• Is travel insurance really necessary? Doesn't the Provincial Health Insurance cover medical costs?
• I am travelling in Canada. Why should I purchase travel insurance? Health care is covered across Canada, isn't it?
• I have a chronic illness. Am I still covered?
• Is it really necessary to read my contract?
• Aren't all travel insurance plans the same?
• Why are there always exclusions?
• Do I need to complete a medical questionnaire?
• I am 61-years-old and I can no longer buy my travel insurance on the Internet. Why?
• What is a pre-existing condition?

Medical insurance is essential the moment you leave your province of residence. The Canada Health Act requires the Provincial Health Insurance to cover your medical costs in your province of residence, however not outside of the province. In fact your Provincial Health Insurance only covers a small portion of medical or hospital costs incurred abroad. Because medical costs are higher once you leave your province of residence – particularly in the United States – without travel insurance, your financial security is at risk. Click here for sample foreign medical costs.

Additional costs not covered by the Provincial Health Insurance: If you are sick or injured while you are away, travel insurance can cover:

• Accommodation costs and meals for your spouse or travel companion.
• Transportation costs if your return is delayed due to accident or illness.
• Cost of medical evacuation, by land or air ambulance, or by commercial flight.
• Repatriation costs for children if you are hospitalized.
• Transportation costs to bring a loved one to you if you are hospitalized for seven days or more.
• Chauffeur costs to drive your vehicle or motor home to your door if you cannot drive due to accident or illness.
• “Lifeline” costs (clothing, toiletries) if your baggage is delayed.

These are costs the Provincial Health Insurance does not cover and which you would have to pay for if you do not have travel insurance. Protect yourself today. Check our list of products

That’s partially true. Medical costs are covered everywhere in Canada, however the provincial and territorial provincial health plans:

• Vary from one province to another.
• Do not offer the same services to non-resident travellers as they do to residents (even though you are Canadian, you are considered as a non-resident even if you live in a neighbouring province).
• Do not pay for the same rates for health services.
• Do not pay for prescribed drugs.
• Do not pay for repatriation fees from another Canadian province to your province of residence.
• Do not cover ambulance charges.
• Do not cover emergency dental care

There are also billing agreements between certain provinces, but not for all.

It depends on the illness, its seriousness and its stability. Some illnesses are easily covered. Others require a three or six month stability period, depending on your age. Blue Cross offers the possibility of covering your illness with a medical questionnaire (available for persons aged 61 and over) filled out by your treating physician; Blue Cross’ medical team will then evaluate your condition. If authorized, you can travel worry-free: your chronic illness will also be covered.

Yes, it is very necessary. It is very important that you review your contract to know what you are and are not covered for.

You must read:

• Your insurance certificate - to ensure its benefits are in fact the ones you requested.

• Your travel insurance policy - a contract is an agreement between two parties. You must know your responsibilities. Above all, you must know when your coverage begins and ends and understand what is covered and what is not.

Pay particular attention to the following sections:

• What is covered
• What is not covered
• Exclusions and reductions of coverage

Absolutely not. Coverage can differ on many levels. The difference will be very apparent if you run into an emergency situation. Our reputation comes from a history of reliability, making Blue Cross the most Trusted Insurere worldwide.

Every insurance contract carries exclusions, for the simple reason that an insurer cannot cover every risk run by every client under any condition and maintain affordable insurance premiums.

The most common exclusions are:

• Any preexisting illness, that was diagnosed prior to leaving on your trip.

• Travelling against your doctor’s advice.

• Any risk taken by the insured that surpasses those considered insurable, such as taking part in a race, an extreme sport, an illegal act or using drugs.

• And others, the details of which can be found in the What is not covered section.

The best way to be prepared is to read your contract. You will no doubt find that most exclusions are based on common sense.

A distinction should be made between a statement of health and a medical questionnaire.

A medical questionnaire is an option Blue Cross offers to cover pre-existing conditions for individuals over 60 years of age. You are not obliged to complete this questionnaire, but doing so gives you a definite advantage. In 80% of cases, the questionnaires result in coverage that may otherwise not be granted. Simply have your doctor complete the questionnaire and send it to us. Your health status will then be assessed by the Blue Cross medical director; if your pre-existing condition is stable and does not present an increased risk, it will be covered and you will be able to leave on your trip with true peace of mind.

The statement of health determines who will be covered, who will be excluded and the travel insurance premium. The premium is based on the risks inherent with age, the health condition and trip length.

The insurance premium is determined by risks associated with the length of the trip, health and age. As people age, illness becomes more common. Determining the applicable rate involves many factors; therefore it is preferable for everyone involved that you speak with a customer service agent. If you are in perfect health, you will pay less than someone who is unfortunately afflicted with a chronic illness.

A pre-existing condition is a health condition that exists when you buy your travel insurance plan, before you depart. It may be a chronic illness, such as high blood pressure, a cold or a recent surgery. If the Insurer considers this condition as an increased risk, your premium may be slightly higher than that of someone who is in perfect health. However with a medical questionnaire (offered to persons of 61 years of age and over) this condition may be covered if it is determined to be stable by your treating doctor and the Blue Cross medical director.