Alberta taxpayers have been left covering tens of millions of dollars in unpaid health-care costs incurred by non-residents over the past five years, according to recently released data.

The figures show that Alberta Health Services and provincial health authorities were unable to recover approximately $92.3 million in medical expenses from patients who were not covered under Alberta's public health-care system. The unpaid costs include treatment provided to visitors, foreign nationals and others who did not have provincial health coverage at the time they received care.

The issue comes as Alberta's health system continues to face pressure from population growth, staffing shortages and growing demand for services. Health-care costs have been a significant factor in the province's fiscal challenges, with Alberta projecting a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit in 2026.

SecondStreet.org, an organization advocating for taxpayers, says unpaid medical bills represent money that could otherwise be used to support health services for residents. They argue that stronger collection measures may be needed to recover costs from patients who receive care but leave the province or country without paying.

While emergency medical treatment is generally provided regardless of a person's ability to pay, hospitals and health authorities routinely attempt to bill uninsured patients after care has been delivered. Recovering those costs can be difficult when patients reside outside Canada or provide incomplete contact information.

The Alberta figures are not unique. Similar reports in other provinces have identified substantial amounts of unpaid health-care debt linked to non-resident patients, suggesting the challenge extends beyond Alberta.

The reported $92.3 million represents accumulated unpaid charges over a five-year period.

The province has indicated that unrecovered medical costs add further pressure to a health-care system already dealing with growing demand and rising expenses.