As Alberta's Bill 11 set to take effect, private health insurance premiums could rise, say industry experts

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics Seniors could see rise in private insurance premiums with Bill 11 rollout on Oct. 1, say industry experts 'This is not on the radar of a lot of seniors,' said Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre. 'They probably don't need an extra cost at this point' Author of the article: By Hiren Mansukhani Published Sep 24, 2026 Last updated 22 minutes ago 5 minute read Join the conversation Minister of Health and Surgical Services Adriana LaGrange takes part in a press conference in Edmonton on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. David Bloom/Postmedia Article content Significant changes to access to supplemental health benefits are coming for seniors and Albertans on non-group plans, as the province is set to become the payer of last resort next week. Article content Industry experts say private health insurance premiums could rise, as they have stayed historically low since those plans were only used to cover the 30 per cent deductible for drug costs under the provincial program. Article content Article content Article content The rule also has implications for companies forced to continue benefit plans for their employees above 65 while shouldering most of their drug and other adjacent health-care costs. Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Ultimately, some suspect individuals could exhaust their insurance benefits early and end up paying the cost-sharing fee prescribed by the government plan that private plans were designed to cover. The rule, they say, would raise expenses of retirees on fixed incomes. Article content “This is not on the radar of a lot of seniors,” said Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre, a non-profit that supports adults above 50. Article content “They probably don’t need an extra cost at this point.” Article content The change was introduced by Bill 11, a piece of legislation known for permitting doctors to run a dual-practice model, in which they work in the public system but also charge patients privately for the same procedures. Article content While that rule has stirred controversy, an underreported part of…