Canadian · Health numbers
Alberta health care number format.
An Alberta health care number is a nine-digit Personal Health Number (PHN), written 99999-9999. Check the shape here. No check-digit rule is published, so this cannot tell you whether a number was issued.
Short answer: Nine digits, written 99999-9999, and it stays the same for life. A ULI (Unique Lifetime Identifier) becomes the PHN once the person qualifies for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan coverage.
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Result
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What the format is
Alberta Health states that Alberta Personal Health Numbers have nine digits in the 99999-9999 format and that residents keep the same number for life. That guide is an archived copy captured in 2006, so the card itself is the best check for anything newer.
ULI versus PHN
Alberta Netcare explains that the Unique Lifetime Identifier (ULI) is referred to as the Alberta Personal Health Number (PHN) when the person becomes eligible for basic coverage with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). A ULI can exist for someone who has no AHCIP coverage, so having a nine-digit number does not prove coverage.
No check digit
Neither source publishes a check-digit or checksum rule for the Alberta number, so this page checks length and digits only. Tools that claim to validate an Alberta number beyond that are guessing.
Sources
- Alberta Health, Registering Employees with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (employer guide, archived 2006 copy) (retrieved October 2026)
- Alberta Netcare Learning Centre (Government of Alberta), Person Directory (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many digits is an Alberta health care number?
Nine, written 99999-9999, according to Alberta Health's employer guide for registering employees with the AHCIP.
What is the difference between an Alberta ULI and a PHN?
Alberta Netcare says the ULI is called the PHN once the person is eligible for basic AHCIP coverage. A ULI on its own does not mean the person is covered.
Does the Alberta health care number have a check digit?
No check-digit rule is published in the government sources this page cites, so only the length and digits are checked.
Does a correctly formatted number mean someone has Alberta coverage?
No. Only Alberta Health, or a health provider using Alberta Netcare, can confirm eligibility. This page never contacts any register.
Format check only — not a verification
This page checks the shape of a number only. It does not query, copy or proxy any provincial register, cannot confirm that a number was issued, belongs to anyone or is current, and does not verify identity or coverage. Anything you type stays in your browser. Rules change, so confirm against the sources cited above before relying on it.