bureaucracy or delays in getting Albertans the health services they need..• Licenced Health Service providers will be able to register to receive payments directly from their patients’ HSA..• When you receive a health service from your health provider, you will initiate and approve the transfer of money from your account through the app..• Children’s HSAs will be overseen by their parents or legal guardian..• Funds may be transferred between family member HSAs as the parents deem necessary (i.e.one family member might have far more health care needs than the others)..Smith said to start things off in the Spring of 2023, the Alberta Government will invest at least $300 in each Albertan’s HSA depending on the size of the expected budget surplus. For example, that would be $1,200 for a family of four..Also in the upcoming Spring 2023 budget a series of tax incentives will be introduced to incentivize Alberta employers, individuals, and charitable organizations to contribute funds to these plans regularly and in substantial amounts..Smith said the amounts will be allowed to roll over and accumulate so they can be saved for a time of your choosing..According to Smith, if the Government of Alberta continues to run surpluses, Alberta would make further investments into HSAs to ensure all Albertans benefit..Smith detailed funds in HSAs could be used for health expenses not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan including:.DentalMental Health Services (i.e. counsellors, psychologists)Seniors’ long-term care and in-home nursing carePrescription medications (i.e. insulin, inhalers, etc.)Health-related equipment and testing suppliesPhysiotherapyChiropractic TreatmentHearing and Vision exams and equipmentDiagnostic TestingNaturopathsOccupational TherapistsPodiatristsAcupunctureEducational AssessmentsSpeech therapyAddictions and residential treatment programsFitness classes and personal training.Smith said the Alberta government needs to recognize individual physical and mental health needs vary considerably among Albertans.."For some, more mental health support is critical. For others, it is diet management, physiotherapy, ongoing chiropractic treatments or dental work," said Smith.."The last thing we need is an expensive and inflexible entitlement program telling Albertans how best to invest in their health. Instead, we need to empower each Albertan to invest, save and spend health dollars on the services they decide will benefit them and their families the most."."My hope is we make investing in our health as much a part of our culture as investing in our RSPs and TFSAs," Smith said.."After all, what good is retirement if we aren’t healthy enough to enjoy it?”
