Thousands of Canadians travel each year to discover the world - new sights, new sounds, new cultures and experiences. And while travelling abroad, it’s important to understand that provincial and territorial government health insurance plans (GHIP) do not provide the necessary coverage while travelling outside of Canada.

Government health insurance plans provide a very minimal amount of coverage for in- and outpatients who experience a medical emergency while travelling abroad. GHIP may also limit the number of days you can travel outside of Canada while keeping your GHIP active, between six to seven months within a calendar year or 12-month period. Furthermore, government websites advise those who travel to purchase an adequate travel insurance policy before departing their province or territory of residence.

Travellers may also rely on coverage provided by their bank and credit card accounts. Many times these plans are provided for “free” as a part of the banking plan purchased. Because these plans are widely available to the account holders, these coverages may be restricted or unclear. Learn more about the restrictions of bank and credit card travel insurance policies by clicking here.

Another type of travel insurance coverage that some people may have is through their extended or group travel insurance policies. These are made available to travellers through their employment, fraternal groups, or other groups of interest, or may be purchased individually. Because these plans are provided through a package plan, there may be restrictions on coverages and travel days, along with a possible lifetime limit on the coverage amount.

To help illustrate the importance of purchasing a quality travel emergency medical insurance policy when travelling outside of Canada, and to assist in understanding coverage, we would like to share some real-life examples of claims which have been made to Travelance.

A family of five travelling to Florida to catch a cruise was insured under Travelance’s TRIPs All-Inclusive Plan. Upon arrival at the airport, their flight was delayed by five hours due to a mechanical failure, causing them to miss their cruise.

• Although there was a less than six-hour connection, the insured had booked their trip through a licensed Canadian travel agency and therefore the Trip Delay benefits were available.
• The insured paid for additional hotel and meals when they arrived in Florida. They contacted the emergency assistance company, which assisted them in finding flights to the next port of call. The family missed one night of the cruise.
• The claim was paid for additional hotel and meals, additional flight arrangements, and unused travel arrangements totalling $4,885.

A 34-year-old female purchased the TRIPs All Inclusive plan. She experienced ill feelings and vomiting during her covered trip at an all-inclusive property in Cozumel, Mexico. She sought medical attention from the on-site physician who referred her to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with food poisoning.

• A guarantee of payment was forwarded to the hospital to cover the insured’s medical costs of $2,300 CAD. The insured returned to the resort and continued with her trip.

A 55-year-old male and his wife were insured for a trip cost of $28,000 each on the TRIPs All-Inclusive Plan. Before purchasing the policy, the insured parties had to complete the Eligibility Questionnaire to verify they were eligible to purchase this coverage. Three days before departure, the male suffered a case of pneumonia and was advised by his physician to cancel his travel arrangements. The couple incurred a cancellation penalty of $56,000. Upon receipt of the claim, we requested the insured’s medical records for the two years before the departure date to confirm eligibility and that he had completed his medical questionnaire accurately. It was found that the insured was admitted to the hospital for one night due to deep vein thrombosis (blood clot disorder) within these two years. Given this condition and admittance to the hospital, the insured was not eligible to purchase the policy. He had answered ‘no’ to the question on the questionnaire that inquired about this condition and hospitalization. Had he responded accurately, he would have been advised that he was ineligible to purchase. For this reason, the insured was advised that the policy was voided, and the premium was refunded to him.

• We issued payment for the wife’s trip for $28,000 as she was eligible for the policy and no exclusions applied to her claim.

A 28-year-old female purchased the TRIPs All Inclusive Plan for travel to Mexico where she tested positive for COVID-19 during her covered trip. She was fully vaccinated for COVID-19. She was required to quarantine and her return flight was delayed by seven days due to quarantine restrictions. She claimed the cost of her additional hotel, food, and the change fees on her original ticket to return home.

• These costs were considered up to $200/day to a maximum of 14 days, along with the change fee of her air ticket for $200.

A 43-year-old male travelling to Cuba under a Trip Cancellation/Interruption policy was delayed returning home by two days because his mandatory PCR test results were not available before his scheduled return home.

• He claimed the cost to return home and a new PCR test.

• These costs were not covered under the policy.

What plans are available for travelling Canadians from Travelance?

We offer five Travel Right Insurance Plans (TRIPs)  for travelling Canadians:

• All Inclusive Plan (single trip or annual multi-trip plan)
• Emergency Medical Plan (single trip or annual multi-trip plan)
• All Inclusive Canada Plan
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Plan
• Youth Premier Plan

Visit our website to learn more about the options to financially protect yourself against sudden and unforeseen emergencies which could arise while travelling abroad.

Contact your licensed insurance broker for a quote.

Please refer to the policy wording for complete details, limitations, terms and conditions. The above blog is for reference only to illustrate the cost of medical care when travelling.