Adult interdependent relationships
Common questions
Q: What has changed under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)?
A: In the past, the AHCIP recognized only married and common law relationships. On June 1, 2003 the AHCIP amended the types of relationships that can be registered together as family. Specifically:
- The term common-law is no longer used by Alberta Health and Wellness.
- Spouse refers to a married partner only.
- People in an adult interdependent relationship (defined in the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act) are able to register together as family or separately.
Q: How do I know if I'm in an adult interdependent relationship?
A: There are two key elements that define an adult interdependent relationship.
First, an adult interdependent partner is a person who is involved with another person in an unmarried relationship of interdependence where they:
- Share one another’s lives
- Are emotionally committed to one another, and
- Function as an economic and domestic unit.
Second, to be considered adult interdependent partners, one of the following must apply to the relationship. The adult interdependent partners must be living in an interdependent relationship:
- For a continuous period of three years, or
- Of some permanence where there is a child of the relationship by birth or adoption, or
- Living in an interdependent relationship and have entered into a written adult interdependent partner agreement with each other. (Partners related by blood or adoption must enter a partner agreement to become adult interdependent partners.)
Q: My common law partner and I are currently registered together on the same AHCIP account. Does this change affect us?
A: No. This change only affects common law couples who have not registered together prior to June 1, 2003.
Q: Can my same-gender partner and I be registered together on an AHCIP account?
A: Yes. If you qualify as adult interdependent partners.
Q: How do I remove an adult interdependent partner from my account?
A: Partners wishing to be registered separately or who are no longer interdependent partners may notify Alberta Health and Wellness either verbally or in writing.
Q: Can I have a spouse and an adult interdependent partner on my AHCIP account at the same time?
A: No. You can have a spouse or an adult interdependent partner on your account, but not both at the same time.
Q: Can I have more than one adult interdependent partner on my account?
A: No.
Q: Can a person who is not my spouse or common law partner, for example my mother, be added to my account as my adult interdependent partner?
A: Yes, as long as the person you want to add meets the definition of an adult interdependent partner.
Q: I currently qualify for subsidized premiums. Will my premium rate change if I add an adult interdependent partner to my account?
A: The addition or deletion of an adult interdependent partner may change your qualifying threshold for premium subsidy and premium rate. Eligibility for premium subsidy is based on the combined taxable income of the registrant and the registrant's spouse or adult interdependent partner.
Q: How do I declare to Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW) that I am in an adult interdependent relationship? Am I required to provide proof of this relationship?
A: You may contact AHW verbally or in writing to request to be registered together with an adult interdependent partner. AHW does not require proof of the relationship.
Q: Can the child of my adult interdependent partner also be added to my AHCIP account?
A: Yes. If the children are living with you they can be added to your AHCIP account.
Q: Can a married person who is not divorced become an adult interdependent partner?
A: Yes, as long as that person is separated from his or her spouse and as long as they qualify as an adult interdependent partner under conditions set out in the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act.
One answer applies to the next three questions:
Q: Who can help me determine if my partner and I could be considered to be in an adult interdependent relationship?
Q: What is an adult interdependent partner agreement and how would I enter into or end such an agreement?
Q: If I were to enter into an adult interdependent partner agreement so that I could register a partner on my AHCIP account, would that agreement have implications with other government programs and services?
A: To view the law in its entirety or to purchase it, visit the Queen's Printer Bookstore online (select Adult Interdependent Relationships Act from the online catalogue). You may also purchase a copy by calling the Queen's Printer Bookstore in Edmonton at 780-427-4952 or Calgary 403-297-6251 (dial 310-0000 first for toll-free connection anywhere in Alberta).
For information on the Act, you can also visit the Justice and Attorney General website and click on Publications 2003 to read "The Adult Interdependent Relationships Act and You." You may wish to consult a lawyer for more information about how this law may apply to your relationship.
- By law, Justice and Attorney General cannot provide legal advice on personal legal matters. You may wish to consult a lawyer for more information about how this law may apply to your relationship.
